ABSTRACT
Drought is a major risk factor for sustaining livelihoods in Botswana. A drought hazard may be triggered by a more or less sudden precipitation deficiency, but it also always includes disruptions of interrelations within and between the physical environment and the social and economic spheres. The unpredictability of drought events requires a constant variation and adaptation of household strategies in order to cope with drought-induced restrictions. If drought actually strikes and food becomes scarce, what is left is very often shared with friends, relatives and neighbours. Governmental drought relief is based on three major components that are human relief, compensation measures for lost agricultural incomes, and protection of productive rural assets. The measures to protect productive rural assets are probably the most questionable components of drought relief in Botswana. The true socio-economic consequences of the employment measures for vulnerable households and village communities have not yet been clearly identified and also need further analysis.
