Concept Note

Background

The inaugural Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Dialogue Platform on Anticipatory Humanitarian Action, convened in July 2024, marked a significant milestone in the region's commitment to proactive disaster preparedness. Bringing together a diverse assembly of stakeholders—including humanitarian organizations, governmental bodies, researchers, and community representatives—the event fostered a collaborative environment to advance anticipatory action (AA) strategies across the MENA region.

This second edition of the MENA Dialogue Platform will build on this momentum, focusing on advancing AA within a transforming humanitarian, climate and finance landscape to ensure continued protection to the most vulnerable communities 

Objectives and Expected Outcomes

The 2nd MENA Dialogue Platform will provide a space for stakeholders to:

1. Review Progress: Assess the implementation of the 2024-2029 roadmap, identify achievements, challenges, and lessons learned.
2. Enhance Collaboration: Strengthen partnerships among national governments, humanitarian agencies, NGOs, the private sector, and local communities to scale up anticipatory action.
3. Explore Innovate Solutions: Explore innovative financing mechanisms, technological advancements, and community-driven approaches to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of anticipatory action.
4. Build Capacity: Share knowledge, best practices, and tools to enhance the capacity of stakeholders to design, implement, and monitor anticipatory action programs with a focus on Anticipatory Action and Impact Based Forecasting through a co-production approach.

Participants

The 2nd MENA Dialogue Platform will bring together a diverse range of stakeholders, including:

• Government officials responsible for disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, and humanitarian affairs.
• Representatives from UN agencies, Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, international and regional humanitarian organizations, NGOs and national and local actors.
• Experts and practitioners in anticipatory action, disaster risk reduction, climate change, and related fields.
• Representatives from the private sector, academia, civil society, and local communities.
• Donors from global and regional levels.

Agenda

The 2nd MENA Dialogue Platform will unfold over three days, featuring a program designed to catalyze action and strengthen collaboration. 

• Day one will center on a comprehensive review of the past year, incorporating stocktaking exercises and the official introduction of the 2024-2029 roadmap action plan. This will include presentations of anticipatory action evidence and best practices from other countries and Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies. 
• Day two will focus on a capacity-building event for members, featuring collaborative workshops, - including an intensive course on Anticipatory Action, sharing best practices, tools, and approaches, as well as training on Impact-Based Forecasting using a co-production approach to weather information, alongside other key skill-building activities.
• The final day will shift focus to innovative and unconventional financing solutions for anticipatory action within the MENA region. Discussions will explore mechanisms for pooling funds from diverse sources, including public and private sector entities, alongside strategies for broadening access to funding.

The second edition of the MENA Dialogue Platform will provide an opportunity to showcase regional evidence, enhance stakeholders' capacity to advance the anticipatory action agenda within the regional roadmap, and present innovative financing solutions.