ALNAP Lessons Paper: Slow-onset disasters; drought and food and livelihoods insecurity

This briefing paper provides a synthesis of key lessons learnt from evaluations1 of relief and recovery responses to past slow-onset disasters – particularly drought, and food and livelihoods insecurity. The paper is intended for people working in relief and recovery operations for slow-onset disasters – those who have to decide if, when and how to intervene. It is part of a series focusing on lessons learnt in relief and recovery, developed by ALNAP (www.alnap.org) and the ProVention Consortium (www.proventionconsortium.org). Evaluations concerning the Americas, Africa and Asia were reviewed, but evaluations from Africa predominate, especially those from East and Southern Africa. This reflects disaster trends during the period covered, from 1985 to 2007.2 For further reference, a listing of key resources and a bibliography of the evaluations reviewed are included at the end of the paper.