This note presents a proposal for reform to the system of emergency relief in Ethiopia by building on recent innovations in resource mobilization as well as delivery mechanisms to better address the needs of beneficiaries. It proposes to shift, to the extent possible, away from ex-post disaster relief to ex-ante risk management as the modus operandi for response to emergencies. This paper is primarily the outcome of various informal discussions between Government of Ethiopia, WFP, World Bank and DFID representatives. Future versions of this note will seek to incorporate the views and comments of other key stakeholders. This will hopefully serve as the start of a larger discussion within Ethiopia on how Government and donor partners can more effectively and efficiently plan for the needs of its people before and during the next emergency, and indeed help to avert future emergencies.