A blog series by MapAction’s InnovationLab and Anticipatory Action Team exploring how anticipatory action in the humanitarian sector can help create resilience vis-a-vis future hazards.

Animated explainer: What is anticipatory action and what does MapAction do to support it?

December 2024: MapAction Anticipatory Action Sustainability Methodology

As part of MapAction’s strategic commitment to locally-led, sustainability is defined as helping ensure the longevity and sustainability of AA projects by establishing effective evaluation frameworks and sharing lessons learned with the wider community. It is critical that local voices are embedded
with these projects and processes. The document below outlines the three key pillars that underpin the methodology behind MapAction’s anticipatory action work.

READ MORE: MapAction’s Anticipatory Action Sustainability Methodology

• November 2024: Video: Impact of MapAction Anticipatory Action programmes in Madagascar
• July 2024: Video: Building anticipatory action models to reduce risk in Eswatini. Our fifth post explores. A review of our work so far with the Eswatini National Disaster Management Agency to build a resilient anticipatory action data risk model.
• June 2024: Simulating anticipatory actions as part of disaster management: MapEx 2024 (Anticipation Hub). The 18th edition of MapEx, the annual disaster simulation event run by MapAction, was recently held in the Peak District National Park, UK. For the first time, the imagined scenario – a cyclone in Madagascar – included major anticipatory action components.
• May 2024: How MapAction is using data to reduce human suffering in Madagascar. For more than a decade, MapAction has provided support to Madagascar’s national disaster management agency, managing and visualising key data to support decision-makers, during tropical storms and cyclones. Now the focus is on strengthening the island’s preparedness for any future disasters.
• February 2024: Strengthening disaster preparedness country-by-country with the INFORM Risk index. This post explores MapAction’s work under the INFORM umbrella, specifically our support to national and subnational disaster authorities in Eswatini.
• November 2023: MapAction Data Science Lab: the story so far. Find out how MapAction launched a dedicated data science and innovation hub in 2020 and what they have been up to since.
• November 2023: Welcome to the first post in a new blog series on anticipatory action! The series will explore MapAction’s work to strengthen readiness and preparedness worldwide. Updates. The Anticipation Hub: The 11th Global Dialogue Platform on Anticipatory Action

The brief animations below also outline the various benefits of examples of anticipatory action.

1/6: Storm

2/6: Temporary settlement

3/6: Pastoralists

4/6: Early harvest

5/6: Heatwave

6/6: Data to anticipate

Anticipatory action (AA) is a humanitarian term. We will use the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) definition below:

“Anticipatory action refers to actions taken to reduce the humanitarian impacts of a forecast hazard before it occurs, or before its most acute impacts are felt. The decision to act is based on a forecast, or collective risk analysis, of when, where and how the event will unfold.” Anticipation Hub (IFRC)

Additional resources

February 2022: Press Release: IDF partners with MapAction and Start Network to support their efforts in eight climate-vulnerable countries

November 2023: PRESS RELEASE: 7 Country Missions Completed Successfully as Part of Phase 1 Programme for Anticipatory Action and Disaster Risk Reduction

This work is kindly supported by the Humanitarian Assistance programme of the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO), as well as the Insurance Development Forum (IDF).