The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has called on Eastern African countries to strengthen anticipatory action and invest in disaster preparedness, warning that early warning systems alone are insufficient in protecting communities from the growing impact of disasters.

IGAD Executive Secretary has urged member states to move beyond predicting disasters and take proactive measures to prevent their impacts through timely interventions and predictable financing before disasters strike.

Speaking during the ministerial segment of the Second Eastern Africa Dialogue Platform on Anticipatory Action (EADP2) in Mombasa, the Executive Secretary said the region must prioritise translating climate forecasts and early warning information into practical interventions.

"Over the past two days, our deliberations have reinforced a fundamental message: we must move from predicting disasters to preventing their impacts. Early warning is essential, but it is not enough," he said.

He emphasised the need to ensure that forecasts trigger timely action and that financial resources are readily available before disasters occur.

The IGAD chief noted that discussions during the two-day regional platform had highlighted the importance of linking short-term anticipatory interventions with long-term resilience and development strategies.

He called for stronger government ownership of anticipatory action, urging member states to integrate disaster preparedness into national policies, institutions and budgets.

"It also requires our partners to help mobilize predictable humanitarian, development and climate finance, including innovative financing solutions that match the scale of risks facing our region," he said.

The meeting brought together government ministers and senior disaster management officials from Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda, Somalia, Sudan and Djibouti, alongside representatives of the World Bank, European Union humanitarian partners (ECHO), Germany, the United Nations and other development agencies.

The Executive Secretary said the ministerial segment presented an important opportunity for member states to turn technical discussions into concrete political commitments through the proposed Mombasa Ministerial Declaration on Anticipatory Action.

"Today, we have an important opportunity to translate our technical deliberations into political commitment through the Mombasa Ministerial Declaration on Anticipatory Action," he said.

He urged all IGAD member states to support the endorsement of the declaration and ensure its commitments translate into tangible action, stronger cross-border cooperation and measurable benefits for communities across the region.

According to the Executive Secretary, effective anticipatory action requires agreed thresholds that trigger early interventions, supported by predictable and pre-arranged financing that can be released quickly before disasters strike.

" This commitment reinforces government leadership and coordination, ensuring that anticipatory action is triggered by pre-agreed thresholds and backed by predictable, pre-arranged financing that can be released swiftly before disasters strike," he added.

IGAD reaffirmed its commitment to supporting member states through climate forecasting, early warning systems, disaster risk management expertise, capacity development and regional coordination.

The regional organisation also pledged to continue advocating for increased investment in resilience across the Greater Horn of Africa.

The Second Eastern Africa Dialogue Platform on Anticipatory Action seeks to strengthen regional cooperation and promote proactive approaches to disaster risk management, particularly as communities face increasing climate-related risks.

The Executive Secretary concluded by calling for a collective shift towards resilience, urging stakeholders to transform risks into opportunities for sustainable development.

"Let us transform risks into resilience, commitments to investment, and from reactive response to lasting resilience," he said.