The workshop was organized together with OPERANDUM, a large-scale demonstrator project funded by the European Union that aims to reduce hydro-meteorological risks in rural territories through co-designed, co-developed, co-deployed, tested and demonstrated innovative NBS. The project provides science-based evidence for the usability of NBS and best practices for their design based on participatory processes.

The overall purpose of the workshop was to bring together experts in Disaster Risk Reduction and environmental management to exchange views, experiences, and lessons regarding NBS for Disaster Risk Reduction across the Arab Region, and to identify needs and priorities for promoting NBS uptake. In this context, possible barriers and facilitators for wider implementation of solutions were examined.

25 representatives from 7 Arab countries participated in the meeting, including government officials, senior scientists and academics, decision-makers, private sector, and consultants. In addition, several OPERANDUM partners joined the workshop, including coordinators of case studies located in the Mediterranean Region: The Open-Air Laboratories from northern Italy located in the Po Delta Biosphere Reserve and from central Greece, in the Spercheios river basin.