Enabling H2H Approaches for Anticipatory Action
The H2H Network is driving the development of new tools, services, and approaches to support Anticipatory Action (AA), collaborating within and beyond the network to pave the way for a more forward-looking and data driven humanitarian system.
One of the humanitarian sector’s historical shortcomings has been its reactive nature, a stance that is increasingly untenable in the face of the climate crisis and increasing conflict. Today, less than one percent of humanitarian funding is implemented through anticipatory mechanisms, yet we can predict over half of natural hazard-induced crises before they strike. As the sector is shifting to take on a more anticipatory posture, the H2H Network is driving the development and expansion of the tools and services that will be required to support an evolution of the sector. We believe these are essential to enabling a principled, equitable and effective basis for AA at scale.
How might H2H action enhance Anticipatory Action across the humanitarian system?
1. Driving technical innovation
Enhancing the handling and sharing of large, fast-changing datasets, including sharing data and analysis across organizational boundaries to increase the efficiency and value of complex forecasting.
2. Integrating community data and analysis
People at risk are experts in their own lives and localities. Effective community engagement can improve modelling of crisis impacts and support with the identification of the right anticipatory actions. It also presents opportunities for improved accountability and empowerment.
3. Increasing operational efficiency
Emergency responders must be equipped to convert early warning signals into action. This involves transforming complex technical data into clear, coherent information that operational leaders can easily grasp, navigating uncertainties inherent in the data.
The H2H Anticipatory Action Accelerator
To advance and build out mechanisms for sector-wide collaboration, the H2H Network is exploring and developing new H2H approaches to AA, aiming to improve data, information tools and services to support the sector and improve collaboration. The accelerator is engaging a cohort of H2H Members who are seeking to add value at different points in the AA lifecycle. Throughout 2024, the H2H accelerator programme will provide:
- Flexible research and development funding to selected H2H Members
- Strategy support and coaching to enable the development of H2H solutions
- Opportunities for collaboration between H2H actors in the network
- Connections to external partners working on AA
As part of the Anticipatory Action Accelerator, five H2H Members will develop the following projects:
Network member
CartONGHumanitarian service
Data, information management and analysisObjective
CartONG’s project aims to bridge the gap between local actors and anticipatory action, starting from the grassroots needs. Collaborating with local data experts and using participatory methodologies, CartONG will assess the needs of local actors and the usefulness of existing tools for them, and foster dialogue between local actors and national stakeholders. They will also evaluate how the quality of data collected at field level influences national and global tools.
Network member
CLEAR GlobalHumanitarian service
Community engagement and accountabilityObjective
CLEAR Global’s project will establish a consolidated, dynamic, open source of accurate and up-to-date data on what languages are spoken, where and by how many people. This will support involving at-risk communities in risk analysis, mitigation planning and timely communication in community languages. The data system, designed with users for ready integration into hazard monitoring data flows, will be populated with language data currently available for over 60 countries with low-income and/or high crisis severity ratings, and automate the curation and integration of new datasets as they emerge.
Network member
Ground Truth SolutionsHumanitarian service
Community engagement and accountabilityObjective
Ground Truth Solution’s project aims to co-develop a survey tool that can be used to ensure that anticipatory action (AA) programmes are accountable and in line with community perceptions, preferences, and priorities. To achieve this, they will conduct focus group discussions and key informant interviews in areas targeted for AA to understand the expectations and priorities of various community groups and local organizations in regards to AA and their level of involvement.
Network member
Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT)Humanitarian service
Data, information management and analysisObjective
HOT’s project aims to improve geospatial data sets that are the most important when a disaster hits, such as knowing how to get to the affected areas and where the populated centres are. To make OpenStreetMap exports more usable they will identify and address top data gaps. They will conduct a landscape analysis on the highest priority countries and subnational districts for anticipatory action by humanitarian partners and focus activities on data readiness between disaster risk reduction and disaster response while aligning activities better to partner requests and humanitarian needs.
Network member
Insecurity InsightHumanitarian service
Security, logistics and programme supportObjective
Insecurity Insight’s project aims to extend the knowledge and mindset of anticipatory action to conflict-driven food insecurity. By creating a product that analyses the anticipated impact of conflict events on the food security in an area, Insecurity Insight supports the development of predictive analysis. This type of flash report lends itself well to both the build and activation phases, as its context analysis supports the identification of the type of violence affecting food security in that context and allows for an activation based on an expected deterioration of food security.
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