From satellites to soil: Turning drought warnings into action in Ethiopia’s drylands

Taking the stage during the “Delivering Resilient Drylands” showcase, Dr. Sintayehu Alemayehu shared a quiet revolution unfolding in the lowlands of Ethiopia. It wasn’t about new gadgets or apps. It was about something far more practical which is helping pastoralist communities know when to move, when to prepare, and how to avoid the worst of what climate change increasingly brings.

The tool was a water and pasture monitoring, forecasting, and early warning system. But as Sintayehu explained, it’s more than just a system. It’s a bridge between progressive science and the realities of life on the ground.