Enhancing resource allocation in drought mitigation through a group multicriteria sorting model: a case study of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Abstract

ABSTRACT Drought is a natural phenomenon that poses a significant threat to water resources in affected regions. The detrimental effects of this extreme weather event, regardless of its type, have had an impact, necessitating concrete resource allocation projects to mitigate drought. From this perspective, our research proposes a group multicriteria sorting model to support resource allocation for drought mitigation. A multicriteria sorting model was developed based on the PROMSORT method to assist the government in evaluating 14 municipalities of the Apodi-Mossoró river basin in the Rio Grande do Norte State in Brazil. This model classifies the municipalities into high, moderate, and low-priority categories, enabling targeted attention and allocation of resources for drought mitigation efforts. The research findings demonstrate that the proposed model can effectively support strategic public policies, allocate resources, and facilitate the implementation of appropriate actions, thereby focusing efforts on the city's most severely affected by drought and alleviating the adverse effects of this natural disaster