Drought · Drought coping strategies in southern Africa 1966-2016

Drought coping strategies in southern Africa 1966-2016

The project addresses the inadequacies of drought coping initiatives in post-colonial southern Africa over half a century- 1966-2016. The study attempts to find lasting solutions to wide ranging drought risks, particularly scarcities in food, incomes, water and pastures. It researches in detail the elements of success and failure in drought solutions building upon layers of local experience of drought and drought coping. Drought solutions are worthy studying because drought threats are huge, ongoing and worsening in a world experiencing hitherto unknown El Nino induced drought and life-threatening climatic changes. The project informs topical livelihood issues of profound socio-economic importance to millions of people. It has direct practical as well as academic value for drought responders like farmers, churches, donors, governments and NGOs. The results are quite important for society providing holistic knowledge, tangible and intangible drought mitigation measures in different southern African communities. Sustainable livelihood approaches in the study deploy factors and processes which either constrain or enhance poor people’s ability to make a living in an economically, ecologically, and socially sustainable manner. The project interrogates and evaluates the efficacy of drought or shangwa coping measures. It aimed to build an evidence base which breaks new ground to facilitate the generation of practical and significant novel proposals for drought disaster preparedness and management in real-life socio-economic difficulties induced by intermittent drought. The project sought to tap into and rely largely on the knowledge of rural farmers rather than established authorities. It aimed to learn and gain insights by being genuinely consultative and by being grassroots based. ‘Experts’ and NGOs were not ignored but it was farmers who were central to the project. The project objectives created a grassroots discussion, crucially gathering drought coping ideas and experiences.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union