The management of drought needs a paradigm shift. The time is ripe for countries to develop and implement effective national drought policies that include all three pillars of drought action. Countries need to recognize that the traditional approach of “responding” to drought is not viable any more. By being proactive, investing in early warning systems and assessing their vulnerability, countries can emphasize “protection” rather than“recovery”.

This means understanding not only where are the most droughtstricken areas in the country but also who and what is vulnerable and why. Integrated drought early warning and monitoring systems that capture information on the incidence and severity of droughts can better identify vulnerable population groups and geographic regions.

This facilitates early action and can lead to the development and implementation of a wide variety of mitigation actions including better land management to reduce impacts from future drought events.
The worst impacts of drought can be reduced, policy makers would be better informed and vulnerable, at-risk populations more resilient. If land and water resources are managed sustainably and together, ecosystems will not just survive but thrive. Opportunities for growth and development, even in regions vulnerable to drought, will open up if water is sufficiently available.