First day of the West and Central Africa Dialogue Platform: anticipation in action
That is why we are gathered here: to discuss and develop strategies on what we consider to be one of the most important approaches, not only in the field of humanitarian aid today, but also in disaster risk management.
The opening day of the first West and Central Africa Dialogue Platform on Anticipatory Action kicked off today in Dakar, Senegal, marking a pivotal moment in the region’s approach to crisis management through anticipatory action. From 28 to 30 October, leaders and experts from national governments, civil society, non-governmental organizations, United Nations agencies, the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, donors and regional institutions are gatherin to put anticipatory action and collaboration at the forefront.
The event’s opening featured Jonas Tylewski, political counsellor and head of the press and communication division of the German Embassy in Dakar, Martial S. Traoré, coordinator of the Regional Support Programme – Food and Nutritional Security (Programme Régional d’Appui- Sécurité Alimentaire et nutritionnelle/PRA-SAN) for the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (Comité permanent inter-État de lutte contre la sécheresse au Sahel/CILSS), and Alessandra Gilotta, head of the Anticipation Hub. They all emphasized the urgent need for anticipatory action and the opportunity to come together as a region to coordinate efforts.
Confronted with multiple crises, no institution can act in isolation.
Why we must anticipate — and why now
Starting with reflections on the knowledge of the region, the participants realized that the anticipatory mindset has always been around, for example by sharing regional and country specific proverbs: “The harvest festival hat is sewn at the time of planting".
That existing mindset of anticipating is needed to address the complex and interconnected risks that West and Central Africa face. With these risks becoming more pronounced, anticipatory action has become an urgent necessity. As the first plenary made clear, the region must act now to reduce future risks and enhance resilience, but also focus on evidence building and making their efforts and impact visible.
During the second plenary, attention shifted to the role of national governments in embedding anticipatory action within their systems. Discussions revolved around making anticipatory action a permanent part of national strategies and planning. The goal is to ensure that it becomes an integral part of everyday decision-making, reflected in coordination mechanisms and financing strategies that endure beyond the dialogue platform.
Looking ahead
With strong commitments made on the first day, the excitement continues to build for the remaining sessions on days 2 and 3. The dialogue platform is already demonstrating its potential to be a catalyst for deeper regional collaboration, providing a framework for sustained action.
