General Assessment of Drought Management and Proposals

Current drought management in Chile is fragmented, with various public and private institutions addressing drought issues at multiple levels, often without coordination or a clear strategy. Chile’s response to drought is primarily reactive, focusing on damage mitigation. An effective strategy is essential to decentralize drought management, engage affected communities, enhance local capacities, and transition from crisis response to preventative risk management. This chapter systematizes the main gaps, challenges and problems that currently exist in drought management in Chile, from a legal, institutional, economic, and environmental point of view. Subsequently, we evaluate the performance of drought management in Chile by examining six policy dimensions using a qualitative methodology that incorporates various information sources, including empirical data and stakeholder insights. This assessment reviews drought management through the lens of risk management, pinpointing crucial policy deficiencies. Finally, a set of public policy recommendations to improve drought management in Chile is proposed.