Together with the International Livestock Research Institute and other partners, our research accelerator project on ‘next-generation earth observation for anticipatory drought risk management in East African pastoral drylands’ recently convened an expert meeting to accelerate co-learning and co-development of drought risk products and solutions for the region.
Climate variability continues to affect pastoral communities across East Africa, increasing the need for practical, data-driven solutions that strengthen drought preparedness. This workshop convened key stakeholders from research institutions, government agencies, the private sector, and development organizations to strengthen collaboration and innovation in drought risk management, product design and climate risk financing.
Presentations explored critical themes aimed at improving drought monitoring and resilience. They examined both the challenges and opportunities shaping drought risk management and financing instruments, while showcasing cutting-edge innovations that enhance drought monitoring, modelling, and anticipatory action.
The sessions underscored the importance of integrating scientific and operational perspectives to ensure that emerging tools are context-specific, scalable, and responsive to local needs.
The roundtable reflections emphasized sustaining multi-stakeholder collaboration, strengthening product usability, and improving accessibility of innovative solutions for both industry and communities.
Participants highlighted continuous engagement, co-design, and data-driven innovation as essential foundations for long-term sustainability. They further underscored the need for community inclusion, local ownership, and capacity-building to maintain relevance and ensure continuity beyond project lifespans.
Key takeaways and the way forward focused on building upon existing evidence and partnerships to institutionalize co-learning platforms that connect research, policy, and implementation. Sustained investment in data infrastructure, product innovation, policy alignment, and financial inclusion was identified as crucial to scaling anticipatory action systems. The workshop concluded with a shared commitment to deepen collaboration among scientific, policy, and industry actors in developing inclusive, context-specific, and scalable drought risk management solutions that strengthen resilience across Africa’s drylands.
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Summary report of the workshop