Building Resilience to Drought through the Arab GWADI

On December 10, 2024, the UNESCO Regional Office for the Gulf States and Yemen, in collaboration with the Secretariat General of the Cooperation Council of the Arab States of the Gulf, organized the side event " Building Resilience to Drought through the Arab GWADI" during COP16 in Riyadh. This session focused on reviving the Arab chapter of the G-WADI network within the framework of the updated G-WADI strategy. The session emphasized strengthening regional cooperation to address drought resilience through early warning systems, water supply improvements, and nature-based solutions. Speakers highlighted the importance of integrating Climate Risk Informed Decision Analysis (CRIDA) and other tools to promote climate adaptation and drought preparedness.

Discussions focused on engaging citizens, leveraging indigenous knowledge, and empowering local initiatives to improve water resource management in arid regions. The session explored partnerships with the Riyadh Global Partnership for Drought Resilience (RGPDR) and the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA) to align regional efforts with global frameworks.

Panelists called for strengthening capacity building, promoting data-sharing platforms, unlocking investments and funding as well as adopting scalable approaches to address water-related challenges. The updated strategy emphasized cross-border collaboration, innovative financing, and enhancing local resilience through knowledge-sharing and stakeholder participation.