Unlocking the Full Potential of Anticipatory Action: VOICE Position Paper
As humanitarian crises become increasingly complex and interconnected, the need for more proactive measures to reduce suffering has never been clearer. VOICE's recent position paper outlines the importance of scaling up Anticipatory Action (AA) in order to act before crises unfold, preventing or reducing their impact on vulnerable communities.
AA involves forecasting potential hazards, such as floods, droughts, or conflicts, and implementing pre-arranged actions to mitigate their effects. It's a proactive approach that aims to protect development gains, minimize humanitarian needs, and save resources in the long run. Despite its potential, AA still represents less than 1% of total humanitarian funding, with significant challenges around funding, coordination, and integration across sectors.
VOICE’s position paper offers three key recommendations to unlock AA’s full potential:
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Increase and diversify funding: AA needs to be scaled up beyond humanitarian silos, with more accessible and flexible funding from both humanitarian and development donors.
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Prioritize inclusive, locally led action: Local communities, governments, and civil society actors must play a central role in developing and implementing AA frameworks. Their local knowledge is essential for effective early warning and risk monitoring systems.
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Integrate AA into broader donor policies: A multisectoral approach is essential. Humanitarian, development, and climate policies must align and include common standards for AA, ensuring protection, gender sensitivity, and conflict-sensitive strategies.
The time to act is now. By investing in AA, we can mitigate future crises, reduce vulnerabilities, and protect the most at-risk communities. The EU and its Member States must take bold steps to ensure AA is adequately funded, locally driven, and integrated across sectors.
