Bringing EU Space to the anticipatory humanitarian action community

Acting quickly, during a humanitarian crisis is important. It reduces the loss of human lives and minimizes the impact on the communities at risk. A significant percentage of today’s humanitarian crises can be predicted, with technological tools, like the ones provided by the EU Space Programme. This realization led to a relatively recent approach in humanitarian affairs the anticipatory action. Anticipatory action uses risk analysis and forecasts to trigger humanitarian interventions before a crisis unfolds. It is reshaping the humanitarian system and is increasingly recognized as a key solution to reducing the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events on local communities.

Acting ahead of predicted hazards to prevent or reduce acute humanitarian impacts before they fully unfold, requires good data. The EU Space Programme can play an important role in creating anticipatory action applications to inform proper decisions of governments and NGOs acting in the field. There is growing evidence that acting before the onset of a predictable shock is significantly faster, more dignified and more cost-effective humanitarian response.

EUSPA recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Anticipation Hub, a joint initiative involving the Red Cross Red Crescent movement, universities, research institutes, NGOs, UN agencies, and others. This partnership aligns with EUSPA’s mandate to expand the use of the EU Space Programme in the humanitarian domain. The signature of the MoU was announced in the 12th Global Dialogue Platform for Anticipatory Action, organised in Berlin this month. It is worth noting that this collaboration is rooted in a workshop organised by EUSPA in 2023, that brought together relevant stakeholders from different parts of the anticipatory humanitarian action ecosystem to discuss their needs and presented the capabilities and value propositions of Copernicus.