The IFRC-DREF is undertaking a major revision of its Early Action Protocol (EAP) modality as part of its commitment to scale up Anticipatory Action and strengthen National Society (NS) leadership in Anticipatory Action. Building on extensive learnings, a dedicated working group has been established to redesign the current simplified EAP and EAP formats into a more dynamic, streamlined, and scalable Protocol model.

This revised approach aims to reduce procedural and requirements constraints, and make the tool more flexible and context-appropriate, particularly for small states. By increasing accessibility, agility, and usability, the revised modality is designed to ensure that the investment made by National Societies in developing EAPs is matched by clear operational value, more timely activation, and stronger national ownership during activation and implementation. Innovation, localized decision-making, and community-driven accountability are central to this transformation, enabling earlier and more effective interventions across climate and non-climate hazards.

The session will also highlight the AA for Small States project in the Americas, where Barbados and Belize, supported by the IFRC DREF, are piloting new, accessible EAP models tailored to the needs of very small states. This initiative demonstrates how flexible design, simplified tools, and scalable approaches can broaden anticipatory action to contexts traditionally underserved by standard EAP modalities.

This session will present the vision, progress, and learning underpinning this shift, and invite participants to reflect on how more adaptive and inclusive EAP models can accelerate impact in an era of increasingly complex settings.