The Economics of Early Response and Resilience

Client: DFID
Year: 2013
Countries: Kenya, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Niger and Bangladesh

Courtenay led a team of experts to examine the economics of early humanitarian response and resilience in five countries. The study findings indicate that early humanitarian response is far more cost effective than late humanitarian response. Further, economic concerns over false early response are unwarranted. Country studies found that, for every early response to a correctly forecast crisis, early responses could be made 2-6 times to crises that do not materialise, before the cost of a single late response is met. Investing in longer-term interventions that support resilience should be prioritized, alongside ongoing early response to humanitarian need. Benefit to cost ratios varied between 2.3:1 and 13.2:1, depending on the country.

For more information please visit: r4d.dfid.gov.uk