This study analyses the outcomes of early actions implemented in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia in 2017, evaluating how effective they were in mitigating the impact of severe drought on vulnerable pastoralist livelihoods and quantifying the benefits generated through acting early.

Whilst older people have special needs, they also have unique skills, experiences and roles within their families, communities and societies. These roles continue to a certain extent during droughts, though household burdens may increase as younger adults have migrated or are grazing livestock further away.

The Asian monsoon plays a major role in the variability of seasonal temperature and precipitation and the sub-seasonal statistics of these and other climate variables.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has called for a fundamental shift in the way drought is perceived and managed in the Near East and North Africa region. The agency said in a new report issued that a more pro-active approach based on the principles of risk reduction is needed to build greater resilience to droughts.