Development Of An Anticipatory Action Plan For Drought Hazard In Sri Lanka Report Of The Development Of An Anticipatory Action Plan For Drought Hazard In Galenbindunuwewa Divisional Secretariat Areas Anuradhapura Sri Lanka 6 June 2023

This report underscores the escalating threat of climate disasters to global populations, emphasizing the heightened vulnerability of Sri Lanka, an island nation susceptible to diverse climate-related hazards. With floods, landslides, droughts, cyclones, and other extreme events on the rise due to climate change, the inevitability of future disasters looms large. Urgent proactive measures are imperative to address this pressing issue, as the population is ill-prepared to handle severe consequences without comprehensive and anticipatory strategies. The report stresses the need for leveraging existing forecasting capacities into actionable responsibilities and fostering a proactive response to safeguard communities from adverse effects. Anticipatory action emerges as a crucial approach within comprehensive disaster risk management, particularly suited for Sri Lanka. The report highlights the importance of transitioning predictive capabilities into actionable responsibilities, emphasizing the commitment to act upon warnings to safeguard all segments of the population. The Sri Lanka Anticipatory Action for Disaster Mitigation activities, conducted in collaboration with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and World Vision Lanka (WVL), seeks to set a model for effective disaster mitigation strategies. The report focuses on the Galenbindunuweva Divisional Secretariat areas in the Anuradhapura district, identified as the most vulnerable to drought, and outlines the objectives, processes, and tools involved in the development of Anticipatory Action Protocols. Anticipatory action emerges as a crucial approach within comprehensive disaster risk management, particularly suited for Sri Lanka. The report highlights the importance of transitioning predictive capabilities into actionable responsibilities, emphasizing the commitment to act upon warnings to safeguard all segments of the population. The Sri Lanka Anticipatory Action for Disaster Mitigation activities, conducted in collaboration with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and World Vision Lanka (WVL), seeks to set a model for effective disaster mitigation strategies. The report focuses on the Galenbindunuweva Divisional Secretariat areas in the Anuradhapura district, identified as the most vulnerable to drought, and outlines the objectives, processes, and tools involved in the development of Anticipatory Action Protocols. The report details the process of Anticipatory Action Plan development, emphasizing community engagement through community risk assessments, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. It underscores the importance of empowering communities, reducing the impact of potential hazards through timely responses, and encouraging innovative approaches to disaster preparedness and response. The development process involves a comprehensive approach, ensuring a participatory and holistic development of Anticipatory Action Protocols. The report also provides a summary of recommendations derived from field visits, including the introduction of a National Anticipatory Action Framework, establishment of Technical Advisory Committees, stakeholder capacity development, and improvements in early warning dissemination. The report concludes with an Early Action Protocol overview, detailing the overall objective, target areas, beneficiaries, triggers, and next steps for implementation.