Developing triggers for forecast-based financing: how partnerships can strengthen anticipatory action

Drawing on case studies from Ecuador, Kenya, Mongolia and Viet Nam, this briefing explores the mechanisms that set up these science–humanitarian partnerships for success, and some of the shared benefits they deliver. It also highlights some of the challenges that persist, and the best practices identified to date.

The forecast-based financing approach is built on partnerships between different actors. One central element that requires such collaboration is developing triggers: the thresholds for a hazard that determine when financing is released for early actions. To identify and develop these, humanitarian actors and hydrometeorological experts need to work together to establish robust, evidence-based and actionable triggers, as well as enhanced climate services that provide critical information and interpretations to communities and other end users.