Saving lives, time and money – Evidence from anticipatory action, May 2025

We are in unchartered territory. An existential funding crisis, soaring levels of humanitarian need and a spiralling number of extreme weather events. Each dollar we spend must go further. There is key evidence showing that anticipatory action provides a cost-effective and efficient way for life-saving assistance that addresses humanitarian needs while strengthening resilience to predictable risks. Strong interagency coordination amplifies these benefits by improving resource allocation, reducing duplication of efforts, and fostering a more cohesive and timelier, prioritized response. The non-exhaustive list of findings outlined below is drawn from evidence generated by a number of organizations, reflecting broad insights and experiences from across the sector.

This document was originally published at https://www.unocha.org/publications/report/world/saving-lives-time-and-money-evidence-anticipatory-action-may-2025