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Anticipate, Automate, Accelerate

The case for blockchain in anticipatory action

Year of publication 2023

Place of publication Bangkok, Thailand ;

Pages 16 p.

Author Uwantege Hart, S.; Jones, C. ;

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Booklet

Synopsis (short abstract) A growing number of actors including United Nations agencies and NGOs have been exploring and employing anticipatory action (AA) as a more effective approach to disaster risk management, wherein assistance is provided to affected communities prior to the impact of a natural hazard. These approaches have been heralded globally by donors and organizations alike as being a more protective, proactive, and highly cost-effective method of disaster risk management, especially when cash and voucher assistance (CVA) is provided to households. However, the set-up and execution of these interventions can be complex and requires a combination of data analytics and coordination, trigger-based funds release, and rapid distribution of assistance within a very brief forecasting timeframe. Ongoing pilots and research by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and partners have exposed a significant level of friction between the capacity and speed of existing organizational systems and stakeholders to execute these processes in a manner that is synchronized and timely enough to have the intended impact. This paper proposes the use of blockchain applications as an ensemble of tools that have the potential to digitize and simplify these processes, increasing the synergy and speed of these processes in a way that is compatible with existing program sequencing and that has a secondary positive effect of streamlining cash transfer delivery.

Cite this content as:

Uwantege Hart, S. and Jones, C. 2023. Anticipate, Automate, Accelerate – The case for blockchain in anticipatory action. Bangkok, FAO.

https://doi.org/10.4060/cc5062en

Language English

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