The article discusses the over-reliance on water infrastructure, particularly small water infrastructures (SWIs) like deep wells and boreholes, in pastoral drylands of sub-Saharan Africa. While SWIs are increasingly supported by climate resilience programs to address water shortages during extreme droughts, their long-term impacts on the resilience of dryland communities are unclear. The authors model the dynamics of post-drought pastoralists' responses to SWI development, highlighting that while SWIs can temporarily alleviate water shortages, they can also erode traditional adaptation practices without proper governance. The study uses a socio-hydrological model and case studies from five African drylands to illustrate how poorly governed water development can limit the long-term resilience of pastoral communities. The example of Angola's Namibe province is used to demonstrate how increased water infrastructure and population growth have led to a shift towards more sedentary water-dependent activities, potentially reducing the resilience of pastoralists to future droughts. The authors conclude that maintaining mobility is crucial for pastoralists to cope with droughts and foster long-term resilience, and suggest that water harvesting technologies and proper water governance are essential for sustainable water infrastructure development.The article discusses the over-reliance on water infrastructure, particularly small water infrastructures (SWIs) like deep wells and boreholes, in pastoral drylands of sub-Saharan Africa. While SWIs are increasingly supported by climate resilience programs to address water shortages during extreme droughts, their long-term impacts on the resilience of dryland communities are unclear. The authors model the dynamics of post-drought pastoralists' responses to SWI development, highlighting that while SWIs can temporarily alleviate water shortages, they can also erode traditional adaptation practices without proper governance. The study uses a socio-hydrological model and case studies from five African drylands to illustrate how poorly governed water development can limit the long-term resilience of pastoral communities. The example of Angola's Namibe province is used to demonstrate how increased water infrastructure and population growth have led to a shift towards more sedentary water-dependent activities, potentially reducing the resilience of pastoralists to future droughts. The authors conclude that maintaining mobility is crucial for pastoralists to cope with droughts and foster long-term resilience, and suggest that water harvesting technologies and proper water governance are essential for sustainable water infrastructure development.