CRDD Practitioner Summer School 2026 | Opening Remarks by Dr. Hussein Wario

Hussein Wario, Executive Director of the Centre for Research and Development in Drylands (CRDD), opens the Practitioner Summer School with a clear focus on practical collaboration across dryland development. He outlines the event’s purpose of bringing practitioners (county and national government staff, NGOs and international partners) together to learn, share and strengthen responses in Marsabit, Isiolo and other dryland areas. Key points: (1) this is a practitioner-focused forum distinct from student summer schools, (2) funders and partners such as the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), Jameell Observatory (ILRI), The Christensen Fund and CGIAR are central to the programme, and (3) county and national representatives (NDMA, water and livestock departments) and international guests from West Africa are acknowledged. Timestamps: 00:00:19 Opening & welcome 00:01:18 Purpose-Practitioner vs. student summer school 00:01:42 Attendees-Government, NGOs, regional focus 00:02:16 Funders & partners 00:03:01 County & national representatives 00:04:07 International guests-West Africa delegation 00:04:31 Special recognition & closing welcome of partners Keywords/topics: #Drylands #PractitionerSummerSchool #CRDD #HusseinWario #ACIAR #JamilObservatory #ChristensenFund #CGIAR #NDMA #Marsabit #Isiolo #DroughtManagement #DevelopmentPractitioners #CommunityDevelopment #WestAfrica