Australian and U.S. Drought Policy Experiences:

Are Lessons Learned Transferable to Africa?

Dr. Donald A. Wilhite, Director

National Drought Mitigation Center

University of Nebraska

Lincoln, Nebraska U.S.A.

U.S. and Australia:A Comparative Analysis

U.S. and Australia drought prone nationsNational government has played a major role in the provision of drought assistanceBoth governments have traditionally approached drought management via crisis management (response/reactive)Recent severe drought events continue to foster an ongoing debate on policies and management strategies

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1895 1905 1915 1925 1935 1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995

Based on data from the National Climatic Data Center/NOAA

Percent Area of the United States in Severe and Extreme Drought

January 1895–November 2004

Drought occurs virtually every year in the U.S.

Recent 1999 to current drought event

Rainfall percentiles

Australian Drought

March 2002-January 2003

History of Australian Drought Policy

Until 1989, drought was officially considered a natural disasterRelief was via State Governments, and increasingly, the national Government often on an ad hoc basisIn 1989-early 1990s, official view changed – drought should be viewed as a natural part of the Australian environment, and farmers should adopt a risk management approachIn July 1992, a National Drought Policy was formally agreed

Australia’s National Drought Policy: 1992

Principles:Encourage primary producers and other sections of rural Australia to adopt self-reliant approaches to managing climate variabilityMaintain and protect Australia’s agricultural and environmental resource base during extreme climatic stressEnsure early recovery of agricultural and rural industries, consistent with long term sustainable levels

Australia’s National Drought Policy

Core principle of self-reliance, i.e. farmers in best position to develop agronomic systems, practices, and business strategies to manage agriculture drought

Moved drought policy from subsidy-based, crisis driven approach

Focused rural Australia on developing risk management strategies to manage climate and market variability

Australian Drought Policy Components

Role of government is to provide farmers with skills/tools to help manage in self-reliant fashion

Research into climate variability and predictions

Seasonal climate predictions

Decision support tools

Training and educations

Tax incentives and social support

Increase resiliency to drought through proactive, mitigation measures

Drought Exceptional Circumstances (DEC)—1995

Direct government intervention warranted only whenDrought is “exceptional” event (i.e., rare and severe)

Rare = 1 in 20 year eventSevere = >12 consecutive months or 3 consecutive failed seasonsDrought must affect a significant portion of businesses in the region

Raised questions and debate over the criteria to be used to make this decision

U.S. Progress in Drought Planning and Policy

Before early 1980s, states relied on federal government for assistanceEarly 1980s saw a rapid increase in state drought response plansEmphasis on response planning continues 1996Increasing number of state plans with emphasis on mitigation planning, i.e., risk managementCurrently, 38 states with drought plansMovement by states to emphasize drought planning has placed pressure on the federal government to develop a risk-based national policy

States with plans emphasizing response

Drought plans under revision

States with plans emphasizing mitigation

States developing long-term plans

States delegating drought planning to local authorities

States without drought plans

Status of Drought Planning January 2005 Key Components of

Drought Plans include

• Monitoring, prediction, and early warning

• Risk and impact assessment

• Mitigation and response

Benefits of Drought Plans

Proactive, emphasizes mitigation and response

Improves coordination between and within levels of government organizational structure

Enhances early warning through integrated monitoring efforts

Involves stakeholders

Benefits of Drought Plans continued

Identifies areas, groups, sectors at risk

Reduces economic, environmental, and social impacts (i.e., risk)

Reduces conflicts between water users

Improves information dissemination better delivery systems

Builds public awareness

National Drought Preparedness Act

Creates National Drought CouncilFederal and non-federal members

National Office of Drought Preparedness

Emphasis on risk management

Promotes drought preparedness planning

National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS)

Conclusions

Political will must be present to change the drought management paradigmLeadership and the appropriate organizational framework is critical—collaboration/partnerships within and between levels of government is essential in drought planning and policy developmentStakeholders must be involved early and often in the development of policies and plansPublic education and awareness building is critical for decision makers, policy makers, the media, and the public

Conclusions

Transitioning from crisis to risk-based drought management requires additional financial resources up front to implement mitigation measuresRisk-based management will lessen impacts and the need for government and donor intervention through improved self-relianceA risk-based management approach requires improved assessment tools and higher resolution analysis to better target mitigation actions and response programs

Conclusions

Information for decision support must be efficiently delivered to users that are trained in the application of the information

Nations can learn from one another, adapting monitoring and risk and impact assessment tools and planning methodologies to national needs

Drought plans and policies must be dynamic, incorporating lessons learned and changing societal vulnerability because drought risk is a product of both exposure to the hazard and the vulnerability of society to the hazard (i.e., the social dimension of drought) Risk = Hazard x Vulnerability

Visit the NDMC

drought.unl.edu

dwilhite2@unl.edu