As climate-related disasters become more frequent and severe, the need to act before crises unfold is more urgent than ever. Anticipatory action—taking preventive steps before hazards strike—has proven essential in saving lives and protecting livelihoods. Through the GSMA Innovation Fund for Anticipatory Humanitarian Action, eight organisations collaborated to explore how mobile and digital tools can strengthen disaster preparedness. Their collective experiences are presented in a new synthesis report that highlights insights from innovators working closely with communities and governments.
The findings show that mobile and digital technologies significantly improve the speed and coordination of anticipatory action. In Pakistan, Buraq’s rainfall sensors and landslide monitoring stations provided an additional 30 minutes of warning before flash floods, offering crucial time beyond traditional forecasts. Similarly, in Nepal, NAXA’s impact-based forecasting translated hazard data into potential human consequences, enabling local authorities to plan evacuations and allocate resources more effectively. These examples demonstrate how digital tools strengthen the connection between forecasting, decision-making, and early response.
However, the success of such technologies depends heavily on trust. Building trust within communities proved to be the most challenging yet decisive factor. Communities were more responsive to warnings when they were actively involved in designing the systems and could see their feedback reflected in improvements. Transparent processes, co-design approaches, and partnerships with trusted local actors played a key role in establishing credibility. The report emphasizes that future investments should prioritize community engagement and trust-building alongside technical development.
Another critical insight is that access to technology alone is not enough; skills are equally important. Digital and financial literacy emerged as essential components for the effective use of early warning systems. In Nepal, Rumsan conducted workshops on digital wallets and fraud prevention, helping households use mobile cash transfers securely. In Ethiopia, Tearfund strengthened financial and digital capabilities through women’s self-help groups, enabling communities to engage more confidently with insurance and savings mechanisms.
The report also highlights the importance of inclusive design. Innovations that prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable—such as women, persons with disabilities, and those with limited literacy—result in more effective systems for everyone. In Cambodia, ActionAid combined mobile alerts with radio broadcasts and community outreach to ensure wider reach. Interactive voice calls in local languages proved especially effective in reaching populations that might otherwise be excluded. Treating inclusion as a core design principle improved engagement and reduced reliance on a single communication channel.
Access to financial resources plays a crucial role in enabling communities to act on early warnings. Without the means to respond, awareness alone is insufficient. Projects that integrated cash transfers or insurance mechanisms saw better preparedness and faster recovery. In Nepal, Rumsan used blockchain-enabled systems to trigger cash transfers when risk thresholds were met, allowing households to take preventive measures before flooding. NAXA also linked geospatial risk profiling with mobile-enabled cash transfers issued ahead of extreme weather events, enabling swift community action.
Partnerships emerged as a cornerstone of successful innovation. Each project relied on collaboration between startups, local NGOs, governments, and mobile operators. These partnerships helped bridge technical, social, and institutional gaps. In Kenya, Synnefa worked with agricultural networks and local actors to deliver climate advisory services through accessible mobile platforms, illustrating how collaboration ensures solutions effectively reach end users. Although building these relationships required time and effort, they proved essential for long-term success.
Government engagement was identified as a key factor in ensuring both legitimacy and sustainability. While local authorities often championed these solutions and integrated them into everyday response systems, national-level endorsement was necessary for broader adoption and scale. The most effective approaches connected local implementation with national policy frameworks. In Cambodia, ActionAid formalized its work through agreements with government ministries, aligning initiatives with national priorities and enabling integration into official disaster management plans.
Mobile network operators also play a unique role in scaling early warning systems. Their infrastructure, reach, and credibility make them valuable partners. In the Philippines, People in Need collaborated with Smart to deliver early warning messages to vulnerable communities. In Ghana, TAHMO partnered with AT Ghana to enhance rainfall modelling and flood forecasting using telecommunications data. These collaborations demonstrate both direct and indirect pathways for strengthening early warning innovations.
The pathway to scaling these solutions varies widely. Some organisations expanded across regions, while others focused on embedding their systems within national frameworks. Several adapted their tools to address different hazards or operate in new countries. The key to successful scaling lies in aligning innovations with the priorities of governments, donors, and communities. Recognizing this need, the GSMA Innovation Fund for Humanitarian Replication and Scale was launched in 2025 to support growth and expansion.
Despite the progress, sustainable financing remains a significant challenge. Early warning systems are often treated as public goods, making them heavily reliant on grants. Nevertheless, the cohort secured over $4 million in follow-on funding, reflecting growing interest in anticipatory solutions. NAXA raised $454,000 to expand beyond Nepal, Rumsan secured $688,000 to scale its blockchain-enabled cash system, and TAHMO received $2.5 million from the Gates Foundation to extend its weather station network across multiple African countries. Some organisations are also exploring new business models to reduce dependency on grants, though full financial sustainability remains a long-term goal.
Looking ahead, the report concludes that mobile-enabled anticipatory action is both effective and scalable across diverse contexts. The next step is to integrate successful models into government systems and address funding gaps that hinder expansion. As climate risks intensify and resources become more constrained, these lessons provide a clear roadmap for building resilient systems that transform mobile technology into life-saving anticipatory action.
