Chapter 7.1 - Drought-Management Policies and Preparedness Plans: Changing the Paradigm from Crisis to Risk Management

Abstract

There is increasing concern worldwide about the ineffectiveness of current drought-management practices that are largely based on crisis management. These practices are reactive and, therefore, only treat the symptoms and impacts of drought rather than the underlying causes for the vulnerabilities associated with these impacts. Through the adoption of national drought policies that are focused on risk reduction and complemented by drought mitigation or preparedness plans at various levels of government, the coping capacity of nations to manage droughts can be improved. Given the spiraling impacts of droughts in an ever-increasing number of sectors, as well as the current and projected trends for the increased frequency, severity, and duration of drought events in association with a changing climate, it is clear that the time for adopting an approach that emphasizes drought risk reduction is now. This chapter discusses the principles and objectives of national drought policies and a template for the development of these policies for governments as a follow-up to the High-level Meeting on National Drought Policies held in Geneva, Switzerland, in March 2013.