Adaptive mechanisms to drought risk management in a KwaZulu-Natal community, South Africa

Findings from the study suggest that the community is highly vulnerable to droughts and disaster risks because of poor adaptive mechanisms, overreliance on water-dependent activities and lack of adequate support from different stakeholders. Community members use different mechanisms <i>during</i>- and <i>ex-post</i>-drought, depending on the stage or severity of the drought. The government and stakeholders should promote community awareness and early warning systems for droughts to mitigate disaster risks. These initiatives should ideally be combined with strengthening existing response measures and educating communities to adequately prepare for droughts and their aftermath.