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FAO's proactive approach to drought management: leveraging digital platforms and promoting knowledge sharing

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The list of drought events is sadly long this year. It touches almost all regions of the world, confirming that this natural phenomenon – once viewed as only affecting some regions – is now a global threat, impacting livelihoods and ecosystems.
In the past, drought management was usually a reactive process, meaning that actions were taken only after a disaster had already taken place. A new proactive approach started emerging in 2013, one calling to move from a reactive to a proactive approach centered on increasing preparedness and reducing vulnerability.
FAO actively works to increase awareness, support decision-making, and promote successful drought-related cases. To achieve this, FAO has upgraded its Drought Portal, a comprehensive online resource that provides information on FAO's actions and tools to combat drought. The portal is designed to be a global knowledge-sharing platform that helps to increase awareness of the issues related to drought and provides solutions for managing drought.
Through this portal, FAO shares information on its initiatives, projects, research, events, and best practices, which can help governments, organizations, and individuals make informed decisions about drought.
FAO's proactive approach to drought management: leveraging digital platforms and promoting knowledge sharing In addition, FAO has created a web tool called the Drought Finance Tracker to shed light on the level of drought financing worldwide. Determining the status of drought finance has always been challenging due to the lack of a consistent, comprehensive, and dedicated reporting system.
However, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has monitored and registered official development assistance over the past two decades. The FAO Land and Water Division has analyzed drought-related projects in the OECD database and developed a drought-specific database that serves as the foundation for the Drought Finance Tracker.
This tracker provides a comprehensive view of the financial resources available for drought management, making it easier for decision-makers to identify funding gaps, prioritize interventions, and allocate resources more effectively.
FAO digital platforms can provide a wealth of information for decision-makers on the latest trends, developments, and best practices related to drought management.
By leveraging modern technologies, these platforms can help take proactive steps to reduce vulnerability and increase preparedness, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and learning.