This session put the spotlight on two experts, namely Dirk-Jan Omtzigt, Chief Economist & Head, Humanitarian Financing Strategy and Analysis Unit at UN OCHA, and Maurine Ambani, WFP Regional Forecast based Financing Coordinator. Sitting on the hot seat, both experts had to face questions by the session hosts and the audience on the challenges and future needs for anticipatory action in Africa.

Dirk-Jan Omtzigt was asked to talk about the challenges in anticipation in Africa. He emphasized that the biggest challenge lies in financing and pointed out the huge funding gap: “20% of crises are highly predictable yet only 1% of crisis financing is pre-arranged.” Although technical knowledge and modeling capacity is available to be utilized, it requires financing to match. A conceptual solution is needed for what financing is allocated, and how an increase of the speed and volume of finance can be achieved.

Long-term capacity strengthening also remains a huge challenge in Africa, specifically bridging the science gap between the global South and North, Maurine Ambani noted. The technical capacity is usually not within African meteorological institutions and amongst scientists, and is currently not matching the need for science-based solutions in anticipatory action. Therefore, empowering African scientists to develop their own solutions should be a major goal.

What is next with regard to anticipation in Africa?

Continuing to build the evidence base that AA is faster and more dignified and more efficient is a crucial step according to Dirk-Jan Omtzigt. There is progress in discovering and understanding better the co-benefits of anticipatory action as well as in targeting people, which helps to be more accountable to the affected people. Hence, it is important to clearly identify and show those benefits.

Maurine Ambani from WFP concluded on what must happen next for anticipation in Africa: (1) Jointly build the evidence base to show that anticipatory action is faster, more dignified and more efficient; (2) Jointly advocate the co-benefits of anticipatory action, such as a more inclusive targeting people of e.g. women and girls and being more accountable, and (3) Jointly scale-up volume of financing for anticipatory action and align financing mechanisms.