Act early, act together, empower people - Lessons learned from Anticipatory Cash through OCHA's pooled funds
This case study draws on years of OCHA’s experience in facilitating and financing anticipatory cash and the lessons learned. The evidence is clear: the most effective way to help people prepare for and withstand disasters is to provide cash with complementary in-kind assistance, delivered through coordinated joint frameworks and aligned with national systems wherever possible.
Climate-related disasters are now more frequent and severe, but the financial resources to respond to these disasters are more stretched than ever. The question is no longer whether to act early, but how to do so more effectively. Giving people cash ahead of a disaster (anticipatory cash) via pooled funds is one of the most effective ways to help them mitigate the disaster’s impact. They can act quickly, buy food or medicine, secure valuables, fix shelter or evacuate. Cash gives people decision-making power, improves food security, reduces harmful coping strategies and enables faster recovery.
Key lessons of this case study, include:
- Multipurpose cash is preferred;
- Cash is powerful, complementary support makes it sustainable;
- Coordination is essential and can improve;
- Upfront investment pays off;
- Communication with affected communities must improve;
- Anticipatory cash should be aligned with regular emergency preparedness and response.