Belize Triggers Anticipatory Action to support Farmers Ahead of Drought Risk

This initiative is the result of nearly two years of collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Meteorological Services and WFP, working together to design a system tailored to Belize’s agricultural and climate context. It reflects the Government’s commitment to proactive disaster risk management, using science and data to protect smallholder farmers and strengthen resilience to combat shocks by acting before the impacts of drought are fully felt.

”As climate risks intensify, acting early can mean the difference between a manageable shock and a devastating crisis”, said Brian Bogart, Representative and Country Director the World Food Programme Caribbean Multi-Country Office. ”Anticipatory action allows us to use scientific evidence to get ahead of drought impacts, protects farmer’s livelihoods and reduce the long-term cost of disasters”.

The changes driven by El Niño and La Niña patterns, has led to more frequent and severe drought events, particularly affecting rainfed agriculture in the northern and western districts. These shocks place significant strain on Government resources and disrupt agricultural production, which affect smallholder farmers who rely on predictable rainfall for their incomes and food security. The development of the Anticipatory Action mechanism is timely as Belize continues to face increased climate pressures, with droughts, floods and tropical storms that threaten livelihoods, food security and economic stability.

As part of this effort, WFP has been working closely with the National Meteorological Services to strengthen the use of climate information for acting early. This collaboration has focused on improving the interpretation and application for seasonal forecasts, supporting early warning communication and linking climate information to decision-making. This milestone has been made possible through the generous support of WFP’s donors, like the Government of Canada, the European Union, the German Government , the Government of Ireland and the United States Government. These contributions have supported the development of the anticipatory action [JM1] mechanism for drought and now enables Belize to take proactive, risk informed action. Investment in anticipatory action ensures that resources reach vulnerable communities early, reducing losses, protecting agricultural livelihoods and strengthening national resilience in the face of more frequent and intense climate shocks. 

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The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

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 [JM1]why caps?