Social-ecological systems approach in drought-food insecurity nexus research

Drought is increasingly seen as the next “pandemic,” threatening global populations and progress towards achieving zero hunger by 2030. Although drought and food security are well-researched, no studies synthesize the progress and gaps in drought-food insecurity research using the social-ecological systems (SES) approach. Through a systematic review of 186 peer-reviewed studies in Asia and Africa, sourced from Web of Science and Scopus, we identified knowledge gaps and application of an SES approach in the drought-food insecurity nexus. Most studies focused on either social or ecological perspectives; applied quantitative approaches; did not specify drought types; emphasized food availability and access; and did not assess adaptation strategies. The key gap identified was the limited application of a holistic SES approach for achieving the zero-hunger goal. Unlike traditional approaches, our proposed conceptual framework offers a holistic lens for investigating SES components and their complex relationships, and new inquiries in the drought-food insecurity nexus.