Forecast-based financing (FbF) aims to enable access to humanitarian funding for early action based on in-depth forecast information and risk analysis. Initial studies have found that it can be cost-effective compared to traditional emergency response measures and significantly increases communities’ resilience to climate change-induced disasters. Knowledge gaps in how to manage, coordinate and implement anticipatory action effectively across distinct levels of involved stakeholders have surfaced. This project will address these gaps to inform and improve future forecast-based financing.

The intended users of this research include stakeholders in Nigeria, Benin and Togo who are involved in implementing an early-action protocol, including national governments, regional and local governments, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, village leaders and community members, with an emphasis on the inclusion of women. The project will develop and test early-action protocols to respond to the risk of flooding, assess their effectiveness and generate recommendations.

Photo credit: IDRC