Focus AreasTrust Funds and CentresCross-Cutting Areas and InitiativesSearch |
Drought Relief, Mitigation & PreparednessThis category essentially covers projects that were a direct response to the human suffering caused by the prolonged drought in the late 60s and early 70s. These projects were implemented primarily under UNSO's initial, relief related mandate and concerned mainly the West African countries organized in the Permanent Inter-state Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS). They were implemented with a view to mitigate the effects of the drought and to help the governments of the respective countries and the population in the affected areas to better cope with the crisis situation. Interventions included mainly the construction of access roads but also water supply and agricultural support projects.Initial efforts focused on ensuring access to the affected regions through the construction and/or rehabilitation of roads and in certain cases of landing strips, coastal maritime and on rail transport. These projects were initially established to facilitate the distribution of emergency food aid in remote areas affected by the drought. Later projects were broadened to include road construction to support agricultural and rural development. Such operations where implemented in the context of other programmes to facilitate the transport of produce and of agricultural imports as well as to allow access to new exploitable resources The water supply projects were implemented also mainly in the context of drought mitigation and with a view to strengthen drought preparedness of the vulnerable populations. Activities were related to water use planning, rain water harvesting, management of water channels and wells, exploration of water resources (drilling, earth dams) and their use for agricultural and agro-pastoral purposes, drinking water production, etc. The new or rehabilitated transport infrastructures generally proved to be important assets for development of the concerned regions, as they facilitated contacts, movement of people and goods, and thus access to supplies, markets and services. However, mitigation efforts naturally fell short of addressing adequately the long-term need for a coherent drought preparedness system. Also, dealing effectively with the chronic problem of desertification requires other types of interventions. A more comprehensive approach was required to strengthen the necessary capacities at all levels, to protect and regenerate degraded lands and to support livelihood options for the populations at risk. The summaries below illustrate primarily the drought relief efforts in the context of road construction projects:
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Land Management Topics
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