Drought resilience and biodiversity conservation are closely interlinked. Conservation efforts that protect and restore biodiversity help maintain ecosystem services, such as water retention and soil health, which are crucial for mitigating the impacts of drought. Healthy and diverse ecosystems can also withstand and recover from droughts more easily. Thus, preserving biodiversity strengthens ecosystems’ natural ability to endure drought conditions and enhances long-term sustainability.

The Ministry of Water of Tanzania, the Wami Ruvu Basin Water Board and GWP, on behalf of the SDG 6 IWRM Support Programme, have been collaborating to understand the economic value of water for Tanzania, and will be presenting the results in a public hybrid format, online and in-person at select sites.

The Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) approach is gaining increasing recognition, particularly for its importance in managing drought risks. At the grassroots level, various WEFE-based solutions have emerged, including agro-photovoltaics, biogas production, small-scale water conservation efforts, and solar desalination. The multiple co-benefits of the WEFE Nexus have led to its adoption in national policies across countries like Egypt, Italy, Spain, and Tunisia, while also gaining traction from the European Union and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM).