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
FAO and other humanitarian actors root for stronger collaboration and advocacy for anticipatory action in southern Africa
02/06/2021
Act early as one in scaling-up anticipatory humanitarian action
News
Window to prevent famine in Yemen is narrowing; UN agencies warn
03/12/2020
Levels of hunger reach record levels, requiring urgent action
News
Anticipatory action for COVID-19: building systems that protect livelihoods throughout a pandemic
05/08/2020
The impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis on food systems are vast and varied, and as of yet hard to predict. But nowhere are they...
Publications
Publications
Annual report 2025: Norway’s contribution to the Special Fund for Emergency and Resilience Activities
05/2026
The Special Fund for Emergency and Resilience Activities (SFERA) enables the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to respond...
Publications
Community engagement in anticipatory action: Compendium of experiences and good practices from focus countries
06/2024
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), as one of the leading operational organizations implementing anticipatory action...
Publications
Contribution from the Government of Sweden to FAO, Annual report 2024
01/2026
In 2024, the Government of Sweden, through the Swedish International Development CooperationAgency (Sida), contributed SEK 74 million (USD 7.15 million)...
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
Preparedness and anticipation at the heart of disaster risk management in Burkina Faso
27/04/2026
FAO’s project entitled ‘Improving anticipation and preparedness for risks affecting fragile areas and food crises in Burkina Faso’, funded by the European...
Photo Collection
Somalia: Anticipatory drought response in Baidoa District
24/02/2026
View this gallery on Flickr.
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...