The Ministry of Environment and Tourism in Namibia will organize this event in follow up to its role as UNCCD COP11 President and to the outcomes of the high-level meeting on national drought policies (HMNDP) held in Geneva in 2013. The conference will focus on identifying the specific needs of African countries in the area of effective drought mitigation, with a view to developing a strategic framework for enhancing resilience to drought events on the African continent. The overall objective of the Conference is to come up with an overarching strategic framework for Africa that will enhance resilience to the impact of drought events. It is expected that the Conference will set in motion the process to develop a strategic framework for enhancing resilience to drought at the African level that will contribute to poverty alleviation, economic development and enhance environmental and human well-being. The work of the Conference will be guided by an agenda for action white paper document, which will be circulated in advance of the conference.