Project Description:

The project focuses on enhancing drought resilience by strengthening stakeholder capacity in drought monitoring and management using traditional, indigenous knowledge integrated with science-based approaches and smart tools. It adopts participatory approaches for stakeholder engagement to create a roadmap for drought adaptation and resilience in the MENA Region and the Sahel & Horn of Africa​.

It also seeks to provide a social study on traditional knowledge and practices for combating drought and desertification in the Northern Coast of the Nile Delta in Egypt.

General Objective:

To enhance drought resilience by improving stakeholders’ capacity in monitoring and managing drought using traditional knowledge, science-based approaches, and smart tools​.

Specific Objective:

• Engage and consult with stakeholders to identify strengths, gaps, and capabilities for drought preparedness and resilience.
• Incorporate socioeconomic and environmental indicators into formal drought monitoring strategies.
• Conduct capacity-building activities to enhance stakeholder knowledge on drought monitoring and management methods​.

Activities:

1. Identifying Drought Dimensions: Analyzing thematic data and hydro-climatic records using GIS and remote sensing to understand the temporal and geographic dimensions of drought​.
2. Socioeconomic & Indigenous Knowledge Assessment: Ethnographic research to document traditional methods and assess community resilience​.
3. Participatory Workshops and Building Local Water Governance Groups (LWGGs): Engaging stakeholders for cross-learning and establishing LWGGs for knowledge transfer and sustainable water governance​.
4. Participatory Development of Interventions with Stakeholders: Co-designing interventions integrating traditional methods with smart technologies​.
5. Cross-Learning and Education: Capacity-building through webinars, seminars, and educational programs for various stakeholders, including rural communities and graduate students​.
6. Development of Living Labs and Training on Citizen Science and Smart Tools: Establishing Living Labs for joint learning and demonstrating drought resilience solutions​.
7. Dissemination of Outputs & Capitalization Plan: Sharing project outcomes and ensuring sustainability through workshops and documentary videos​.

Implementation Site:

• North Delta Region, Egypt (Kafr El-Sheikh, Beheira, and Alexandria governorates).
• Focus on vulnerable communities in these areas, especially those affected by drought and water scarcity​.

Partners:

• Network for Environment and Development – RAED
• Local NGOs, agricultural directorates, water resource authorities, and universities (e.g., Damanhour University)
• Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (Beheira Regional Branch)
• International partners, including IHE (Institute for Water Education)​.

Expected Results:

1. Improved drought resilience and water governance through established LWGGs.
2. Enhanced knowledge and capacity of stakeholders in drought monitoring and adaptation.
3. Co-created interventions integrating traditional methods with smart tools.
4. Cross-learning and educational programs promoting sustainable water management.
5. Dissemination of project outcomes for knowledge exchange and upscaling.
6. A strategic capitalization plan for sustaining project impacts​.