Water scarcity and drought are no longer distant risks they are reshaping food systems, livelihoods, and economies right now. Agriculture accounts for roughly 72% of freshwater withdrawals worldwide, and between two and three billion people face water shortages for at least one month each year. The Horn of Africa's 2020–2023 drought alone pushed more than 30 million people across Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia into food insecurity, while fresh drought hotspots in Southern and Eastern Africa, the Amazon Basin, the Mediterranean, Panama, Mexico, and Southeast Asia continue to strain food, water, energy, and trade systems.
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Join CGIAR and partners for a timely conversation on how water governance, land restoration, and drought resilience come together to protect the people and systems most at risk. The session will spotlight assessment frameworks, accountability, and transparent decision-making, with a strong focus on inclusive governance that centers smallholder farmers, pastoralists, women, youth, and communities on the frontlines of water insecurity.
Date: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Time Zones
East Africa Time (EAT): 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
UTC: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT): 7:00a.m. – 8:00 a.m
