International Drought Resilience Alliance
No country is immune to drought and its impacts on food, water, and energy security, forced migration and natural resource conflicts. Europe, the western United States, Chile, Australia, and the Horn of Africa have all suffered extreme droughts in recent years. These unprecedented droughts have far-reaching impacts on agriculture, energy, transportation, tourism, and human health.
From 1998 to 2017, drought generated economic losses of about US$124 billion across the world, not to mention the cost in human suffering and lives.
Drought frequency, severity, and duration are projected to increase in the short term due to climate change, which is expected to cause to a large displacement of people from affected areas in the long run.
The overwhelming evidence points to the need to shift from crises management to drought preparedness and adaptation measures that significantly reduce vulnerability and exposure at all levels. World leaders recognize the need for a global collaborative platform, with political engagement at the highest level and a network of implementing partners to support countries and communities considering their different circumstances.
Responding to these needs, the International Drought Resilience Alliance was first announced by Spain at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2022 to be officially launched at the UNFCCC COP27 in November 2022. The alliance is jointly convened by President of Senegal Macky Sall and President of the Government of Spain Pedro Sánchez. Interested members of the Alliance see the urgent need to pivot from emergency response to increasing drought resilience through a more coordinated and effective response.
When: 02 - 04 أكتوبر 2026
Where: Alamein
This inaugural edition will convene more than 20 Heads of State and Government representatives, alongside senior leaders from leading international and regional financial institutions and key actors driving transformative change across Africa's most critical sectors, from infrastructure, trade and critical minerals to digital innovation, health markets and the emerging industries reshaping the continent's economic identity.The aim is to become the continent's premier gathering where political power meets entrepreneurial prowess, bridging the established engines of African growth with the new sectors defining its future.Co-organized by the Government of Egypt, Afreximbank, and AUDA-NEPAD, the Forum brings together Africa's most influential decision-makers in an unprecedented alliance of public and private sector leadership. Learn more.
When: 19 - 30 أكتوبر 2026
Where: Yerevan
The Conference of the Parties is the governing body of the Convention and advances implementation of the Convention through the decisions it takes at its periodic meetings. The COP17 slogan "Taking action for nature" conveys aspirations for an action-oriented conference where the Parties to the CBD will undertake the first global review of collective progress in the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The global review is expected to guide accelerated implementation to embrace harmony with nature, transformative change and engagement from a wide range of actors: national governments, civil society, youth, businesses, local governing bodies and communities.