Publications

• Background paper on digital transformation and early warning systems for saving lives​, 2023. As part of its work to support the EW4All warning dissemination and communication pillar, ITU has released a background paper on "Digital Transformation and Early Warning Systems for Saving Lives.” The paper points to the opportunities offered by the growing availability and reach of mobile networks and services to alert communities at risk and highlights the legislative approach adopted by 33 countries as a way to speed up the implementation of mobile EWS.
  
• Early warning systems: Saving lives through mobile connection​, ITU blog, January 2023​
  
• Towards building inclusive digital communities: ITU toolkit and self-assessment for ICT accessibility implementation​ (2021). Towards building inclusive digital communities”: ITU toolkit and self-assessment for ICT accessibility implementation has been developed to help ITU members and other stakeholders understand the “what, why and how” of ICT accessibility, and its role in building inclusive communities and societies. The self-assessment methodology detailed in the report provides a clear and simple way for stakeholders to identify their current level of ICT accessibility implementation, and offers expert advice, recommendations and valuable best practices to help further improve the inclusiveness of their digital strategy. The self-assessment tool can also be used to continually monitor the evolution of the implementation process.​
  
• BDT Study Group 2 Question 5 Report:  Utilizing telecommunications and ICTs for disaster risk reduction and management​ (2021). This report contains some essential information to help countries and regions be prepared for all stages of a disaster – before, during and after the event – through the use of telecommunications/ICTs. It includes detailed guidelines based on real-life case studies of members worldwide, whose experiences and lessons learned can help save millions of lives.
• Women, ICT and emergency telecommunications - opportunities and constraints​ (2020). In the wake of a disaster, women are more vulnerable and more likely to die than men. This report indicates that the digital gender divide is blocking women from becoming equal stakeholders in society, putting entire communities at greater risk during emergencies. It also highlights the importance of advancing gender equality in disaster risk management, and on how to enable women to have inclusive access to, and use of ICTs, and shows a way forward to reduce gendered disaster vulnerability as well as the gendered digital divide.
• Guide to develop a telecommunications/ ICT contingency plan for a pandemic response​ (2020). The Covid-19 crisis has demonstrated the essential role of connectivity worldwide and the importance of having a robust, resilient and secure telecommunication/ICT in place for coordination mechanisms as well as for social welfare and for the global economy. This guide presents a set of proposals for effective telecommunications contingency planning and response for pandemics.
  
• ITU Guidelines for national emergency telecommunication plans​ ​(2020).  The Guidelines will assist policy makers and national regulatory authorities to develop a clear, flexible and user-friendly national emergency telecommunications plan with a multi-stakeholder approach. This includes national policies and procedures as well as governance to support and enable the continued use of reliable and resilient ICT networks, services and platforms for disaster management.
  
• Table Top Simulation Guide (2019). This guide offers a step-by-step process for creating table-top simulation exercises at national and local levels and provides all the necessary tools to practice informed decision making and coordination using a multi-disciplinarily stakeholder approach.​
  
• Disruptive technologies and their use in disaster risk reduction and management​ (2019). This docume​nt ​discusses the use and opportunities of ICTs and disruptive technologies for disaster risk reduction and management.​

M​ore >

• Cell Broadcast for Early Warning Systems: A review of the technology and how to implement it​, GSMA, November 2023
  
• Early Warnings For All Initiative scaled up into action on the ground​ (2023). This is a Press Release from UNDRR dated 21 March 2023
• Early warning and anticipatory action​, WMO Bulletin Vol 71 (1), 2022​
• Mobile-based Early Warning Systems​ (2022). This flyer was prepared for UCL Warnings Briefing Note.
  
• Public Warning in Chile (2022). 
  
• How mobile networks and services can help save lives (2022) . This article was prepared by Everbridge.
  
• Guidelines on how to assess the effectiveness of public warning systems transmitted by different means (2022). This guide was prepared by the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC).
  
• Satellite Communications for Early Warning, Environmental Monitoring & Climate Change​​. This brochure was prepared by EMEA Satellite Operators Association (ESOA).
  
• Public Warnin​​g Systems update,  European Emergency Number Association (EENA), 2019​
  
• Natural Disasters and Trade - Study 1 (2019). This report was prepared by the World Trade Organization(WTO) as part of the research on the impact of natural disasters on trade.
• Preventing the Spread of Epidemics Using ICT (2018). This report was developed by the members of the Broadband Commission Working Group on Epidemic Preparedness-Preventing the Spread of Epidemics using ICT. This report highlights the importance of ICT and global cooperation in addressing with infectious and other types of diseases. It also provides guidance on political, technological, and structural directions that we have to pursue to realize such cooperation.