All publications and documents

The aim of the Compendium is to provide information and guidance on how to assess and address the risks posed by sand and dust storms and plan actions to combat sand and dust storms. The Compendium brings together information and guidance from a wide range of sources. It includes approaches and methodology frameworks on data collection, assessment, monitoring and early warning,…

The devastating impacts of drought reach much further than the dry regions of our planet. Droughts are becoming more frequent and severe across all continents – an omen of a world where freshwater and fertile soils are increasingly scarce. In extreme cases, drought triggers famine, forced migration and even conflicts. Mortality related to droughts represents around 60 percent of…

Global challenges occurring at all latitudes are adding pressure on land and water systems and efforts towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are seriously at risk. The growing unpredictability of climate and the rising water scarcity and land degradation, associated to the increasing frequency and intensity of natural extremes like drought, demand adequate…

Driven by climate change, population growth, economic development, and poor water management, the increasingly limited availability of freshwater resources is a fundamental concern for societies worldwide. Drought and water scarcity – two major phenomena that challenge water security – know no national boundaries and affect all socioeconomic sectors of society, with a greater impact on the more…

Heatwaves, sand and dust storms, and desertification are the symptoms of over-exploitation aimed at constant growth, material prosperity for some, uncurbed population development, and an economy that still heavily relies on nonrenewable energy sources. Drought is not just the absence of rain; it is fueled by land degradation and the climate crisis. Recent scientific…

Addressing poverty and vulnerability in Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic” is the theme of the 2021 Economic Report on Africa. The report provides a perspective of the causes and consequences of increased poverty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as from other shocks such as an oil price collapse, within a vulnerability–poverty–resilience framework, providing national estimates of people…