Evan Easton-Calabria publishes on anticipatory action in South Sudan

Little evidence exists on the design and implementation of anticipatory action (AA) in complex crises.

In South Sudan, where conflict, displacement, and extreme weather converge, the United Nations piloted an early action intervention in 2022 in anticipation of severe flooding.

In a paper published in Disasters, Dr. Evan Easton-Calabria examines this early action, offering insight into how forecast-informed responses can be implemented in fragile environments with limited forecasting capacity and multiple hazards.

The research highlights the potential of early action in situations where trigger-based AA is unfeasible, while advocating for stronger connections between AA efforts, development, and peacebuilding processes.

Easton-Calabria suggests that focusing on forecast-informed early action alongside formal AA frameworks is critical as more attention turns to fragile and conflict-affected contexts.

Read the open-access paper in Disasters.