High-level Humanitarian Events: Anticipatory Action (9 September)

 

High-level Event on Anticipatory Action: A commitment to act ahead of crises

Thursday, 9 September 2021 | 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (EST)

The United Nations and the Governments of Germany and the United Kingdom are convening a High-Level event to advance anticipatory action and galvanize a collective push to act ahead of crises. Global humanitarian needs are at an all-time high and continue to grow in frequency and intensity. Crises are driven by fragility and conflict, amplified by climate change and the impact of COVID-19. Some 237 million people are expected to require humanitarian assistance in 2021, a 40 percent increase on last year, while extreme poverty has risen for the first time in 22 years.

Instead of waiting for a shock to occur and humanitarian needs to arise, we can predict both the shock (for example a drought or flood) and the impact (for example food insecurity) with increasing precision. This enables actors to take anticipatory action before the worst impacts of the shock to save lives, stop needs from growing, reduce suffering and maximize the impact of funding.

This high-level event - to be opened by the United Nations Secretary-General - will showcase compelling examples of this anticipatory approach. Leaders from governments, international financial institutions, the United Nations and civil society will come together to demonstrate that the world is committed to act ahead of predictable crises.

*The Director of the FAO Office of Emergencies and Resilience (OER) will participate.

More information, including news and reports, tools, and additional resources can be accessed here.

More information on these and other related events is available here.