INTEGRATED FLOOD AND DROUGHT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (IFDMP)

INTEGRATED FLOOD AND DROUGHT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (IFDMP) The Integrated Flood and Drought Management Program (IFDMP) is a Government of Uganda initiative being implemented by the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE), through the Department of Water Resources Management (DWRM), in collaboration with other relevant Ministries, Agencies, Local Governments and Development Partners. Uganda is increasingly experiencing the adverse impacts of climate variability and change, including recurrent riverine and urban flooding, prolonged droughts and water scarcity, as well as rainfall-induced landslides. These hazards continue to affect lives and livelihoods, agriculture, water supply, infrastructure, settlements and ecosystems. Floods, droughts and landslides are closely interconnected through catchment processes and therefore require an integrated approach combining improved risk information, engineering measures, nature-based solutions, early warning, preparedness and strengthened institutional capacity. The Program encompasses Uganda's major river basins, catchments, urban centres and rural areas affected by or vulnerable to floods, droughts, landslides and associated climate-related hazards. The program will advance a proactive, science-based and integrated approach to managing Uganda's growing hydro-climatic risks, shifting from emergency response towards prevention, preparedness, resilient infrastructure, ecosystem restoration and long-term water security. Project Goal The overall goal of IFDMP is to strengthen the resilience of communities, ecosystems, infrastructure and institutions to the increasing adverse impacts of floods, droughts and landslides through integrated water resources management, climate-resilient investments and strengthened hydrological information services. Key Areas of Intervention Hydrological forecasting and early warning: Development of a National Hydrological Modelling and Forecasting System and Centre to improve monitoring, forecasting, early warning and dissemination of actionable information. Flood and landslide risk management: Flood-risk assessments and mapping, river training, drainage improvement, flood-protection infrastructure, catchment restoration, nature-based solutions and community preparedness. Drought resilience and water security: Climate-resilient water storage, groundwater management, managed aquifer recharge, water-for-production interventions, drought forecasting and climate-smart water conservation. Catchment and ecosystem restoration: Rehabilitation of degraded riverbanks, wetlands, floodplains and catchments to improve natural flood attenuation, groundwater recharge and long-term water security. Institutional and community resilience: Strengthening the capacity of national and local institutions and communities for preparedness, anticipatory action, operation, maintenance and sustainable flood and drought risk management. Expected Results This program is expected to reduce the vulnerability of communities, infrastructure and ecosystems to floods, droughts and landslides while strengthening national hydrological monitoring, forecasting and early warning. This will reduce disaster-related economic losses, disruption of livelihoods, improve water security and promote climate change resilience.