Building climate resilience in Kurunegala: capacity building on drought anticipatory action and AWARE Platform utilization

Kurunegala District, one of Sri Lanka’s most drought-prone regions, faces increasing climate risks due to rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns. These changes significantly impact agriculture, water availability, and community livelihoods. To strengthen local preparedness, a two-day capacity-building program was conducted in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), and the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society. The training targeted officials from key government agencies in the Polpithigama, Ehetuwewa, and Galgamuwa Divisional Secretariat areas prioritized for drought interventions. The program aimed to enhance understanding of Anticipatory Action, validate analytical findings on historical drought trends, and identify sector-specific early actions for agriculture, livestock, Inland fisheries, and WASH. Participants were introduced to core concepts of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), impact-based forecasting, drought risk mapping, and the operationalization of anticipatory protocols. A major component of the training focused on hands-on use of the AWARE platform for early warning, early action, and early financing. Through interactive sessions, group exercises, and technical demonstrations, the participants gained practical skills to design and activate anticipatory actions before drought impacts intensify. The workshop concluded with a clear way forward for developing drought Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), operational plans, and strengthened institutional collaboration to enhance climate resilience in Kurunegala.