Anticipatory Action: Smart, Fast and Cost-Effective Humanitarian Assistance

Anticipatory Action at the heart of the Humanitarian Reset

In a world grappling with more frequent and severe disasters and escalating humanitarian needs, the question is no longer whether to act ahead of disasters, but how to do so most effectively. With increasing pressure for limited resources, each dollar must go further. Humanitarian action must be leaner, more efficient, more local and more impactful.

Anticipatory Action (AA) - acting ahead of a predicted hazardous event to prevent or reduce impacts on lives, livelihoods and humanitarian needs - responds to these demands. Thanks to advances in forecasting and early warning, we are increasingly able to predict when a hazard is coming, where it will hit and who will be most affected. This allows us to frontload planning and programming before disasters - such as floods, cyclones, drought or disease outbreaks - hit vulnerable communities.

There is a growing body of evidence that shows how AA is cost-effective and efficient. A recent UN review of evidence documents how the approach saves money, time, lives and livelihoods, whilst also enhancing resilience, self-reliance and dignity.

The Humanitarian Reset is built on four core shifts: Define, Deliver, Devolve, and Defend. These call for tighter prioritization of needs, more effective and more efficient delivery models, stronger leadership by local actors, and renewed defense of humanitarian principles. AA advances each of these aims by:

• Saving lives, while at the same time building resilient and adaptive communities.

• Enabling faster delivery through pre-arranged financing and pre-planned activities.

• Identifying people and communities most at-risk before a disaster hits.

• Reducing humanitarian needs and protecting hardwon development gains.

• Fostering community led action and empowering local and national actors.

• Acting as a bridge to climate, development and disaster risk financing.

• Leveraging data and technology to drive decision-making, climate-smart programming and innovative financing.