Slow-onset disasters: drought and food and livelihoods insecurity - learning from previous relief and recovery responses

This briefing paper provides a synthesis of key lessons learnt from evaluations 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. 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.