Early warning to early action: systems for shock-responsive social protection
This event took place on January 20, 2026. You can watch the recordings and download the presentation below.
The original recording is available in English. Recordings of the French, Spanish, and Portuguese interpretations are available below.
Overview
The integration of early warning systems with social protection systems enables strengthening preparedness, responsiveness, and resilience to shocks. This session explored how interoperability between early warning systems and social protection systems can enable timely data sharing, trigger anticipatory actions, and support rapid and targeted assistance. Drawing on experiences and practical insights from Malawi and Costa Rica, the discussion highlighted how stronger alignment between these systems can improve risk monitoring, enhance coordination across institutions, and lead to more effective and inclusive social protection responses for vulnerable populations and public administration.
Presenters
- Joe Zaarour, Digital/AI Social Protection Advisor, WFP
- Alexander Jaeger, Senior Social Protection and Climate Change Specialist, World Bank
- Mulder Nkutumula , Disaster Risk Finance Specialist, NLGFC, Malawi
- Sandy Gordon, Business Administrator, Specialist in Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) and the Disaster Recovery Framework (DRF), Costa Rica
Discussants:
- Athanase Akumuntu, Acting Chief Digital Officer at the Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA) and the Ministry of Environment, Rwanda
- Nina Bekele, Product Partnerships ,Social Impact, Google
Moderator: Kim Arora, Knowledge Management Advisor, GIZ