Risk mitigation measures

Proactive drought risk management could save lives and the livelihoods of millions of people.

From a reactive to a proactive approach

Despite the costly emergency funding, deficiency of effectiveness, and lack of long-term vulnerability and sustainability causes, in many countries, the reactive approach to drought prevails nearly every time. The principles of risk reduction and prevention adopted as a proactive approach are an urgent need in order to switch from "crisis" management to "risk" management (Brüntrup et al. 2017).

Switching from reactive to a proactive approach to drought is a key topic in Risk Mitigation. 

Drought risk mitigation measures

There are practical measures that can be taken immediately. Both measures and actions also called drought risk management options, build greater resilience to drought or reduce the impacts of drought. These measures concern all sectors affected by drought, based on their vulnerabilities. However, working with nature and understanding the necessary combination of measures is particularly important for the sectors reliant on the availability of water and ecosystems services.

People and Ecosystem Resilience

Examples of Solutions for Risk Mitigation are:

• The exploration of drought-tolerant crops,
• The expansion of crop insurance schemes,
• The establishment of alternative livelihood’s income diversification in drought-prone areas,  
• The development of sustainable irrigation schemes for crops and livestock, and
• Water harvesting schemes that could boost the recycling and resources of water.

Also, ecological benefits are originated by the nature-based solutions to drought, involving mitigation and adaptation to climate change as well as risk reduction to natural hazards.