Anticipatory action

Maryam*, 40, is raising eleven children in Bander Beyla District, Puntland, where two years of declining fish catches left the family in debt and several children out of school. Through a Save the Children project funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, she received 90 dollars a month for four months, allowing her to buy food, store water and return children to class. She is now a member of a community early warning committee, helping neighbours prepare for climate shocks and calling for continued support so her children can stay in school.

Rahwa, 42, is a mother of six children, four boys and two girls, and lives in a remote rural village in Ethiopia's Somali region. Her family of eight relies on small-scale agriculture, including crop production and livestock raising, for their livelihood. For their family, however, livestock comes first in terms of income and sustenance.In recent times, recurrent failed rains, combined with high food prices in the local market have been a challenge. Save the Children, through its anticipatory action initiatives funded by Save the Children Korea (SCK) and in partnership with the local government, has been helping families in this area by providing improved crops and fodder seeds. This support has enabled families like Rahwa's to feed their livestock. Rahwa produces fodder and crops, the latter which are used for family consumption and selling of the surplus.

Climate-related disasters are increasingly impacting children across Latin America and the Caribbean, the world’s second most disaster-prone region. Floods, droughts, storms, and wildfires disrupt homes, education, healthcare, and access to clean water. In 2026, about 4 million children will need humanitarian assistance, with effects extending beyond emergencies to long-term health, education, and well-being. Save the Children focuses on acting early to protect children before disasters occur.

In drought-prone Burao District, two women's lives changed when early warning systems and community training gave them the knowledge and voice to protect their families. Nasra now leads disaster preparedness in her community, while Zainab, who once lost everything to drought, can now act before crisis strikes. Their story shows how empowering women with timely information transforms entire communities.

Hear how communities in Southern Sri Lanka are standing strong against disasters