By Ngowenani Nohayi, Research Officer – Policy and Water Governance
“With so many unstable contexts demanding resources, prioritization for anticipatory action is often neglected, favoring short-term projects over long-term resilience.” – Moyra Mahari, Country Emergency Coordinator at the Adventist Development and Relief Agency.
As we navigate the complexity of Fragile and Conflicted-Affected Settings (FCASs), it has become increasingly evident that moving beyond immediate emergency relief is essential for promoting long-term resilience and sustainability. As a result, Anticipatory Actions (AAs) are recognized more and more as essential tools for mitigating risks and building resilience. However, implementing AAs in FCASs is not straightforward. In fact, realizing the full potential of AA requires a concerted effort to address the unique contextual factors and systemic barriers that hinder its implementation.
In response to these challenges, the CGIAR’s Initiative on Fragility, Conflict, and Migration, International Water Management Institute and the Anticipation Hub’s Anticipatory Action in Conflict Practitioner’s Group recently convened part one of a three-part webinar series on Navigating anticipatory actions in fragile and conflict-affected settings to improve food, land and water systems: insights and best practices. The webinar provided a timely opportunity for frontline responders, researchers, government, and development practitioners to come together and reflect on the current state of AA in FCAS. Our panel of experts shared insights, experiences, and lessons learned, with participants seeking to deepen their understanding of how AA can catalyze transformative change within the Food, Land, and Water Systems (FLWSs) in these fragile contexts.
For more information on IWMI’s work within the FCM initiative contact Sandra Ruckstuhl (s.ruckstuhl@cgiar.org).