Anticipatory action is here to stay: El Salvador hosts its first National Dialogue Platform
Bringing together nearly 100 representatives from government institutions, international organizations, civil society, academia and local communities, El Salvador convened its first National Dialogue Platform on Anticipatory Action in October, under the theme 'Anticipatory action is already at home: by all, for all, and here to stay'.
The event was held in San Salvador as part of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction and the National Disaster Risk Reduction Week, highlighting the country’s commitment to act before crises occur. It marked a historic milestone by establishing, for the first time in El Salvador, a national space for reflection and exchange on this innovative approach. Its objective was to strengthen coordination among humanitarian, institutional, academic and community actors to act early against threats that endanger people and their livelihoods.
The agenda included discussions on national progress and challenges, presentations of community experiences and lessons learned, technical and educational sessions, and the definition of institutional and intersectoral cooperation commitments.
This first edition provided Civil Protection with an opportunity to engage, learn and reflect on the roles of different sectors in implementing anticipatory action at local and national levels, and to strengthen synergies that help protect communities from threats.
For the Salvadoran Red Cross, these spaces are essential because they promote innovative approaches that save lives. With the technical support of the German Red Cross, the IFRC, and the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, we continue working to strengthen community resilience and improve humanitarian response.
At FAO, we promote anticipatory action as a strategic tool to protect lives and rural livelihoods before disasters strike, preventing losses that worsen food insecurity and fostering community empowerment.
From the Observatory of Threats and Natural Resources, as a scientific body, we are the ones who generate the forecasts that serve as the basis for decision-making. We are the entity that establishes rainfall thresholds and analytical parameters, which contribute to enabling anticipatory actions according to the phenomena that may, at some point, threaten the territory.
Images from the dialogue platform
From global vision to local impact
Over the past decade, anticipatory action has evolved from an emerging innovation into a key practice within the humanitarian system. Several National Red Cross Societies across Latin America, supported by partners such as the German Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), FAO and the World Food Programme (WFP), have led its implementation in the region.
The Anticipation Hub has promoted dialogue platforms at global and regional levels in countries such as Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama and Peru. In 2024, Ecuador hosted the first national edition in South America, and El Salvador became the first country in Central America to hold its own national dialogue platform, marking a decisive step towards the localization of anticipatory action.
Watch a video from the event here (in Spanish).
Play Video
The 1st National Dialogue Platform in El Salvador was organized by the Anticipation Hub, an initiative of the German Red Cross, the IFRC and the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, with financial support from the German Federal Foreign Office and the European Union. It was co-organized by the General Directorate of Civil Protection, Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the Salvadoran Red Cross Society, the German Red Cross, the Technical Working Group on Anticipatory Action and Early Warning Systems, and FAO.
Photos by Salvadoran Red Cross and Vivian Pavón (German Red Cross).