Climate-driven hazards are increasing in intensity and frequency, with weather‑related crises now occurring nearly five times as often as 40 years ago. At the same time, needs are expanding and resources are limited. New tools and ways of thinking and acting are essential to reduce the impact of these disasters as effectively as possible.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is developing innovativeearly warning systemsto anticipate risks and intervene at the right time. The right time is often early – before a crisis becomes a humanitarian disaster. FAO's approach is shifting from a reactive mind-set to one focused on mitigation and prevention.

When the state of Kassala in easternSudanexperienced a dry spell in 2017 and 2018, FAO took steps early to protect the livelihoods of vulnerable agropastoralists. This study analyses the outcomes of FAO's Early Warning Early Action (EWEA) approach in theSudan. They complement and reinforce earlier findings inEthiopia,Kenya, andSomaliawhich demonstrated that early actions have a significant return on investment and are an effective way to addressdrought in Africa's agropastoralist regions.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).