Forecasting hazards, averting disasters

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5  Mechanisms for 

delivering FbA

Forecast-based initiatives are being developed at many 

levels, and are being linked to a range of delivery 

mechanisms. Expanding the use of FbA will require 

continued technical innovation and financing, but perhaps 

no other factor is as important as the channels through 

which forecast-based action is delivered. Initiatives that 

use forecasts to trigger and deliver early action have 

either provided support directly to communities (often in 

coordination with local governments), or have worked 

with national governments and partners to strengthen 

the development and delivery of FbA through state 

institutions. Whether or not actions triggered by forecasts 

are part of government early warning and action systems 

or peripheral to them will depend on the capacity and 

coordination of government actors, on the country 

context and on the mandates of agencies promoting FbA. 

Actions taken on the basis of forecasts can be carried out 

through existing delivery channels, such as public social 

protection and safety net programmes, or via stand-alone 

FbA mechanisms (Costella et al., 2017).