Drought governance: A cross-level governance analysis in Botswana

Abstract

Drought, a growing climate change hazard, is a multilevel problem that affects and is affected by decisions that are made at multiple levels of governance (local, district, and national). Understanding the characteristics of governance that might enable effective drought management can greatly enhance the design of drought responses and adaptation measures. Using the case of Botswana, an in-depth analysis of the multi-scalar dynamics and governance of drought was undertaken. Using insights from multi-level governance theories, the research revealed how institutions shaped drought management from the local to the national level during the 2015/2016 drought, the worst that Botswana has experienced in the last thirty years. Important lessons for understanding the governance of drought include that 1) the current framing of drought may limit risk-reduction actions, and 2) cross-sectoral platforms that bring about collaboration are not sufficient on their own: they need to be supported by the requisite capacities, individual interests, and leadership to bring about cross-sectoral integration. Therefore, in order to strengthen drought governance, its framing needs to be broadened, and local actors need to be better integrated into decision-making processes. The paper calls for a reconceptualisation of multi-level governance, as part of a broader set of governance measures for drought across scale.