The Anticipation Hub's engagement at the High-level Humanitarian Event on Anticipatory Action 

The High-level Humanitarian Event on Anticipatory Action, convened by OCHA and the Governments of Germany and the UK, took place on 9 September 2021. The event brought together leaders from across governments, international financial institutions, the UN and civil society, who delivered powerful statements on their commitments to act to ahead of crises.

Several governments pledged to substantially increase their committment to pre-agreed funding, with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas committing to increase its allocation to at least 5 percent of its overall humanitarian funding, aiming to double its contribution to anticipatory action in 2022 and to eventually contribute 100 million euro in 2023. You can read more about such committments, including those by Ireland, Italy and Egypt in the Co-chairs statement here. The full recording of the event is available here

The speakers highlighted how the technology exists – predictive analytical tools, risk analysis and forecasting models – to enable a systemic shift in the humanitarian sector towards more cost-efficient and dignified anticipatory approach.  

There remain critical gaps, however, and the speakers identified several of these: the need to advance anticipatory action to cover a broader range of hazards, and to reach those in conflict-afflicted and fragile states, as well as to prepare for compounding shocks (e.g. disease outbreaks, food insecurity, conflict and displacement) – and the imperative to address the root causes and drivers of risk.  

The importance of fast, flexible, predictable and pre-arranged financing mechanisms was noted throughout, along with the need to embed shock-responsive social protection mechanisms and to empower communities to be at the forefront of anticipatory action on the ground.  


“It's not just about more money. Funding needs to be more predictable and flexible, and communities need to drive planning and action” 

Nena Stoiljkovic, Under-Secretary General for Global Relationships, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization, IFRC 


Delegates called for more collaboration and partnerships –  between humanitarian agencies, development actors and especially with governments –  to integrate this anticipatory approach into national disaster risk management frameworks. The value of working together to invest in trigger models, develop financing mechanisms, generate evidence and continuously learn was underscored in many statements.  

A number of speakers highlighted the vital role played by the Anticipation Hub and initiatives such as the Risk-informed Early Action Partnership, the InsuResilience Global Partnership and the Anticipatory Action Task Force. These all help to support and expand such collaboration, from local to global levels.   


“When we undertake this journey, we have strong partners on our side, like the Anticipation Hub – providing an excellent platform facilitating exchange and advocacy” 

Ms. Sibylle Katharina Sorg, Director General for Crisis Prevention, Stabilisation, Peacebuilding and Humanitarian Assistance, Germany  


Anticipation Hub Statement

The Anticipation Hub issued a statement for delegates at the High-level Humanitarian Event on Anticipatory Action convened by OCHA and the Governments of Germany and the UK. This statement outlines the actions that we are taking to help scale up anticipatory action – to do more, do it better and do it together – as well as outlining the steps that the event’s attendees can take to support our ambitions. 


“We call on partners, delegates and Member States to join the Anticipation Hub – to do more anticipatory action, do it better and do it together. Together, we will exchange, engage and learn as we embed anticipatory action at the heart of the humanitarian sector and beyond – especially ahead of the COP26 in Glasgow, UK.” 


Video statement from the Anticipation Hub

In this video, Kara Siahaan, the new head of the Anticipation Hub, presents our statement to the High-level Humanitarian Event on Anticipatory Action.

Play Video

The Anticipation Hub also shared this video for the high-level event explaining why anticipatory action is essential – and how partnerships and coordination are central to this.

This video was developed in collaboration with a number of our partners: the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Mozambique Red Cross (CVM), Welthungerhilfe, the University of Sussex, CEPREDENAC (Coordination Center for the Prevention of Disasters in Central America and the Dominican Republic), the START Network, the Risk-informed Early Action Partnership (REAP) and the World Food Programme (WFP). 

Play Video

We need your consent to load the Youtube Video service!

We use Youtube Video to embed content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details and accept the service to see this content.

powered by Usercentrics Consent Management Platform

Some of our partners also issued videos for this high-level event; you can watch a selection of these below: 

Anticipating floods in Peru

This video by the IFRC provide an example of anticipatory action from Peru, where weather forecasts are being used to trigger funding before disasters strike, giving people time to prepare and potentially saving many more lives. 

Play Video

Featured photo by FAO/ Fahad Kaizer