World Meteorological Organization

Regional Association VI (RA VI) is actively progressing toward implementing the WMO’s Hydrological Status and Outlook System (HydroSOS) as a regional priority, aligning closely with recent WMO-hosted events that underscore the importance of coordinated water resource management and resilience. 

The Drought Resilience +10 Conference, held at the World Meteorological Organization headquarters from 30 September to 2 October, brought together global leaders, experts, and stakeholders to assess progress and chart a path forward in strengthening resilience against drought—one of the world’s most severe hazards.

The conference featured ten workstreams, focusing on diverse topics ranging from drought resilience and global mechanisms to risk governance, impact monitoring, and health. Each workstream facilitated collaboration among experts from various fields, allowing them to share insights, best practices, and innovative approaches to address the multifaceted challenges posed by drought. The presented workstreams illustrated successful interventions in regions already experiencing severe drought impacts.

In the concluding discussions of the conference, participants emphasized the importance of fostering meaningful and inclusive partnerships for drought resilience. The group explored the tools and resources needed to mitigate the health risks associated with drought. The outcomes of this conference will not only inform negotiations at the upcoming UN Convention to Combat Desertification (COP16) in Riyadh but also align closely with the findings of the WMO State of Global Water Resources 2023 Report, which was officially launched on 7 October.

The launch of the State of Global Water Resources 2023 report provides a quantitative assessment of global water resources over the past year and gives an overview of data availability and sharing at a global scale. During its launch, experts discussed the water status in their respective countries and provided valuable feedback on the report. The insights gained from the conference discussions and the findings in the report collectively underscore the urgent need for coordinated action and strategic partnerships to address water resource challenges and enhance resilience against drought.

Notably, the HydroSOS side session on 30 September served as a significant global event during the Drought Resilience +10 Conference, playing a key role in advancing HydroSOS objectives. During this session, participants reviewed HydroSOS, discussing its functionalities and providing a brief timeline of its development. Additionally, experts presented a quick overview of OUTLAST and demonstrated the HydroSOS portal, providing the audience with valuable insights into the tools available for real-time monitoring and assessment of hydrological conditions. The session concluded with a panel discussion that brought together key experts and stakeholders to reflect on the insights gained. The presented talks can be accessed here.

On 22 October, the WMO RA VI Task Team on HydroSOS held a successful kick-off meeting, emphasizing HydroSOS’s potential to unify regional efforts and create a robust framework for water management that spans from monitoring current conditions to forecasting future trends. The meeting reviewed the primary goals of HydroSOS within RA VI and outlined key actions to strengthen hydrological data-sharing networks and enhance forecasting capabilities. The Task Team agreed to prioritize national and regional capacity-building and explore partnerships and tools to facilitate seamless data integration. These efforts underscore HydroSOS as a cornerstone of RA VI’s hydrological strategy, aiming to create a comprehensive, collaborative approach to water management across the region.

Looking ahead, the WMO RA VI Task Team on HydroSOS will hold an in-person meeting in mid-November, hosted by the Rhine River Basin Commission in Koblenz. This meeting will focus on refining the Action Plan for the upcoming year, prioritizing regional needs and contributions to effectively implement HydroSOS across the region.

Advancing the Hydrological Status and Outlook System within Regional Association VI is a unified effort to improve water resource management and resilience. Insights from recent WMO events and the upcoming meeting emphasize a collaborative approach to addressing hydrological challenges. By fostering partnerships, sharing expertise, and developing actionable strategies, RA VI aims to make significant progress in HydroSOS implementation, benefiting all stakeholders involved.