Drought Toolbox
The Drought Toolbox provides tools, case studies, and other resources to support the design of National Drought Policy Plans for more drought-resilient societies and ecosystems.
Solution
22 April, 2026
A new index aims to change how the world prepares for drought
Drought does not arrive with sirens. It builds quietly—through drying soils, shrinking water supplies and wilting crops—until its impacts ripple across farms, cities and entire economies. By the time it is fully visible, the damage is often already...
Read moreCommunities of Learning and Practice on Drought Management
The CLPs are a space for professionals in drought management and associated fields to connect and learn from each other to improve their practice. Join the global CLP or the new regional communities that launched at UNCCD COP16 in December!
Priority investments to build drought resilience
Building drought resilience is easier if you know where to start. IDRA advocates for evidence-based activities that can be combined to build customized strategies for regions, countries, and communities.
Planning and Policy
Assessing needs and vulnerabilities of societies and economies to develop context-specific policies and action plans.
Information Systems
Putting in place meteorological and early warning systems and making sure that actionable information reaches all relevant sectors of society, including farmers and local governments.
Water management
Increasing water storage capacity with above- and below-ground dams and reservoirs; improving distribution networks to reduce leakage; and increasing water supply through rainwater harvesting and water biofiltering, recycling, and desalination.
Agricultural practices
Building capacity, designing incentives, and facilitating investment in drought-resistant crops, drip-irrigation systems, sustainable land management, and better livestock management
Nature-based solutions
Leveraging natural systems by promoting soil health, groundwater recharge, and integrated land and water management at the landscape level
Knowledge and Research
Combining traditional knowledge with the latest scientific and technological advances
Finance
Leveraging financial solutions like farmer insurance schemes, national resilience funds, debt restructuring, and sovereign bonds to bankroll drought-resilience investments
Awareness
Behaviour change and communications campaigns to build awareness of, and support for, drought-resilience actions
Resources
Selected reports, tools, and processes in support of drought-resilience efforts
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