Welcome to the
African Drought Risk and Development Network (ADDN) discussion page. The ADDN
is a region-wide network for advocacy, capacity building and peer learning
sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme Drylands Development
Centre (UNDP-DDC) and UN’s International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
(UN-ISDR).
The idea of ADDN
originated in an UN ad hoc Inter-Agency Working Group on Drought meeting held in
Geneva in 2003. The meeting recognized the challenges facing the existing
networking landscape in Africa – notably the tendencies of sub-regionalism,
division by language, one-sided information flow, limited linkages among the
networks and a focus on a narrow, meteorological definition of drought, as
opposed to livelihood definitions. The meeting underscored the need for
region-wide mechanism for knowledge mobilization on managing the risk of
drought, thus the establishment of the ADDN.
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The ADDN aims to
promote applied discussion and policy dialogue on key issues linking drought
risk and development in Africa by:
1) providing a platform for the development
and dissemination of good practice and innovation;
2) providing an entry point
for accessing networks in Africa and beyond; and
3) acting as a forum for the
elaboration of critical strategy and policy relevant decision making.
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A wealth
of knowledge-based resources already exists in Africa but the opportunities are
still limited in the region for information sharing and technical exchange of
best practices among experts and practitioners. The Network seeks to bridge
these gaps between knowledge producers and users and improve stakeholders’
access to information that will help them better react to the increased threat
of drought and climate change in the dryland of
Africa.
To this end, a range
of communication and peer learning tools and modalities have been developed
within the Network framework. They include, but not limited to:
- convening of
annual African Drought Adaptation Forums (ADAF);
- publication of drought-related
knowledge products, monthly newsletters, policy briefs and their presentation at
the various fora;
- organization of the regular online discussion forum;
- facilitation of study tours and exchange visits, etc.
The proceedings and
presentations of the latest third ADAF held in Addis Ababa in 2008 are available
at http://www.undp.org/drylands/drought-workshop-08.html. We rely on
participation from the Network members to make the Forum, website, newsletter,
and discussion page productive and useful tools. Please contact Yuko Kurauchi at
yuko.kurauchi@undp.org for any comments you may have on the ADDN or for any
information you would like to share with over 1,500 ADDN members in Africa and
beyond.
Thank you for your
partnership and support to keep ADDN moving.