Deutsche Welle (DW), Gremiensaal, Kurt-Schumacher-Straße 3, Bonn

Thursday 6 April 2017, 18:00-20:00h, followed by a reception

Droughts and other climate-related weather events have a significant negative impact on food security, conflict and migration. Many regions in sub-Saharan Africa, including some of the poorest countries in the world, are particularly susceptible to droughts and need help to overcome them. Unfortunately, many countries and international community continue to regard droughts as unpredictable "crises" and often react with poorly coordinated emergency aid measures only after the damage was done.

The event will discuss the links between drought, food insecurity, conflict and migration. Droughts bring negative impacts in many ways, from poverty to food security, resource protection and energy supply. Conflicts around scarce water and support are pre-programmed. With increasing globalization, more and more people are indirectly affected, especially by the spread of local conflicts and unplanned mass migration. The event illuminates how droughts are linked, and the limits of sectoral policy approaches.

In addition, the need for proactive approaches to mitigate of the effects of droughts will be addressed. The complexity of the subject calls for a close dialogue between scientists and developmental practitioners to challenge conventional knowledge, to evaluate old solutions and to find new solutions.

PROGRAMME

Welcome: Dr. Stefan Schmitz, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Keynote: Prof. Robert McLeman, PhD, Professor of Drought Research, Wilfrid Laurier University

Panel discussion:

· Dr. Stefan Schmitz, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

· Prof. Robert McLeman PhD, Professor of Drought Research, Wilfrid Laurier University

· Dr. Pradeep Monga, Deputy Executive Secretary, UNCCD

· Mr. Mathias Mogge, Program Director, Welthungerhilfe

Moderator: Mr.  Michael Brüntrup, German Institute for Development Policy (DIE)

The event takes place in English. Please register with Ms.  Ina Klemke (socioeconomic [at] die-gdi.de (socioeconomic[at]die-gdi[dot]de)) for participation in the event.