An epic response: Innovative governance for flood and drought risk management: main report

This report presents a new framework for creating a more effective system of managing hydro-climatic risks, a system that has the potential to dramatically reduce the future human and economic toll from these events. This report is intended to bring awareness of this enormous challenge and the potential solutions to a broad audience, as well as offering a practical and detailed guide to help governments improve their flood and drought management systems. Floods and droughts take a staggering toll both in human suffering and in economic costs. A new approach thus is urgently needed to manage the large and growing risks associated with extreme hydro-climatic events. This report offers that new approach. It sets out a vision of how national governments can deal with these challenges through innovative governance, offering a comprehensive path towards a safer, more prosperous future for the world’s 7.7 billion people. This report focuses primarily on the last principle - a joined-up government. 

This report concludes that a hydro-climatic risk management system is greater than the sum of the programs. Each agency is tasked with implementing a specific set of programs. However, the effectiveness of programs mapped to other agencies will have a dramatic impact on how well the agency can perform its functions. Further, constant evaluation and adaptation at both the program and system level are required. Designing and implementing effective programs is difficult. Most programs in lower- and middle-income countries are still at the lower end of the generic program table presented below; many higher-income countries still have some less-than-effective programs, often after decades of effort. Given the stakes involved, national governments need to constantly evaluate the performance of the programs to adjust and adapt as necessary.