Developing an operational enhanced Composite Drought Index (eCDI) to support drought early warning in the Middle East and North Africa region

This document explains how MENAdrought supports Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco in anticipating, preparing for and mitigating drought impacts; including the development of a satellite- and model-based drought early warning system, built around an enhanced Composite Drought Index (eCDI). Experts predict that conditions will become drier and hotter across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region as climate change progresses. If preemptive action is not taken, crop yields from rain-fed farming systems could decrease by 30%–50% in the future, with devastating impacts on food security.

The eCDI was developed by IWMI in collaboration with the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center, USA.