Planning for Appropriate Response and Relief within the Framework of National Drought Policy

There is a need to move from reactive to proactive approaches within the framework of national drought management policy. There is also a need to establish interlinkages between early warning, preparedness, and longterm resilience building. Appropriate approaches should consider the cross-sectoral and multidisciplinary nature of drought management, and strengthen collaborative decision-making. It is crucial to engage all stakeholders concerned, including private sectors, and to seek coordination of response measures at all levels.

To cover the issue of planning for appropriate response and relief within the framework of national drought policy, a plenary session was held in which Dr. Harvey Hill, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, presented The Invitational Drought Tournament: Can It Support Drought Preparedness and Response? (Hill et al. 2014). This presentation was followed by comments from three discussants from the United States, Italy, and Switzerland.

The following recommendations were made on the issue of planning for appropriate response and relief within the framework of national drought policy:

• • Bridge the gaps between early warning and preparedness by utilizing traditional and newly developed tools to evaluate cross-sectoral impacts and the effects of relief measures.
• • Enhance better understanding of drought phenomena and the associated risks and implications at all levels.
• • Encourage immediate assistance (quick response) in a science-based and user-oriented manner.
• • Promote the application of tools in support of proactive response, risk reduction, and long-term adaptation.
• • The invitational drought tournament (IDT) approach could serve as a model to engage stakeholders in coordinated discussions and planning for drought events preparedness and response in the main sectors.
• • IDT could serve as support for institutional preparedness and response to drought by providing frameworks within which to conduct assessments, identify strengths/gaps in preparedness and response, build upon assets, and address vulnerabilities.