Join us for the session: Equity in Action: Early Warnings for All People | Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (CICG Room 4: 05 Jun 2025 - 10:00 - 11:30 (UTC +2 Geneva)).
In the face of increasing climate-related hazards, the importance of Early Warning Systems (EWS) cannot be overstated. These systems are crucial for achieving the targets of the Sendai Framework, reducing disaster risks, and preventing losses. However, despite advancements in predicting extreme weather, EWS often fail to reach the most vulnerable populations. Those on the front lines of climate change frequently lack the right information, delivered in the right way, with enough time to act.
Our upcoming GPDRR side event, "Equity in Action: Early Warnings for All People," aims to address these challenges by bringing together participants from across the Early Warning Early Action value chain. This interactive session will focus on understanding the diverse needs, priorities, and barriers to accessing EWS. Through group activities, participants will co-create inclusive, future-proof strategies that ensure early action for at-risk populations, saving lives and livelihoods.
The objectives of the session are clear:
- Improve understanding of the diverse needs and priorities of vulnerable populations.
- Provide guidance on how to design and deliver EWS that are responsive and adaptable to these needs.
- Stimulate critical reflection on how to prioritize gender equality, accessibility, and inclusion in EWS to manage current and future risks, leaving no one behind.
By fostering meaningful cross-sector collaboration and inclusive engagement, the session will promote social equity, cross-sector collaboration, and future-proof governance structures that prioritize marginalized communities most at risk from climate change. To do so, it will encourage risk-informed decision-making that is evidence-based, bringing in the collective knowledge of participants to map relevant resources. These resources are available at:
- CREWS Guidance document on People-Centered Risk-Informed Early Warning Systems. This guidance by the CREWS initiative aims to inform and give practical suggestions for the integration of people centred risk informed approaches in the design, implementation and monitoring of early warning system initiatives.
- Designing Inclusive, Accessible Early Warning Systems: Good Practices and Entry Points. This report by UCL Warning Research Centre and GFDRR presents key lessons and areas of good practice from specific examples, along with recommendations and entry points for inclusive, accessible early warning systems.
- Protection, Gender, and Inclusion in Anticipatory Action: A Guide and Toolkit for Practitioners. A guide and toolkit co-developed by Plan International, IFRC, Humanity & Inclusion, Practical Action, UNFPA, UNICEF, ECW, Start Network UCL Warning Research Centre and the Anticipation Hub, provides a roadmap to achieving this by integrating protection, gender, and inclusion (PGI) principles into anticipatory action.
- Making Early Warnings Work for All: People Centred Design. This report by GSMA offers a practical roadmap for engaging communities and applying Human Centred Design research methods to inform inclusive EWS.
- The Missing Voices Approach Manual. Methodological guidance developed by Practical Action to proactively listen to the experiences of marginalized individuals to inform EWS policies and practice.
- Risk communication for early action (RiCA). Practical resources (global tools and country specific resources) that stakeholders can use towards effective risk communication strategies for early action: the Pocket Guide to Disaster Risk Communication and the Guide for Essential Research, a companion to the Pocket Guide.
- The five components for effective early warning communication. This guide by REAP provides non-technical checklists to understand and address the systemic issues underlying early warnings and early action protocols' effectiveness (or lack of effectiveness).
- The Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance(ZCRA) Early Warning Systems Directory. This directory is a collaborative space dedicated to sharing knowledge, tools, and best practices related to EWS. It is designed for practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and community leaders.
Please join us in this important conversation and add your own resources, as part of our shared commitment to create equitable and effective Early Warning Systems for all: Equity in Action: Early Warnings for All People | Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (CICG Room 4: 05 Jun 2025 - 10:00 - 11:30 (UTC +2 Geneva)).
On behalf of the side event facilitation team:
ZCRA, Practical Action - Mirianna Budimir
REAP - Gavin White
UK Met Office - Nyree Pinder
Plan International - Chiara Ambrosino
UCL WRC - Carina Fearnley
GSMA - Susanna Acland
GNDR - Rebecca Murphy