June 24, 2024 — The International Rescue Committee (IRC) and GiveDirectly are announcing a $4.6 million grant from Google.org to leverage technology to help deliver aid and cash support to 7,500 people ahead of climate related floods in Nigeria. This program will leverage artificial intelligence (AI) in the form of machine learning (ML) to establish early-warning systems that will trigger cash assistance in advance of severe floods in the Kogi and Adamawa states of Nigeria. This “anticipatory action” approach enables communities to meet both the short- and longer-term needs when impacted by extreme weather.
This initiative builds on Google.org’s support in Nigeria, where the IRC and partners conducted a successful pilot in 2022 that measured the impact of anticipatory cash before the onset of a climate-related shock and reached 1,450 households. Findings from the IRC’s impact evaluation suggest that anticipatory cash can build climate resilience, improve food security, and protect economic livelihoods at the same time reducing negative coping strategies. In addition, Google.org supported GiveDirectly that same year to send cash to more than 6,000 families in the state of Kogi two weeks after anticipated flooding.
By working closely with government agencies such as the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), and local and technical partners, the IRC and GiveDirectly will deliver solutions to improve the impact, scalability, accuracy, and inclusion of anticipatory action programs. Through rigorous research and digital-based models, these solutions will be implemented in Adamawa and Kogi states in Nigeria. As significant changes in climate and weather patterns increase, households living in flood-prone areas often lack access to effective systems and technologies that provide regular updates about climate-shocks and risks. By designing effective early warning systems utilizing forecasts and parametric triggers, the IRC, GiveDirectly, and local partners will combine the use of data science and mobile technology with grassroots knowledge and community networks to address critical targeting and operational challenges to ensure messages and resources reach people ahead of climate shocks.
“This is an example of artificial intelligence for humanitarian good. Climate shocks like floods and droughts are rapidly accelerating humanitarian emergencies in countries already affected by conflict and crisis, despite the fact that these countries bear the smallest responsibility for climate change. In many cases, we have the research and technology to reliably predict when disasters are imminent, and as a result we can protect lives and livelihoods through anticipatory action. The IRC is thrilled to continue working with Google.org, who is supporting our work in developing innovative solutions to build climate resilience in crisis-affected contexts - more needed today than ever before,” said David Miliband, President and CEO of the IRC.
“For millions of the world’s poorest people, extreme weather is today’s, not tomorrow’s, problem. Cash can help build resilience in the face of the climate crisis. This unique program gives unconditional cash and early warnings to thousands of Nigerians, potentially saving their lives and assuredly giving them the opportunity to rebuild, while demonstrating the power of AI when used for good," said Samuel Mwale, Interim President and CEO of GiveDirectly.
“Early disaster warnings are only helpful if they prompt early action. It’s vital that we empower and support communities that are particularly vulnerable to increasing climate shocks before disaster strikes,” said Alex Diaz, Head of AI for Social Good at Google.org. “We look forward to seeing how this collaboration between two of our longtime grantees - IRC and GiveDirectly - will help harness the power of artificial intelligence for climate resiliency and direct cash delivery.”