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Early Warning System's Effectiveness

Indicator Phrasing

number of communities with an effective early warning system for major identified hazards in place
See indicator in other languages

Indicator Phrasing

English: number of communities with an effective early warning system for major identified hazards in place

French: nombre de communautés avec un système efficace d'alerte précoce pour les principaux dangers identifiés en place

Portuguese: número de comunidades com um sistema funcional de alerta-prévio eficaz para os principais desastres identificados

Czech: počet komunit disponujících účinným systémem včasného varování před hlavními identifikovanými hazardy

What is its purpose?

This composite indicator measures whether the target community has an effective early warning system for major identified hazards in place. A system is considered effective when 1) the system is in place, 2) the data is timely and correctly collected, 3) community members are aware of the system, and 4) receive from it timely and actionable information.

How to Collect and Analyse the Required Data

Assess the following 4 aspects of an effective early warning system:

 

A) Existence of the Early Warning System

Use review of relevant documents, interviews with personnel of early warning system and the key informants (e.g. authorities) to assess:

Q1: Are the core functions and responsibilities of the early warning system described in relevant guidelines?

A1: yes / no

  

Q2: Is there a specific person (or a group of persons) officially responsible for operating an early warning system in the given community?

A2: yes / no

  

Q3: Is the responsible personnel aware of the main responsibilities?

A3: yes / no / partly 

    

 

B) Timely and Correct Data Collection

Use interviews with the staff responsible for the early warning system, key informant interviews (e.g. authorities), review of relevant records and testing of relevant staff's skills to assess:

Q4: Is the data required for triggering an early warning collected regularly, as defined in the early warning system's guidelines?

A4: yes / no / partly

  

Q5: Is the most important data collected?

A5: yes / no

  

Q6: Is the required data collected and recorded correctly?

A6: yes / no / partly 

   

 

C) Community Awareness of Early Warning System

Conduct a quantitative survey among a representative sample of the local population that includes the following question:

Q7: Does this community have any formal system of warning its inhabitants about upcoming natural disasters, such as [specify 2-3 relevant examples]?

A7: yes / no / does not know

  

 

D) Receiving Timely and Actionable Warning

Conduct a quantitative survey among a representative sample of the local population that includes the following questions:

Q8: How do you usually learn about an upcoming [specify 2-3 examples of the most common and severe natural disasters]?

A8: pre-define answers according to the local context

  

Q9: Have you ever received information about an upcoming natural disaster from [specify the early warning system's way of informing local inhabitants]?

A9: yes / no

    

(ask the following questions only if the previous answer is YES)

    

Q10: Did you receive the information about an upcoming natural disaster on time, giving you enough time to protect your family?

A10: yes / no

    

Q11: Do you remember how useful the provided advice was?

A11: yes / no

  

(ask the following questions only if the previous answer is YES)

     

Q12: Was the advice very useful, fairly useful, fairly non-useful or very non-useful?

A12: very useful / fairly useful / fairly non-useful / very non-useful

   

Set benchmarks for what answers can still represent "an effective early warning system". 

    

Calculate the indicator's value by counting the number of communities with an effective early warning system (as defined by the benchmarks). 

This guidance was prepared by People in Need ©

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