Towards more connection in drought and flood management in the transboundary Limpopo basin

This study describes a multi-disciplinary and mixed-methods research in the Limpopo River Basin, southern Africa. The methodology included hydrometeorological data analysis to identify drought and flood events, group discussions with 240 local community participants about drought and flood processes, impacts and preparedness, and interviews with 36 (inter)national and regional water managers and policymakers about drought and flood governance, early warning and communication. Improved drought and flood management in semi-arid transboundary basins requires a better understanding of the connections between dry and wet extremes, surface water and groundwater, upstream and downstream, and local communities and formal governance actors.

Recommendations focus on the areas as follows: flood and drought impacts and preparedness, flood benefits, integrated training, flood preparedness, transboundary treaty and forecast-based action, subsurface water storage, avoid maladaptive consequences, community benefits, collaborative approach, role of intermediaries, upstream measures.