Participation of TRANSFER Danube Project in WEBINAR ‘Bridging the Gap – Evolving Finance for Integrated Drought Management’

Across Central and Eastern Europe, drought has evolved from a sporadic phenomenon into a persistent and intensifying challenge, with far-reaching impacts on agriculture, ecosystems, energy, and public health. Despite its growing severity, financing for proactive and integrated drought management remains limited, fragmented, and largely reactive.

To address these issues, I, as Co-Chair of the Community of Learning and Practice for Drought Management for Central and Eastern Europe, together with my colleague Sabrija Čadro from Bosnia and Herzegovina, organized a webinar on drought finance, held online on 8 October.

The main objective of the webinar was to explore three key areas:

How global financing systems are adapting to better support drought-related efforts;

What actions countries in our region are taking to plan and fund drought resilience;

How to address persistent gaps—especially in institutional coordination and access to innovative financing tools.

The discussion brought together representatives from global financial institutions, international agencies, and national governments. Distinguished speakers from the UNCCD Global Mechanism, FAO, and the World Bank shared valuable insights into the current global landscape, addressing questions such as: Who is financing drought-related interventions? What trends are emerging? And what plans exist for future financing at the global level?

Esteemed representatives from Serbia, Moldova, Georgia, Romania, and Montenegro also shared their experiences—highlighting success stories, ongoing challenges, and diverse approaches to mobilizing resources.

On behalf of Montenegro, I delivered an oral presentation, including information on the TRANSFER Danube Project, providing participants with a link to the project’s website for further information.

The webinar, organized under the UNCCD Community of Learning and Practice, gathered 109 participants from across the world, primarily from Central and Eastern Europe. The event fostered an open exchange of ideas and strengthened regional cooperation on financing mechanisms to enhance drought resilience.

Link to the video of the webinar: