How cooperation is supercharging the global fight against drought

The world is waking up to the fact that drought, one of the planet’s deadliest and most costly hazards, can only be tackled in unison. That is, with all levels of governance and all sectors of society marching to the tune of shared goals. 

At the third International Conference on Climate and Development in Semiarid Regions (ICID-III), held in the Brazilian city of Fortaleza from 15 to 19 September, the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA) convened voices from the policy, science, and multilateral spheres to unpack what cooperation for drought resilience looks like today and why it matters. 

Northeastern Brazil, which is home to the world's most populated dryland, is an example of successful drought management. Only four decades ago, drought killed hundreds of thousands ‘nordestinos.’ Today, one million families in the area have water tanks at home, a solution that now sees them through dry months and dry spells. 

What made this life-changing program possible was an agreement between the federal and state governments and civil society organizations. The initiative shows how coordination around proactive measures allows communities to thrive in drylands, preventing human and economic impacts. 

For Alexandre Pires, Brazil’s national Director of Desertification Control, drought resilience calls for collaboration and knowledge-exchange on three levels, especially, in the Global South: cooperation between countries on policies, practices, and institutional arrangements; between research institutions, and between civil society organizations and local communities. 

“So, what lessons can Brazil share with other semiarid regions and what can we learn from them in return?” Pires said. “Learning from each other’s experiences and initiatives is extremely important”. 

Drought impacts can reduce a country’s GDP by as much as 10 percent, cutting across all sectors, from food and energy production to health, tourism and transportation. Hence, the importance of involving all sectoral ministries, including the ministries of Finance, as well as central banks and the private sector. 

“We are bringing economists on board the drought resilience movement to reach actors beyond traditional technical and environmental fora,” said Deputy Executive Secretary of The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Andrea Meza.  

“Also, we need to better understand what scientific findings and data resonate most with decision-makers across all governance levels,” added Meza. “In other words, what narratives are most effective in getting across that resilience pays off and influencing public policies and investments.” 

As proof of the growing drought resilience ecosystem, she pointed to the new Luxembourg's Drought Resilience Investment Facility, designed with IDRA’s support, and the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership (RGDRP), which will finance action in vulnerable countries.  

Other initiatives are the Communities of Learning and Practice, created in collaboration with the Global Water Partnership; and the International Drought Resilience Observatory (IDRO). The latter will be operational at COP17, which will be held in Mongolia in August 2026. 

The increase in globally coordinated actions gives Vice president of the National Meteorology Centre of Saudi Arabia Jumaan Al-Qahtani hope: “The political momentum for drought resilience and our collective technical experience can drive the shift towards proactive approaches around the world.” 

One of the priorities is helping the more than 70 countries that now have national drought plans implement them —especially, the low- and middle-income countries that are home to 85 percent of the people hit by drought globally. The stakes are high. 

“Drought is one of the least understood hazards,” said UNCCD Policy Officer Daniel Tsegai. “For example, evidence shows that children born during droughts are more likely to suffer cognitive development delays. So, we must