Drawing on seasonal and climate forecasts, agricultural calendars, territorial risk analyses and predefined crisis timelines, FAO implemented anticipatory actions to protect food security and agricultural livelihoods. The actions targeted 31 873 households engaged primarily in subsistence agriculture and small-scale livestock production, with a strong focus on Indigenous Peoples and female-headed households. The good practice factsheet highlights how anticipatory actions – such as the provision of agricultural and livestock inputs, cash transfers, water harvesting and irrigation systems, climate-resilient seeds, animal health brigades and family productive spaces – contributed to measurable improvements in food security, livelihoods and resilience. Implementation relied on close collaboration with governments and local partners, with these synergies proving to be essential to the success and sustainability of the initiative. Results include significant yield increases, reductions in production losses and animal mortality, and improved food security indicators among beneficiary households. Return on investment (ROI) analysis shows that, across the region,  anticipatory action generated an average return of USD 2.34 for every dollar invested, demonstrating both effectiveness and value for money. Beyond immediate impacts, the practice strengthened local and national capacities and supported the institutionalization of  anticipatory action within agroclimatic risk management and public policy frameworks, reinforcing sustainability and the potential for replication and scale-up across diverse contexts.