The Integrated Drought Management Programme (IDMP) was launched by the World Meteorological Organization and the Global Water Partnership at the High Level Meeting on National Drought Policy in March 2013. IDMP works with a wide range of partners with the objective of supporting stakeholders at all levels. IDMP provides its partners with policy and management guidance through globally coordinated generation of scientific information and sharing best practices and knowledge for integrated drought management. It contributes to the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS), especially regarding the GFCS priority areas of disaster risk reduction, water, agriculture and food security, energy and health. It especially seeks to support regions and countries in developing more proactive drought policies and better predictive mechanisms. This handbook contributes to that objective.