Dr. Donald A. Wilhite, Director and Professor School of Natural Resources University of Nebraska-Lincoln U.S.A.
Breaking the Hydro-illogical Cycle: An Institutional Challenge for Drought Management Crisis Management If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always got.
The Cycle of Disaster Management reactive Crisis management treats the symptoms, not the causes.
The Cycle of Disaster Management proactive reactive Crisis management treats the symptoms, not the causes. Risk management increases coping capacity, builds resilience.
Types of Drought Policy Responses Post-impact government interventions—relief measures (emergency assistance) Pre-impact government programs—mitigation measures to reduce vulnerability and impacts, including insurance programs Are insurance programs financially viable and do they promote risk-based management? Preparedness plans and policies, organizational frameworks and operational arrangements
Global Initiative—Drought Policy Best Practices for the Development of National Drought Policies
HMNDP Program Overview Welcoming session (half day): Senior UN and country officials Scientific sessions (3 days), including 8 scientific plenary sessions 10 scientific parallel (or breakout) sessions on specific application areas 2 roundtable discussions final session to summarize the results of the parallel or breakout sessions and review the HMNDP Declaration High-level segment (1.5 days): Heads of Agencies and government officials to consider and approve a Conference Declaration
HMNDP Science Program Overview Drought Monitoring, Early Warning, and Information Systems Drought Prediction Vulnerability and Impact Assessment Enhancing Preparedness and Mitigation Drought risk reduction Regional emphasis Sectoral impact emphasis Relief and Response Constructing a Framework for National Drought Policy
Monday Opening Ceremony & Keynote Address Drought Monitoring, Early Warning and Information Systems Implementation of Drought Monitoring and Early Warning Systems Parallel Sessions Reg. DMCs Drought Education Advocacy
Tuesday Case 1: Drought Preparedness Regional Perspectives U.S.Africa Case 2: Sectoral Impacts Regional Perspectives Australia and Spain Asia and South Africa Parallel Sessions
Wednesday Constructing a Framework for National Drought Policy Breakout Groups: Framework for National Drought Policy AfricaSouth/Central America AsiaSW Pacific North AmericaEurope
Thursday Breakout Group Summaries Discussion of Draft HMNDP Declaration Ministerial Statements
Friday Ministerial Statements HMNDP Declaration Adoption Closing Address and Statements
Tuesday Drought Prediction and Predictability: Future Prospects Vulnerability and Impact Assessment: What is at Risk? Enhancing Preparedness and Mitigation Roundtable: Vulnerability and Impact Assessment
Opportunities for Discussion of Key Points and Issues Program elements Plenary sessions Roundtable conversations w/discussions Parallel sessions w/discussion Breakout groups w/report back High-level Ministerial statements and discussion Poster sessions around conference themes Exhibits
Donald A. Wilhite School of Natural Resources University of Nebraska-Lincoln