Forecast-based financing is a way of getting humanitarian funding to communities before a disaster strikes. It uses weather forecasts and risk analysis to activate the release of funding ahead of extreme weather events. The overall goal is to prevent natural hazards from becoming disasters and reduce human suffering.

The IFRC has pioneered and improved our forecast-based financing approach since 2014. In 2018 we launched Forecast-based Action by the Disaster Response Emergency Fund, now known as the Anticipatory Pillar—our dedicated funding mechanism that helps National Societies take early action before disasters strike.

Source: IFRC