Ideas and innovation
PPEW aims to stimulate new ideas and new approaches toward improving early
warning systems. In due course this will include a forum for reader comments
and suggestions. PPEW aims to seek progress on the development of the following
topics.
Early warning systems definition
The term “system” is now widely used, for example in electricity
supply systems, transport systems, product distribution and marketing systems
and health care delivery systems. A system is a set of interacting component
parts that acts as a whole to produce an outcome. Systems thinking and
methods have been very influential in improving the design and operation
of many elements of modern society. Early warning systems can be likewise
examined and improved from this perspective.
The first step forward calls for the definition of the early warning system – of
its desired outcomes, component parts, internal relationships, inputs and
outputs – along with measures of its performance, preferably in relation
to appropriate benchmarks or norms. The four-element
framework provides a good basis for examining and defining
early warning systems.
Benefit-cost studies
Intrinsic to the systems approach is the assessment of the benefits and
costs of the system and its component parts. In addition to helping to
improve the cost-efficiency of early warning systems, benefit-cost assessments
are also powerful motivators for political support. Early warning and preparedness
systems are widely acknowledged as good investments to protect life and
property, but more work is needed in order to provide harder facts for
policymakers and to identify what specific types of investments along the
early warning chain will have the greatest payoff.
An early warning research agenda
At present, there is no internationally shared and endorsed research agenda
for early warning. Such an agenda is necessary in order to capitalize on
and steer the extensive expertise that is available to systematically advance
early warning systems development.
Guidance and best practice
PPEW will seek to develop guidance materials and good practice information
to provide the practical help which policy makers and managers need in
order to evaluate and develop their own systems. Ideally this should include
post event analysis and lessons learned.
Early warning systems for developing countries
Developing countries often have the greatest need for early warning systems,
but at the same time the least capacity to implement them. In addition,
advanced technologies are sometimes unsustainable in developing country
economies. New initiatives and targeted research are needed to develop
affordable tailored solutions for those in need. Capacity building in early
warning systems needs to be developed as part of other national sustainable
development projects.
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