A dangerous delay: the cost of late response to early warnings in the 2011 drought in the Horn of Africa
This briefing examines the factors that allowed a drought in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Djibouti to develop into a full-scale crisis of hunger and livelihoods. Its main focus is the response of international aid system, although the ultimate importance of enhanced resilience for the communities themselves is recognised. The recommendations include to: (i) act decisively on information from early warning systems and not wait for certainty before responding; and (ii) actively seek to reduce drought risk in all activities, ensuring that long-term development interventions increase resilience and adapt to the changing context.