The FAO Drylands School is a global learning and collaboration initiative established in 2022 by the FAO Committee on Forestry Working Group on Dryland Forests and Agrosilvopastoral Systems (COFO-WG), in partnership with a wide range of institutions and international organizations.

The School serves as an international platform for knowledge sharing, dialogue, and the co-construction of solutions for sustainable dryland management. Bringing together practitioners, researchers, policymakers, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities, it fosters mutual learning across disciplines, regions, and knowledge systems. Through a highly participatory approach, participants exchange experiences, explore innovative and adaptive practices, and collectively develop pathways to strengthen the resilience of dryland landscapes and livelihoods.

The long-term vision of the Drylands School is to cultivate a global network of professionals and champions capable of driving transformative change in dryland policies and practices. By promoting inclusive, integrated, and evidence-based approaches, the School contributes to advancing the restoration, conservation, and sustainable management of drylands worldwide.

Each year, the Drylands School convenes an in-person edition focused on a strategic theme. In 2026, the School will host its fourth edition, dedicated to Indigenous knowledge and fire management. Beyond the annual event, the School offers a continuous learning journey through webinars, workshops, dialogues, and collaborative exchanges, creating a dynamic educational ecosystem that supports innovation, peer-to-peer learning, and collective action for resilient drylands.