One of the severe consequences of global warming and climate change is increasing and widespread drought which will affect a number of nations, especially in regions already prone to such phenomena.

To respond to these challenges, GWP Central and Eastern Europe and World Meteorological Organization organized a regional workshop on Integrated Drought Management in Bratislava at Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute on 5–6 October 2012.

The workshop brought together 58 key stakeholders from different sectors such as meteorology, water management and agriculture and international organizations — International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River, UN Economic Commission for Europe, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and Drought Management Centre for South Eastern Europe.

Unlike floods, drought is a natural phenomenon that takes some to build up and is difficult to predict. Several indicators used in climatology and agriculture have been established to assess to which extent drought occurred. Recently, GWP CEE has prepared a mapping study reviewing existing policies and strategies in Central and Eastern Europe.

In his opening speech, Dr. Mohammed Ait Kadi, GWP Technical Committee Chair said "A drought is a moment of strain. Approach to mobilize stakeholders need to change over the time as drought might change from seasonal episode to a long term famine. The most important is to create alliances for cooperation that will be able to react to changes".

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http://www.gwp.org/en/GWP-CEE/gwp-cee-in-action/news-and-activities/Multi-disciplinary-alliances-key-to-prepare-for-and-respond-to-droughts/