Southern Africa Needs Drought Resilience Strategies

Drought across Southern Africa is severely impacting livelihoods and posing a significant economic threat. A new World Bank report, Continental Drying: A Threat to Our Common Future, highlights the escalating crisis and the need for urgent action.

Economic Impact of Water Scarcity

The World Bank report indicates that between 600,000 and 900,000 people lose their jobs annually in Sub-Saharan Africa due to water scarcity, representing a loss of 7-9% of new jobs created. Rain-fed agriculture, relied upon by two-thirds of the region’s population, is particularly vulnerable. Rural employment decreases by 7.4 percentage points during droughts, disproportionately affecting women, older workers, landless farmers, and low-skilled laborers. The impact on landless rural farmers is nearly six times greater than average.

Global Freshwater Decline

The planet is losing 324 billion cubic meters of freshwater each year, enough to meet the needs of 280 million people. This decline is reshaping economies, threatening livelihoods, and accelerating environmental risks. Arid regions, including Southern Africa, are experiencing freshwater reserve declines of up to 10% annually. Southern Africa is identified as a region with high water demand stress, driven by inefficient agricultural practices and rising consumption.

Eswatini’s Response

A 2015-2016 El Niño-induced drought caused significant economic damage in Eswatini, consuming 19% of annual government expenditure and 7% of the country’s GDP. In response, Eswatini has implemented a comprehensive risk management transformation, integrating traditional indigenous knowledge with modern technology. This includes utilizing natural cues like bird calls to guide planting seasons and pairing this wisdom with data-driven tools, contingency planning, and policy reforms.

Policy Recommendations and Best Practices

Eswatini’s approach aligns with the Continental Drying report’s policy recommendations, focusing on curbing demand through efficient technologies, raising public awareness, supporting aquifer recharge, and improving water allocation through stronger governance and policy reforms. The nation is also investing in drought-resilient infrastructure, enhancing irrigation systems, and reinforcing water governance principles.

Regional Collaboration and the Drought Centre of Excellence

Eswatini has taken a leadership role in regional collaboration, hosting the Southern and Eastern Africa DRM Forum and launching a Drought Centre of Excellence in September 2025. This center will serve as a hub for research, policy, and capacity building, strengthening a regional network for resilience. The forum brought together representatives from 15 countries and fostered knowledge exchange. Eswatini also showcased the Art Never Dries project, which engages students in creating art focused on water conservation and resilience.

World Bank Support for Regional Initiatives

The World Bank Group supports regional efforts through initiatives such as the Southern Africa Drought Resilience Initiative (SADRI), the Regional Climate Resilience Program (RCRP), and the Defying Drought (D2) Impact Program. These programs, combined with global tools like the Drought Risk and Resilience Assessment (DRRA), aim to catalyze funding for scaling up solutions.

Call for Joint Action

Addressing the drought crisis requires aligned policies, data sharing, and co-investment in resilience across Southern African nations. Collective action is essential to secure prosperity, create jobs, and ensure a sustainable future, transforming vulnerability into strength.