Early Warning Early Action (EWEA) Program

Project Overview

Spearheaded FAO’s first-ever Early Warning Early Action (EWEA) pilot in Pakistan, designed to pre-emptively mitigate drought impacts in Tharparkar—a region plagued by chronic food insecurity and livestock losses. The project shifted disaster response from reactive to anticipatory, safeguarding livelihoods for 6,889 households.

In Tharparkar—one of Pakistan's most drought-prone regions—climate extremes regularly devastate lives. Families lose crops, livestock perish, and malnutrition rates soar. The Early Warning Early Action (EWEA) Plan, developed under the Tharparkar Drought Risk Management Project (TDRMP), aims to break this cycle by predicting drought risks early and triggering life-saving interventions before disaster strikes.

Funded by DFID’s Multi-Year Humanitarian Programme (MYHP) and implemented by FAO in partnership with the Sindh government, UN agencies, and local NGOs, this initiative is transforming disaster response from reactive aid to proactive resilience-building.

Why Tharparkar?

• 98% of agriculture depends on erratic monsoon rains (June–September).

• 83% of the population faces chronic food insecurity (IPC 2017).

• Past droughts have killed livestock, destroyed harvests, and claimed children’s lives (e.g., 190+ child deaths in 2016).

• No functional early warning system existed—until now.

How the Plan Works

Early Warning System (EWS)

A real-time monitoring tool tracks:
✔ Climate forecasts (rainfall, temperature, El Niño patterns)
✔ Agricultural stress indicators (crop health, soil moisture)
✔ Livestock conditions (disease outbreaks, fodder shortages)
✔ Food security & malnutrition trends

Three-Phase Monitoring:

1. Pre-Monsoon (March–May) – Long-range forecasts assess drought risk.

2. Monsoon (June–August) – Short-term forecasts guide crop protection.

3. Post-Monsoon (September–December) – Food stocks & livestock health determine lean-season support.

Triggers for Action:

• 40–60% risk score → Rapid assessments & preparedness.

• >60% risk score → Immediate early interventions.

Early Actions to Save Lives & Livelihoods

Phase 1: Pre-Monsoon (March–May)

• Rehabilitate water sources (repair tobas, wells).

• Vaccinate livestock against diseases.

• Train farmers in drought-resistant practices.

Phase 2: Monsoon (June–August)

• Distribute drought-tolerant seeds (millet, sorghum).

• Provide small-scale irrigation kits.

• Launch cash-for-work programs for vulnerable households.

Phase 3: Post-Monsoon (September–December)

• Emergency fodder for livestock.

• Nutrition support for women & children.

• Alternative income programs (poultry, beekeeping).

Impact & Sustainability

✅ Protects 1.5 million people in Tharparkar from drought shocks.
✅ Reduces emergency costs by acting before crises escalate.
✅ Scaling up to other drought-prone areas in Sindh & Balochistan.

Aligned with:

• Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Plan

• Sindh’s Resilience Strategy

• FAO’s Climate-Smart Agriculture Goals

Key Innovations & Achievements

✔ Pioneered Anticipatory Action: Developed a drought risk monitoring system triggering early interventions (e.g., livestock feed, seeds, vaccinations) before crisis peaks, reducing emergency costs by 5x (ROI analysis).
✔ Multi-Sector Impact:

• Livestock Protection: Reduced animal mortality by 64% (goats) and 12% (sheep); maintained body conditions for 66% of herds.

• Food Security: 83% of households boosted vegetable production via kitchen gardens; 99% reported adequate food access.

• Gender Inclusion: 55% female beneficiaries; empowered women-led households through asset protection.
  ✔ Award-Winning Model: Recognized by FAO HQ for innovation, scalability, and proof-of-concept for global EWEA frameworks.

Techniques & Leadership

• Data-Driven Design: Integrated meteorological forecasts with socioeconomic vulnerability maps to prioritize interventions.

• Stakeholder Mobilization: Collaborated with Pakistan Met Department, local govt., and NGOs for rapid rollout.

• ROI Advocacy: Demonstrated 5.07 benefitper5.07 benefit per1 invested via cost-benefit analysis, influencing donor policies.

Why It Matters

This project redefined resilience-building in Pakistan’s arid zones, proving that anticipatory action saves lives, livelihoods, and resources. Its success underpins FAO’s global EWEA strategy and Pakistan’s National Drought Management Policy.

Role: Project Lead | FAO Pakistan | 2019–2021

📍 Recognition: FAO Director-General’s Award 2021 (Innovation & Impact)

To dive deeper into building effective climate resilience strategies, explore our step-by-step guide on implementing anticipatory response and learn how anticipatory action systems can be developed in fragile contexts. Discover how local leaders can foster climate-resilient communities and understand the financial impact through our real-world case study where anticipatory action saved $2 million. To address the systemic funding challenges, read about innovative climate resilience fund models for fragile states, and see how these approaches are being localized in Pakistan’s integrated anticipatory action and social protection systems. For a broader overview of disaster preparedness, our Early Warning Early Action (EWEA) program highlights the critical role of timely interventions in reducing risk and protecting livelihoods.

1. How Communities Can Master Anticipatory Action Before Disasters Strike

To dive deeper into anticipatory systems, explore how South Asian nations are building stronger anticipatory action systems. You can also learn how to design effective anticipatory response indicators and implement anticipatory response step-by-step.

2. How to Build Drought Triggers for Anticipatory Action – A Step-by-Step Guide

Before designing your own triggers, check out how to implement anticipatory response effectively and how early warning systems have reduced heatwave deaths. You may also want to review how to design indicators for anticipatory response.

3. How Early Warning Systems Cut Heat Wave Deaths in India and Pakistan by 60%

Read how local communities contributed to cutting heat wave deaths and how South Asian nations are strengthening their anticipatory systems. For a practical guide on setting early response protocols, see how to build drought triggers for anticipatory action.

4. How to Implement Anticipatory Response – A Step-by-Step Guide to Protecting Livelihoods

Strengthen your understanding by exploring how to design effective response indicators, how communities are mastering anticipatory action, and how drought triggers can activate timely responses.

5. How Local Communities Cut Heat Wave Deaths by 60% – South Asia’s Early Warning System

For a regional overview, explore how South Asian countries are building stronger anticipatory systems and how early warning systems reduced fatalities. Also, read how to implement anticipatory response on the ground.

6. How South Asian Nations Are Building Stronger Anticipatory Action Systems

Learn how local communities are putting early warning systems into action and how to implement response frameworks effectively. To build triggers for action, check out this step-by-step guide for drought scenarios.

7. How to Design Effective Anticipatory Response Indicators – A Field Guide for Humanitarian Teams

Make your indicators impactful by linking them with real-world application: implement anticipatory response strategies, build drought triggers, and learn from how communities lead anticipatory action.