Climate-related shocks are becoming increasingly frequent and severe worldwide, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries. Beyond the immediate loss of life, these disasters can destroy livelihoods, displace communities, and damage critical infrastructure. In response, the humanitarian sector has emphasized anticipatory action—proactive measures taken before crises occur to reduce their impact. Mobile and digital technologies are playing a growing role in this approach, offering tools for improved forecasting, life-saving alerts, and rapid access to cash and essential services. Their broad reach makes them particularly valuable in contexts where humanitarian resources are limited.
Despite these opportunities, challenges remain. Many vulnerable communities live in areas with poor connectivity or limited data infrastructure, limiting the effectiveness of digital solutions. There is also a risk that digital approaches may deepen inequalities if marginalized groups are excluded. Furthermore, emerging technologies raise ethical questions around privacy, data protection, and algorithmic bias, which must be carefully managed in humanitarian contexts.
To explore solutions, the GSMA Innovation Fund for Anticipatory Humanitarian Action was launched to test how mobile and digital innovations can enhance preparedness and response. From 154 applications, eight grantees from seven countries were selected, including both startups and non-profits. While anticipatory action spans a wide range of pre-crisis measures, most innovations in this cohort focused on early warning systems, which are critical for triggering timely responses and enabling communities to act before disasters strike.
The Fund aimed not only to support innovation and generate impact, but also to gather evidence on what works and the challenges faced in implementing mobile-enabled solutions. By closely working with the eight grantees, the GSMA identified key factors for sustaining and scaling effective approaches. This synthesis highlights ten lessons from the Fund’s cohort, offering practical insights to strengthen mobile-based anticipatory humanitarian action and guide future efforts in the sector.
