This paper pursues a methodological objective, developing and validating a structured approach for the recognition of areas under the highest levels of drought risk, suitable for data-scarce environments. The approach is based on recent scientific outcomes and methods and can be easily adapted to different contexts in subsequent exercises. The research reviews the history of hydro-meteorological drought in the south of Angola and characterizes the experienced hazard in the episode from 2012. Also, it intends to portray the socioeconomic vulnerabilities and the exposure to the phenomenon in the region to fully comprehend the risk. A list and map of these areas at high risk are two of the main outputs of this work. The results demonstrate that most of the region experienced a severe multi-year meteorological drought that was intensifying at the time of writing of this paper, and that the majority of its impacts started immediately after the rainfall anomalies appeared. Last, the study confirms that the set of indicators used reveals different facets of vulnerability, leading to different drought vulnerability profiles in the South of Angola and, consequently, to several varieties of priority areas prone to distinctive impacts.

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The effects of drought are modulated by the presence-or the absence-of appropriate policies and institutional efforts, adequate infrastructure and the degree of its functionality, among other factors. As the major droughts of the past years have proven in many countries, institutions-formal or informal-are a key determinant of drought resilience. Given a meteorological anomaly, vulnerability to drought will depend on a range of structural conditions, the management context, the state of routine maintenance and corresponding budget allocations, the presence of information systems and flows, and so forth.These factors in turn condition communities' preparedness and capacity to efficiently respond to drought when it hits.Resilience depends on the interplay of the natural environment, built infrastructure, institutions, and human behavior. Resilience is about having options, and buffers.This study responds to a request from the Government of Angola in late 2018 to help it transition from a reactive response mode to a proactive and resilience-focused model of dealing with drought in the South of Angola. Toward this end, the study presents a practical approach and actionable proposals to support the Government of Angola in its shift towards fostering climate resilience.The work presented here aims at providing a better understanding of southern Angola's vulnerability to drought, focusing on the structural conditions of access to water as well as the governance context.Based on this improved understanding, the study informs the design of key solutions, including strengthening governance to promote resilience, investing in the sustainable development of water resources, and a strategy for prioritizing related interventions across the region.This study focuses on rural communities across the South, and specifically on helping to find adequate water-access solutions for them. Its approach and findings complement parallel, ongoing efforts by the Government of Angola to increase water security through the construction of dams and water transfers in the Cuvelai, Cunene, and Cubango basins, as well as dams in the Namibe coastal basins. This study targets those rural communities that will be beyond the reach of these government efforts.