Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks

Session title: Advancing protection in Anticipatory Action: An intergenerational discussion about current gaps and opportunities

27 Apr 23 11:00-12:30 UTC+2 (Salle 14)

SessionAbstract

Anticipatory Action (AA) has emerged as a risk mitigation strategy that attempts to bridge the gap between the development-humanitarian-peace nexus.

The sudden and slow onset impacts of the climate crisis and conflicts on vulnerable people are broad and complex. Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of some extreme hydrometeorological events (IPCC, 2021). It impacts the rights of the most marginalised the most severely and magnifies gender inequalities, especially for girls (Plan International, 2019). People affected by conflict are highly susceptible to suffer disproportionately from climate and weather-related hazards (ICRC, 2020). The most serious consequences of climate related disasters are where there is a gap in people’s capacities to cope (ODI 2019).

In particular, climate and human-induced related emergencies intensify the risks of children and youth being exposed to violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation. While children’s rights in climate disasters are becoming more recognized (UNICEF 2021), awareness of, and action to protect children in climate disasters and conflict affected contexts remain a significant gap (The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action 2020). Although children represent a high portion of the affected population, they are lacking opportunities to share their concerns, participate in decisions that affect them and do not know where to turn for help and how to act (IFRC 2021). Few practical examples of anticipatory actions address their specific needs and capacities or are accountable to them.

Anticipatory Action (AA) can help to protect people’s lives and livelihoods, as well as uphold their wellbeing in the face of predictable hazards. Scientists are continually improving their capacity to model and predict climate hazards and conflict risks and to improve early warning systems and mitigation actions. As conflict, violence, inequality, discrimination, and exclusion impact those already most vulnerable and increase displacement, understanding the root causes of risks and vulnerabilities, and strengthening the protective capacities of local communities, in particular children and youth, are critical as we continue in our endeavour to bring AA to scale.

The session aims to bring together AA practitioners, protection, gender and inclusion specialists and representatives from at-risk and affected communities to reflect and discuss the criticality of protection in AA and collectively formulate recommendations for doing better.

Agenda

Session moderated by Ádria Saviano Fabricio, IFRC