In the framework of the project “Adapting small-scale irrigation to climate change in West and Central Africa”, farmers from Gambia explain the devastating impacts of climate change on their farming activities: late start of the rains, droughts, erratic rain falls and heavy rains in short periods result in crop failure and low productivity, with a terrible impact on household livelihood

In 2016, one of the strongest El Niño events witnessed in the past 50 years struck. Mozambique, like many other countries in southern Africa was not spared. Thousands of farmers were left destitute as they helplessly watched their livestock die and crops fail as a severe drought raged on. FAO partnered with the government to respond to the situation.

To meet the Sustainable Development Goals, the world needs to move faster from a crisis-led response to a proactive approach that reduces impacts, builds resilience and allows people to cope with drought. The tools, systems and techniques are already available.

FAO recognizes the potential of rural women and men in achieving food and water security and nutrition and is committed to overcoming gender inequality, in line with the pledge to “Leave No One Behind”, which is at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda.

In 2016, FAO published a report entitled “Drought Characteristics and Management in the Caribbean”. The report was one of a series of reports that emerged from a study on drought characterization and management in drought-prone regions of the world, conducted in partnership with the Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute of the University of Lincoln-Nebraska between 2012 and 2015.

Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) provide a mechanism for supporting countries to implement their INDC and achieve a number of SDGs by enhancing agricultural productivity, supporting food security and rural development while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Agriculture-based activities remain the primary source of livelihood for rural households, either directly or indirectly. Expert consultations have enabled identification of major livelihood systems in the region that are geographically located by reclassifying the agricultural systems map and including additional criteria and mapping layers.

In August 2015, torrential rains and heavy flooding from tropical storm Erika destroyed the homes, infrastructure and entire agricultural stocks of many farmers in Dominica, causing damages and losses equivalent to nearly 90 percent of Dominica’s GDP. In response, FAO approved the project “Emergency Assistance to Restore Agricultural Productivity of the Communities affected by tropical Storm"

Water accounting is the foundation of sound water management decisions. Water auditing goes one step further than water accounting by placing trends in water supply, demand, accessibility and use in the broader context of governance, institutions, public and private expenditure, legislation and the wider political economy of water in specified domains of interest

The project provides a detailed assessment of agricultural water use, including its productivity, its value-in-use, and its efficiency during the water use process, giving the countries handles to adapt their water policy and improve their water management in the future through strategic interventions to increase their capacity to cope with water scarcity.