The severe droughts that affected West Asia and North Africa in the last few decades highlighted the need for appropriate drought mitigation measures. This requires the identification of effective approaches and the application of useful tools, such as models and decision support systems, to help policy makers improve the response to drought events. To help address the challenge of drought on a broad scale, governments, agencies, and institutes, including ICARDA, have established the Network on Drought Management for the Near East, Mediterranean and Central Asia (NEMEDCA Drought Network).

Management of scarce natural resources, such as water, lies at the heart of drought preparedness and mitigation. ICARDA has, since its inception, been working to alleviate the effects of drought by developing crop varieties that can withstand drought, and by researching cultural practices that improve water-use efficiency. For example, in partnership with institutions in Italy, Portugal, Tunisia and Jordan, the Center helped develop a decision support system to reduce the effects of

Participants in the “Drought Mitigation in the Near East and the Mediterranean” workshop, held at ICARDA 27-31 May.

drought in the Mediterranean region. This effort was supported by the European Union.
     The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Center for Advanced Study on Mediterranean Agriculture (CIHEAM), and several other organizations also carry out important work on drought mitigation in the Near East and the Mediterranean region. They joined ICARDA for a workshop at the Center’s headquarters in May 2001, which laid out the basis for drafting national plans of action and regional strategies for drought mitigation. A follow-up meeting later in that year resulted in a detailed proposal for a network that was to become NEMEDCA Drought Network.
     Now established, the countries served by the network include: Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia (North Africa); Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan (the Nile Valley and the Red Sea); Cyprus, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and Turkey (West Asia); Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen (Arabian Peninsula); and Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan (Central Asia).
     The objective of the network is to enhance the exchange of information and experience among national, regional, and international organizations. Specific objectives include:

• Promoting risk, vulnerability, and impact assessment of drought, considering ecological, agricultural, and socioeconomic dimensions at the national and regional level
• Contributing to the creation, development, and coordination of drought preparedness and mitigation plans, including harmonization of methodologies and approaches used in member countries
  
• Facilitating the development of national, sub-regional, and regional project proposals to address drought priority areas
• Streamlining exchange of information on monitoring tools and data on early warning among members
  
• Promoting the exchange of information on mitigation practices and coping mechanisms to support the decision making process in member countries
  
• Strengthening and developing human and institutional capabilities at the national level
  
• Promoting cooperation in planning and implementing drought mitigation programs at national and regional levels
  
• Disseminating information among concerned organizations/institutions on pertinent drought issues, and promoting professional contacts, study tours, expert meetings, training courses
  
• Coordinating activities with other relevant regional and international networks.

Functions and activities
The network will:

• Convene periodic meetings for the Network Executive Committee to discuss the network work plans, evaluate programs and their implementation
• Establish and develop regional data-bases and directories for professionals and institutions relevant to drought monitoring, assessment, mitigation, and management
  
• Organize, alone or with collaborating agencies, working sessions, workshops, and seminars on specific aspects of drought and prepare thematic studies
  
• Review and assess current practices, plans of action, and policies followed in member countries
  
• Assist in developing individual national plans of action and early warning and monitoring units, and assist in the collection of data
  
• Promote joint collaborative activities among countries to consolidate the linkages and synergy in resources utilization for research, training, and networking
  
• Establish and operate a communication system on drought mitigation.
  Representatives of the six sub-regions, in addition to the representatives of ICARDA, FAO and CIHEAM, will form the Executive Committee. The network will seek support from governments, funding agencies,
  individuals, national, regional or international organizations, development banks, and others.

"The Network participants are optimistic that the effects of drought can be reduced for the good of farm families, countries,
and the entire region."

A concerted effort

Drought is an international challenge, so it makes sense that the countries in the Near East, Mediterranean, and Central Asia work to increase transborder cooperation. With its mandate to improve nutrition and income in the world’s dry areas, and supported by its wealth of experience in dryland agriculture, ICARDA is well placed and fully competent for its role in NEMEDCA. The Network participants are optimistic that the effects of drought can be reduced for the good of farm families, countries, and the entire region.

Dr Theib Oweis (T.Oweis@cgiar.org) is Water Management Specialist at ICARDA.