Early-warning and early-response (EWER) systems have been used by a range of actors as an approach to prevent, reduce and mitigate violence and its worst impact on civilians. While they originate from other sectors, they can contribute to increasing the safety and security of civilians when they are designed to warn and respond to violence for the purpose of improving the protection of civilians.

This briefing note explores how EWER systems have been implemented in response to violence and conflict, and for the purpose of reducing harm and increasing the safety and security of civilians. It focuses on the role and practice of external actors, including humanitarian protection actors, in facilitating and supporting the design and implementation of EWER systems, including where these are based in and led by communities, while highlighting the status of current guidance and gaps in evidence. This briefing note is based on a light-touch review of existing guidance, learning material and reports, complemented by nine interviews with key practitioners and stakeholders.

Report by the Overseas Development Institute

This briefing note is published as part of a wider body of work funded by the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the consortium Civilian Safety and Security in collaboration with NORCAP and NOHA. The objective of this project is to contribute to improved civilian safety and security by building knowledge and understanding around a range of interventions at different levels of the humanitarian, peacebuilding and development sectors, including through expert deployment, and developing guidance, training and research.