As Consultant, we successfully undertook the development of Drought Management Plans for all 14 city councils and town boards across the Kingdom of Eswatini. Commissioned by the Eswatini Water Services Corporation (EWSC), the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), and the World Bank, our objective was to design comprehensive, actionable strategies to enhance drought resilience and preparedness across urban areas.

Our approach was centered on a robust stakeholder and community engagement process, ensuring that each plan reflected local needs, priorities, and institutional realities. A key component of our work involved conducting a drought risk and vulnerability assessment, which included analyzing historical drought occurrences, assessing existing disaster risk management policies, and identifying institutional capacities and gaps. This assessment informed the development of a fit-for-purpose drought monitoring and early warning system, leveraging both existing and emerging technologies to provide timely and reliable data for decision-making.

Beyond risk assessment, we identified and formulated operational drought mitigation measures, established contingency response procedures, and recommended policy developments or amendments where necessary. Additionally, we designed a communication strategy to ensure effective information dissemination and awareness, alongside an implementation framework to enable practical execution of the plans at both municipal and national levels.

Our methodology followed a structured process, beginning with the preparation of an inception report, followed by data collection and situation assessment. This involved compiling secondary literature, conducting desk reviews on drought occurrences and their impacts, evaluating the role of government in drought management, assessing existing policies and preparedness activities, and consulting with key stakeholders. We also conducted a drought vulnerability assessment, considering exposure levels, institutional capacity, historical drought impacts, and existing challenges.

Based on these findings, we developed Drought Management Plans (DMPs) that incorporated a planning framework, operational components, and drought monitoring and early warning systems. To facilitate effective implementation, we designed a DMP Implementation Framework, ensuring that strategies translated into actionable steps. Additionally, we developed a communication and awareness strategy, delivered capacity-building training and workshops, and prepared a final technical report, along with the handover of all relevant data and findings.

Through this consultancy, we provided Eswatini’s cities and towns with the tools and strategies needed to enhance climate resilience and water security. By integrating scientific analysis, policy recommendations, and stakeholder collaboration, our work contributed to the establishment of more drought-resilient urban environments, ensuring sustainable water management and long-term preparedness for future climate challenges.