Sri Lanka has taken a significant step forward in enhancing its disaster management capabilities by convening the first meeting of the National Anticipatory Action (AA) Working Group on March 4th, at the Water’s Edge Hotel. As the country’s AA initiatives continue to grow, there is a recognized need for effective coordination and technical guidance to successfully integrate anticipatory action into the national disaster management system, in line with the National Disaster Management Plan.
In response to this need, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), the mandated agency for coordinating national disaster risk management efforts, has established the National Anticipatory Action Working Group. The group will play a pivotal role in streamlining anticipatory action efforts across the country.
Major General (Retd.) Udaya Herath, Director General of the DMC, stressed the importance of building a shared understanding of anticipatory action among all stakeholders, including government bodies, humanitarian organizations, and other key actors. He also emphasized the need for aligning AA initiatives with key international frameworks such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change (COP21), the National Disaster Management Plan 2023-2030, and "Clean Sri Lanka" government policy initiatives.
The newly formed working group is composed of a diverse range of participants, including government agencies, UN and intergovernmental organizations, research institutions, and both international and local NGOs.
The Disaster Management Centre will serve as the Chair of the working group, with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) acting as the facilitating agency. The working group will initially manage several key subgroups focused on the operationalization of anticipatory action, learning and evidence-building, coordination, policy, financing, and institutionalization.
The working group members also agreed on the development of a comprehensive framework for anticipatory action. This framework will include a roadmap and minimum technical standards for anticipatory action, alongside a standardized approach for developing anticipatory action protocols for various hazards.
By establishing this working group and prioritizing anticipatory action, Sri Lanka is taking critical steps to improve disaster preparedness and response. The collaborative effort aims to ensure a more proactive, coordinated approach to mitigating the impacts of disasters, ultimately enhancing the country’s resilience to future crises.
