Fiji has made history as the first Small Island Developing State (SIDS) in the Pacific to adopt a fully approved Simplified Early Action Protocol (EAP) for tropical cyclones — a milestone that positions the island nation at the forefront of forecast-based, locally led disaster preparedness in one of the world’s most cyclone-exposed regions. The Simplified EAP, spearheaded by the Fiji Red Cross Society (FRCS), will enable humanitarian responders to unlock funding and initiate life-saving actions before a cyclone makes landfall. This is a significant shift from traditional reactive approaches that wait for devastation to strike.
A turning point for disaster preparedness
According to Fiji Red Cross Society director general Ragigia Dawai, the new protocol introduces a pre-agreed mechanism that automatically triggers funding once forecast thresholds are met. Ms Dawai said these resources will be used to provide safe shelter kits, boat-strengthening materials, water storage solutions, and health alerts to communities in a cyclone’s projected path. “There was an inaugural anticipatory action meeting held in Nadi in March 2023… it brought together UN agencies, the Fiji Red Cross, key stakeholders, and the Fijian Government,” she said. “It was at this meeting, led by Iwe Rocha, that the National Anticipatory Action Framework for Fiji was developed. “This framework was endorsed in Parliament in February 2024.” This framework paved the way for the creation and approval of the new Simplified EAP — a short-term, anticipatory disaster risk tool that complements longer-term disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies.
How the protocol works
The EAP is part of the anticipatory phase of the disaster management cycle, which also includes preparedness, response, and recovery. “Before the preparedness phase is what we call anticipatory action,” Ms Dawai said. “Anticipatory action works 120 hours before a cyclone when a trigger is being announced.” Under the FRCS system, anticipatory actions, called early actions are initiated when there is a five-day forecast of a Category 4 or 5 tropical cyclone within 250 kilometres of Fiji. If this forecast is confirmed at the 72-hour mark, pre-positioned relief supplies are mobilised, and early interventions are activated. These include deploying shelter materials, reinforcing boats, disseminating health alerts, and ensuring clean water access. Head of Portfolio Development for International Climate at the Australian Red Cross, Veronica Bell added that this early action system eliminates bureaucratic bottlenecks at a critical time. “An early action protocol is the mechanism for acting in advance of events occurring,” Bell said. “It’s not about replacing current disaster response efforts, it’s an additional tool. “When a trigger is met, Fiji Red Cross knows it has access to funds immediately. There’s no form-filling or proposal-writing.” This enables faster, more efficient responses and ensures volunteers and teams are ready to act when the time comes.
Community-led, forecast-based action
The strength of the Simplified EAP lies in its emphasis on local capacity and community insight. “We don’t want to undermine the resilience of communities or the DRR work that’s already happening,” Ms Bell said. “This tool is for very extreme events that are going to have the greatest impact.” With 16 branches and more than 800 trained volunteers across the country, FRCS is well-placed to implement early actions nationwide wherever a cyclone is projected to have the most severe impact. “We haven’t made any predeterminations about which communities we will respond to. “The coverage is nationwide, and decisions are guided by forecast data.”
Who will benefit?
FRCS estimates that with current funding, approximately 2000 people or 400 households can be reached per cyclone activation. Beneficiary selection will be coordinated with local leaders, government officials, and community members to ensure fairness and need-based targeting. “We’ll be looking at households that can benefit from shelter strengthening and livelihood support. That includes small-scale farmers and fishers, as well as households with children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and female-headed households.” The goal is to prioritise those facing the highest vulnerability and risk from severe cyclones, with local knowledge playing a central role in identifying them.
A model for the region
This is the first time a Pacific national society has been granted funds under the Simplified EAP model. Fiji’s leadership is being closely watched by other vulnerable nations across the region and the globe. “Fiji is not only the first in the Pacific, but also the first among Small Island Developing States to implement this,” Ms Dawai noted. “That sends a strong message to governments everywhere, Fiji recognises the urgency of climate-induced disasters and is acting accordingly.” With implementation scheduled over a two-year period, the success of Fiji’s early action model could influence how other cyclone-prone nations prepare for worsening climate threats. “This is a pivotal shift,” Dawai said. “Anticipatory action saves lives, livelihoods, and resources. “And it’s our communities that will see the real benefits.”
