Namibia calls for proactive drought management at UNCCD conference

Speaking at the 17th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification UNCCD in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Daniel urged a shift from reactive measures to proactive preparation and resilience-building. She highlighted Namibia's vulnerability as one of sub-Saharan Africa's driest countries, experiencing rising temperatures, variable rainfall, and prolonged droughts that impact agriculture, water security, health, and economic growth, potentially exposing over a million people to food insecurity. Daniel stressed the need to invest before crises occur, referencing the 2016 African Drought Conference hosted by Namibia, the African Union, and the UNCCD, which produced the Windhoek Declaration.

She also mentioned Namibia's efforts in land restoration through the Great Green Wall Initiative and strengthening rangeland resilience, noting that national action alone is insufficient. Daniel called for stronger partnerships, predictable climate finance, investment in drought-resilient infrastructure, innovative risk-financing, and private-sector participation to achieve lasting solutions.