Countries with Severe Drought Predicted for 2025 in Africa (Ranked by Severity)

In various parts of Africa, governments and communities are taking strides to combat the effects of drought and secure sustainable water access. Let's explore some of the initiatives being implemented in Botswana, Niger, Kenya, Senegal, and Sudan.

Botswana, facing drought in its southern and western regions in 2025, has expanded its National Drought Management Strategy. The strategy focuses on monitoring water resources, supporting farmers, and investing in small-scale irrigation projects. Additionally, community-led water harvesting systems are helping households maintain water supply during dry months, and renewable energy projects such as solar-powered boreholes are securing sustainable water access in remote areas.

In Niger, the African Union-backed Great Green Wall project is restoring degraded soil and planting millions of trees. To further improve yields in poor rainfall years, Niger is promoting zai pits and half-moon farming techniques. However, the 2025 drought has affected pasturelands and harvests of millet and sorghum, and water levels in parts of the Niger River have dropped.

Kenya faces low rainfall across its arid and semi-arid counties, affecting crop production of maize and beans and increasing livestock losses. To mitigate these effects, Kenya is advancing measures such as expanding early warning systems, investing in irrigation schemes, and promoting climate-smart agriculture.

Senegal faces limited rainfall in 2025, particularly in the northern regions, affecting agriculture and livestock. Although specific measures to manage the impact of recurring dry conditions were not detailed, Senegal is taking significant steps to address the issue.

In Sudan, unreliable rainfall in the Darfur, Kordofan, and Eastern regions is disrupting agriculture and livestock herding. The Sudanese government and local organizations have expanded irrigation networks along the Nile and increased community-led water storage projects.

International cooperation plays a crucial role in water projects in Somalia. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is involved in large-scale water infrastructure projects in partnership with various other international and local stakeholders. However, no single organization was explicitly named in the results for Somalia's water projects. Generally, international cooperation in water projects in Somalia often involves UN agencies like UNDP and UNICEF, the World Bank, and NGOs.

These examples demonstrate the proactive efforts being made by African governments and communities to address drought challenges. By implementing innovative solutions and working together, Africa is striving to secure sustainable water access and improve agricultural productivity in the face of climate change.