Enhancing Climate Resilience in Dryland Mixed Crop–Livestock Systems Through Integrated Water Monitoring and Early Warning: A Perception-Based Exploratory Impact Assessment

Drought remains a persistent challenge affecting agricultural and pastoral livelihoods, particularly in dryland mixed crop–livestock systems. Water Monitoring and Early Warning Systems (WM-EWS) have increasingly been promoted as tools for delivering climate information services and supporting drought-related decision-making. However, empirical understanding of how users perceive and engage with such systems in pastoral contexts remains limited. This study explores stakeholder perceptions regarding the usefulness and operational relevance of a WM-EWS implemented in the Borana zone of Ethiopia. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining survey data from 71 purposively selected mixed stakeholders with qualitative insights obtained through focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Findings indicate that respondents widely reported using WM-EWS information for water-related decision-making and perceived the system as useful in supporting drought preparedness and adaptive responses. Participants associated WM-EWS use with perceived changes in areas such as livestock management, access to water-related information, and coordination among stakeholders. Respondents also reported adopting multiple coping strategies, including early livestock sales, strategic herd mobility, and engagement with external support mechanisms. Respondents perceived fewer conflicts over water resources and greater engagement from humanitarian actors following WM-EWS implementation. Overall, the study provides exploratory insights into stakeholder experiences, perceived usefulness, and operational relevance of user-centered WM-EWS in drought-prone pastoral systems. The findings contribute to understanding how pastoral communities engage with climate information services while highlighting the need for future research using objective and longitudinal approaches to assess system effectiveness more rigorously.