Navigating the Drought: A Phenomenographic Exploration of Crisis Management Experiences Among Irrigation Office Staff

This phenomenographic study examined the varying ways in which irrigation office staff experience and manage drought crises within irrigation governance. Written interviews with 18 purposively selected participants revealed conceptions spanning reactive firefighting to proactive, resilient adaptive management. The findings underscore the critical importance of preparedness, multi-stakeholder collaboration, flexible resource allocation, and frontline discretion in effective drought crisis response. The study recommends investment in early warning systems, capacity-building for adaptive management, strengthened partnerships, and psychological support for staff. These contributions enhance understanding of drought resilience in irrigation systems and offer practical guidance for improving crisis management practices in water resource governance.