Drought and water scarcity are a major hazard for harvest and food security, particularly in Africa and parts of Europe. An understanding of hydro-meteoroligical variability, drought forecasting & warning, drought mitigation and adaptation strategies can reduce impacts of drought, and improvive harvest and food security. This sessions seeks contributions on recent advances in science and applications, including: (i) characterisation of hydro-meteorological variability, forecasting and warning of drought at extended and seasonal time scales, (ii) benefits, expereiences and challenges in the use of drought forecasts in warning, and drought mitigation policy, (iii) vulnerability assessment for droughts, and (iv) drought adaptation strategies at local scales to improve natural resources management to increase harvest & food security.