Lebanon has experienced an annual mean temperature increase of ∼0.3°C per decade since about 1970, which is well above the global mean of ∼0.15°C per decade for the same period (Verner et al., 2018). According to the World Bank, since 1960, Lebanon has witnessed a 7% increase in the number of hot nights mostly during summer, and a reduction of 11mm in monthly mean rainfall per decade but an increase in extreme rainfall events (the amount of rainfall received during one-day). On the other hand, the Sea Level rise in the Mediterranean basin has increased by 20mm per year and surface water temperature by 1.3 °C since 1980 (USAID, 2016). Around 10% of the Lebanese population is susceptible to drought.

In Lebanon, projections indicate that temperatures are set to increase by up to 1.7°C by mid-century and up to 3.2°C by 2100. Rainfall is expected to decrease by 4-11% and drier conditions are expected to prevail by the end of the century. Of particular concern to livelihoods and food security is the projected increase in droughts. Country-wide droughts will increase in duration and will cause effects beyond agriculture by increasing the costs of pumping water.

Given all these reasons, effective drought assessment and monitoring systems should be done in Lebanon to develop proactive strategies for drought mitigation, water management, agricultural adaptation, and sustainable development. Thus, NEWSP is working closely to achieve these goals.