Drought : Management and Mitigation Assessment for Central Asia and the Caucasus

Abstract

The objective of this study is to raise awareness and understanding of exposure and vulnerability to drought in Central Asian countries and the Caucasus and to introduce a strategic, pro-active framework of mitigation and prevention. The audiences of the report are the governments of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia in the Caucasus and Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic in Central Asia. The report will further be of interest to NGOs and civil society, as well as donors. More specifically, the report should help the ministries of, agriculture, irrigation and water resource management, environment, meteorological services, emergency services, and regional and local government (including municipalities) to improve their preparedness for future droughts. The report explores the ways that effective management and mitigation can soften the impact of drought in Central Asia and the Caucasus and reduce damage and relief and recovery costs. The inquiry begins with an examination of types of drought and exposure to them. Chapter 2 contains an analysis of vulnerabilities to drought, as well as the capacity of the disaster management structure to mitigate and respond to slow-onset natural disasters of this nature. The ensuing chapter covers different types of drought in 2000-01 (meteorological, hydrological, agricultural, and socioeconomic drought) and analyzes the measures taken to manage and mitigate them. The conclusion of the report provides recommendations concerning how international agencies including the World Bank can coordinate and synergistically assist the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus in successfully creating and implementing a drought management and mitigation strategy.