Anticipatory Action

FAO is forging a way for a faster, more effective humanitarian system by shifting from disaster response to anticipation.
Anticipatory action is changing the way we manage disasters. Acting ahead of crises means protecting people's lives and livelihoods with benefits that reach far into the future.
Disasters are predictable. Thanks to technological advances, early warning information is more accurate and readily available than ever before. The FAO anticipatory action approach uses risk analysis and forecasts to trigger interventions
before a crisis escalates into a humanitarian emergency. This is particularly critical in the agriculture sector. For small-scale farmers, heeding early warning signals can make the difference between a shock and a crisis.
Related links
News

News
Anticipatory action helps flood-affected communities in Cameroon’s Far North
25/05/2023
Early warning, anticipatory action and rapid response help villagers bounce back from floods

News
Threat of El Niño looms, FAO prepares anticipatory actions with Members and partners
27/04/2023
Weather reversal pattern points to higher drought risks in southern Africa and Central America and Far East Asia

News
FAO Director-General addresses the launch of the Early Warnings initiative for the Caribbean
06/02/2023
The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, today addressed the launch in Bridgetown, Barbados...
Publications

Publications
Annual report 2024: Norway’s contribution to the Special Fund for Emergency and Resilience Activities
05/2025
The Special Fund for Emergency and Resilience Activities (SFERA) enables the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to respond...

Publications
El Niño 2023–2024: Evidence from FAO's anticipatory action interventions - May 2025
05/2025
Ahead of the 2023–2024 El Niño-induced hazards, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) implemented anticipatory actions in...

Publications
Saving lives, time and money: Evidence from anticipatory action - May 2025
05/2025
In the context of an existential funding crisis, soaring levels of humanitarian need and a spiralling number of extreme weather events, each dollar...
Project highlights

Publications
Colombia: Project Highlights - OSRO/COL/135/GER
04/2025
Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, through the Special Fund for Emergency and Rehabilitation Activities - Anticipatory Action Window, contributed USD...

Publications
Subregional West Africa: Project Highlights - OSRO/SFW/007/GER
03/2025
The Federal Government of Germany, contributed USD 3 million, through the Special Fund for Emergency and Rehabilitation Activities – Anticipatory Action...

Publications
Somalia: Project Highlights - UTF/SOM/067/SOM
03/2025
The Government of the Federal Republic of Somalia and the World Bank contributed USD 13 177 000 to the FAO project , "Anticipatory action and early...
Multimedia
Video
Community Perspectives on Anticipatory Action in the Asia and the Pacific Region
17/03/2025
When disasters strike, communities are often the first to act to protect their families and neighbours. In response to the increasing frequency and...

Photo Collection
Niger: Anticipatory Actions to mitigate the impact of floods
19/02/2024
Thanks to funding from the German Federal Foreign Office, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is implementing Anticipatory...
Video
Government Perspectives on Anticipatory Action in the Asia and the Pacific Region
17/03/2025
In response to the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters, governments across the Asia-Pacific region are protecting livelihoods and...