Drought is a natural characteristic of Ceará's semiarid region and has shaped the region's social, economic, and environmental development throughout its history. Although Ceará has developed important strategies for living with water scarcity, drought continues to require continuous planning to reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen water resources management.
Historically, drought responses have been predominantly reactive and emergency-driven, implemented only after the impacts have occurred. In perennial river valleys, this challenge is further intensified by the complexity of water management, which involves multiple reservoirs, diverse water users, and competing demands. In this context, proactive planning is essential to reduce the impacts of drought and strengthen the resilience and response capacity of affected territories.
To address these challenges, the Chief Scientist Program – Water Resources, funded by the Ceará Foundation for Scientific and Technological Development Support (FUNCAP) and developed in partnership with CEPAS/UFC and COGERH, established the Proactive Drought Management Plans initiative. The program replaces reactive responses with participatory drought planning processes involving River Basin Committees, Reservoir Management Commissions, Valley Operation Commissions, COGERH Regional Offices, and universities. Together, these stakeholders define coordinated actions for the different stages of drought, enabling territories to anticipate and prepare for its impacts.
The project's objective is to develop Proactive Drought Management Plans for the hydrosystems and perennial river valleys of the State of Ceará, while advancing innovative methods, techniques, management tools, and organizational approaches to support the implementation of Ceará's Proactive Drought Management Policy.
Who Funds This Project?
This project is funded by the Ceará Foundation for Scientific and Technological Development Support (FUNCAP),in partnership with the Ceará State Secretariat for Water Resources (SRH) and the Ceará Water Resources Management Company (COGERH)..
Who Participates?
The project brings together a wide range of stakeholders, including the interdisciplinary teams responsible for developing the plans, water resources managers from the State of Ceará, and participatory governance bodies, such as River Basin Committees, Reservoir Management Commissions and Perennial River Valley Operation Commissions..
The diagnostic assessment of the Acaraú Valley is currently under development. diagnóstico do Vale do Acaraú.
The modeling methodology and the development stages of the Jaguaribe–Metropolitan Drought Management Plan are currently being developed. metodologia de modelagem e as etapas de elaboração do Plano do Jaguaribe-Metropolitanas.
The project's main contribution is to strengthen proactive drought management in the State of Ceará by moving beyond the traditional view of drought as an exceptional event requiring only emergency responses. Through forward-looking planning, the identification of vulnerabilities, impacts, and drought-related conflicts, and the definition of actions for different drought conditions, the project enhances the preparedness and response capacity of territories, contributing to greater resilience in the face of this defining characteristic of the semiarid region.
By anticipating the impacts of drought and promoting participatory planning, the Proactive Drought Management Plans strengthen the resilience of communities and territories, reduce the impacts of drought, and support sustainable coexistence with the semiarid region.
The Strategic Center of Excellence for Water and Drought Policies at the Federal University of Ceará. Advancing research, innovation, and management for sustainable coexistence with the semiarid region.
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