Child Centered Early Warning Systems: Examples and Good Practice

In the face of increasing extreme weather events and other hazards, Early Warning Systems can provide vulnerable populations with information that may enable them, and their duty bearers, to prevent predictable crisis impacts. To be effective, early warning systems must be designed for and together with the populations that use them. Not only should children’s needs and specific vulnerabilities be taken into account in designing early warning and early action– but experience has also shown that children can and should play a critical role in designing, testing and maintaining these systems.

This document outlines examples of Save the Children’s experience with child-centred early warning systems, linked to the four pillars of the Early Warning for All initiative. It is intended as a starting point for discussion and further identification of good practice examples to ensure meaningful participation of children in development and implementation of early warning systems.