UNITED NATIONS DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - DHA-Online
Coordination and Emergency Response

Policy and analysis

Humanitarian Early Warning System (HEWS)

WHAT?

The purpose of HEWS is to identify potential crises with humanitarian implications. To do so, it compiles and analyzes information from several and varied sources. HEWS generates background profiles, analytic briefs, and other reports on countries of concern. These reports include an assessment of existing vulnerabilities, trends, and escalation potential. They recognize that several different factors can cause the outbreak of a crisis and distinguish between root causes and triggering events.

One of the tools developed to assist the analysis process is an extensive database of country information. The database contains information of two types -- quantitative and qualitative -- and includes reporting from the various early warning systems that exist (for example, in the food and agriculture sector). UN information, from both the headquarters- and field-levels, is supplemented with that from outside sources. Recognizing that much critical information rests outside of the UN, every attempt is made to harness this expertise as well.

HEWS' sources include:

WHY?

Man-made crises have tremendous costs in terms of lives and scarce resources. More and more, the international community is called upon to prevent these emergencies, rather than merely reacting after they have broken out. By providing a basis for action, early warning informs decision-makers of what can and may occur in the absence of early action. DHA developed HEWS, beginning in 1994, as a tool to discharge its responsibility as focal point for the "collection, analysis, and dissemination of early warning information" in the humanitarian field. HEWS became fully operational in 1996. Setting up such a system was not seen as an end unto itself. Instead, it was conceived as a way to support decision-making with a well-organized information base that draws on a wide-reaching network.

FOR WHOM?

Early warning is necessary but not sufficient to prevent or even prepare for crises. Credible signals must translate into early and effective action. Thus, information on potential crisis situations, such as the reports HEWS generates, are fed into the consultation processes that determine what actions should be taken towards preventing crises or preparing for their impact. HEWS serves DHA's decision-makers, and through them, the Departments of Political Affairs and Peacekeeping Operations, UN agencies, and member states. HEWS' assessments may be considered sensitive and are, therefore, limited in their dissemination. Plans are, however, underway for portions of HEWS' information to be made publicly available on ReliefWeb -- DHA's global information dissemination platform on the Internet at www.reliefweb.int.

HOW?

Country Monitoring Process

HEWS' focus is on country situations where latent or low-level tensions have not yet attracted significant attention but have the potential to escalate. In order to make informed assessments on country situations, it considers such factors as:

In cooperation with UN field offices or, if present, DHA's Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRINs), HEWS develops country-specific indicators that can be used to monitor changes in a given situation. Unique to each case, these may include, but need not be limited to:

Such regular, field-based inputs allow for more effective monitoring and for the inclusion of qualitative analysis into headquarters-based early warning.

WITH WHOM?

"... drawing upon monitoring arrangements available within the system, the United Nations should intensify efforts, building upon the existing capacities of relevant organizations and entities for the systematic pooling, analysis, and dissemination of early-warning information..."

General Assembly Resolution 46/182
April 1992

From the start, it was imperative that DHA not duplicate the work done by others -- instead, HEWS was designed to bring sectoral information together with more general and political information. Within the UN, HEWS benefits from the expertise and information provided, in particular, by UNDP, FAO, WFP, UNICEF, UNHCR, UNHCHR/Centre for Human Rights, WHO, the Department of Political Affairs, and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. Cooperation with outside academic and research institutions and member states has also proven fruitful, particularly in the areas of indicator analysis and early warning modeling.

HEWS as Part of DHA's Integrated Strategy

DHA's coordinating role requires that it be able to inform decision-making at all levels with accurate information and insightful analysis on potential as well as unfolding crises. HEWS is one part of DHA's strategy in this regard, with ReliefWeb and the IRINs being other complementary parts.

For more information contact:

HEWS
Policy and Analysis Division
Department of Humanitarian Affairs
DC1-15th Floor
New York, NY 10017
fax: 212-963-3115

Mr. Teferra Shiawl
DC1-Room 1554
phone: 212-963-5120
e-mail: shiawl@un.org

Ms. Elizabeth Kassinis
DC1-Room 1544
phone: 212-963-1134
e-mail: kassinis@un.org

Mr. Adeel Ahmed
DC1-Room 1546
phone: 212-963-1249
e-mail: ahmeda@un.org

Mr. Frank Sedlak
DC1-Room 1542
phone: 212-963-8740
e-mail: sedlak@un.org

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