Getting Ahead of Drought Before It Hits, County by County

The Kenya Red Cross Society co-developed one of Africa's first drought Early Action Protocols, using seasonal forecasts and biophysical indicators to trigger pre-agreed support before a drought fully bites, rather than after. When forecasts flagged a severe drought in late 2022, the Society activated anticipatory action in Kitui and Kwale counties, distributing drought-tolerant, fast-maturing seeds to 3,000 farming households, rehabilitating boreholes, and pushing early-warning messages that reached over 100,000 people. The approach — backed by the British Red Cross, Netherlands Red Cross and IFRC's Disaster Response Emergency Fund — is now a template the Society reactivates each time forecasts point to trouble, most recently during a further EAP activation in 2025.