Past Event

Early warning, early and anticipatory action in humanitarian settings: Reducing impacts of climate and environmental risk and saving lives and livelihoods

Tuesday, April 28, 2026: 15:00 - 16:30 CEST

REGISTER HERE

Introduction:

The Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations calls on signatories to strengthen our collective capacity to reduce risks, anticipate crises, act early and ensure the sustainability of our activities. Through understanding climate and environmental risks, our programs can be designed and implemented to address current impacts and help reduce future risks (Charter Commitments 1 and 4).

Humanitarian actors are already utilizing approaches such as early warning/early action (EW/EA) and anticipatory action (AA) in order to build preparedness and reduce the impacts of climate and environmental risks on lives and livelihoods. These interventions often Integrate into and strengthen existing government mechanisms and systems, and/or develop and strengthen community-based mechanisms where none exists.

Meanwhile, there is a growing range of resources and expertise on utilizing EW/EA and AA methods in humanitarian programming. For organizations that are beginning their journey to turn Charter commitments into action, understanding the tools, resources, and lessons learned from these methods will offer helpful foundations for program design and capacity strengthening.

Objectives:

The webinar will introduce participants to practical pathways to advance early and anticipatory action, strengthening systems and communities to save lives and livelihoods, and build resilience to cope with climate and environmental risks. These practical examples will showcase a variety of tools, resources, and lessons learned that signatories can draw from in getting started with EW/EA and AA programs. As funding is essential to the success of EW/EA and AA programs, this session will also provide insights into the financing opportunities for such initiatives. The webinar will:

  • Share an overview of EW, EA and AA approaches
  • Raise awareness among Charter Signatories and the humanitarian sector on opportunities to implement and strengthen early warning, early action and anticipatory action;
  • Highlight the different types of EW/EA and AA triggers, systems and mechanisms that exists and how they can be strengthened
  • Share expertise and resources available to the humanitarian sector to translate early warning into early and anticipatory action; 
  • Explore opportunities to accessing funding and identify support needs for securing funding for EW/EA and AA activities.
  • Synthesize key challenges and concerns of Charter signatories related to financing EW/EA and AA in humanitarian contexts, with insights to be shared at global platforms.

Speakers and Moderators:

  • Catalina Jaime, Head of Secretariat, The Risk-informed Early Action Partnership – REAP Secretariat
  • Karen Dall, Lead Learning and Innovation, Anticipation Hub
  • Maria Lourdes Kathleen Macasil, Senior Programme Officer, Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) Secretariat
  • David Peters, Crisis Financing Training & Capacity Strengthening Advisor, START Network
  • Tariro Mugono, Country Crisis Financing Advisor, START Network
  • Isam Ghareeb, CEO, MILE Organization for Environment Protection
  • Chance Muwama, Malawi Red Cross Society
  • Gavin White, Lead, Partnerships and Marketplace, REAP Secretariat 
  • Natasha Westheimer, Co-coordinator, Charter Secretariat
  • Nishanie Jayamaha, Co-coordinator, Charter Secretariat
  • Mark Harey, CEO & Founder, Resurgence
  • Esra Elgadi, Project Manager DARAJA, Resurgence

Resources:

Watch the Recording