Since 2020, the Zimbabwe and Lesotho Red Cross Societies are advancing on Co-Designs or prototype testing for drought. Whereas Zimbabwe is focusing on meteorological drought based on precipitation, the Lesotho Red Cross is looking at socio-economic and agricultural drought like in Lesotho. The interactive session showed how decisions are made for different types of droughts and how different impacts as well as sources and response plans are addressed in the overall design for anticipatory action for drought. The Zimbabwe dashboard for drought response & preparedness was presented, and feedback was gathered on what would be the most relevant data displayed in such a platform.

Hilla Wessel

The session focused on a still rather “new” field – the link between risks of Gender-based violence (GBV) and Anticipatory Action. Focusing on food and nutrition security, the speakers presented a pilot preparedness project on “Gender-based violence (GBV) in Emergencies” which aims to utilize existing early warning and forecasting mechanisms to develop a set of early warning indicators for GBV, to prevent gender-based violence from happening and to mitigate potential GBV. Drawing on the example of Madagascar, where one in four 4 women has experienced violence and the current food insecurity situation especially in the south of the country, the speakers outlined the importance of mitigating and preventing GBV as well as the strong link between food (in)security and gender. Building on forecasting tools/risk information platforms, the speakers introduced an initial Matrix on forecasting/early warning indicators and Gender/GBV risk factors.

Hilla Wessel