This repository is an experiment in describing anticipatory action triggers in a simple, human-readable and machine-readable way, and gradually building a catalogue of trigger models from real plans.
Today, trigger logic for Early Action Protocols (EAPs), Anticipatory Action Frameworks (AAFs), Anticipatory Action Protocols (AAPs), Start Ready contingency plans and NGO-led plans is usually buried in PDFs and Word files. That makes it hard to compare, test and improve triggers across countries and organisations.
This repo proposes a small core schema for encoding triggers and a set of optional extensions, plus a growing catalogue of encoded trigger sets for different hazards and countries.
It is deliberately:
- Human-friendly: programme staff and government colleagues should be able to read the YAML and recognise their trigger logic
- Technology-neutral: it does not require a specific platform, model or data source
- Inclusive: it is designed to work for Red Cross / Red Crescent EAPs, UN-led CERF AA frameworks, FAO/WFP protocols, Start Network risk pools and NGO-led and locally led AAPs
This is not an official standard of any organisation. It is a working proposal to stimulate discussion and make existing practice easier to see and compare.
The Trigger Database hosted by the Anticipation Hub is a curated overview of existing trigger models, with high-level information such as hazards, countries, lead time categories, sectors and short narrative descriptions.
This repository is different and complementary:
- The database provides plan-level summaries;
- This catalogue encodes the detailed trigger logic from the underlying EAPs/AAPs/AAFs in a consistent YAML schema, phase by phase.
Where possible, entries in this catalogue can re-use and reference information from the Anticipatory Trigger Database (hazard names, countries, links, etc.), but this repo does not replace that database and does not claim to be a complete list of anticipatory action plans. Instead, it focuses on making the trigger mechanisms themselves easier to read, compare and discuss.
MIT