Integrating anticipatory action for hurricanes into social protection systems - Saint Lucia

This case study provides a technical overview of the collaborative efforts undertaken by the Government of Saint Lucia and the World Food Programme (WFP) to design, implement, and test a social protection based anticipatory action mechanism for hurricanes. Through the integration of preagreed forecast triggers, social protection registries, and digital payment systems, the mechanism enables pre-emptive delivery of assistance to the most vulnerable households before disaster strikes, reducing human and economic impacts while strengthening institutional readiness.

Key lessons from the simulation emphasized the importance of clear institutional roles between different government ministries and departments, streamlined workflows, and robust digital systems. It also showcased that both cash and voucher delivery can be implemented within very short lead times before hurricanes impact the island. Vouchers were ready for distribution within 2-4 hours, EFT payments initiated 30 hours after activation.