Global Guidance on Implementing CAP-Enabled Alerting Systems
This guidance document provides practical and policy-oriented advice for governments, emergency management agencies, and technical implementers involved in designing or strengthening a Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) – enabled alerting system.
Drawing on contributions from invited international experts, the document outlines key strategic principles, governance considerations, and technical practices needed to support effective, people-centred public warning systems. It emphasizes an all-hazards, all-media approach, equitable access to alerts, and the importance of cross-sector collaboration among government authorities, private sector actors, and civil society.
The guidance is structured in two main parts. The first addresses strategic and policy matters, including roles and responsibilities across alerting authorities, trust and accountability, inclusion of people with disabilities and non-dominant language speakers, privacy considerations, and the need to distinguish official alert sources. The second focuses on practical and technical considerations, offering concrete recommendations on CAP profiles, alert dissemination via digital networks, validation and authentication of alerts, handling of high-priority warnings, and best practices for alert content, structure, and clarity.
While not prescriptive, the document serves as a reference framework for countries and organizations seeking to implement or refine CAP-enabled alerting systems that are interoperable, scalable, and aligned with international standards and best practices.
This document is a generalized version of the 2016 report titled “Toward a CAP-enabled National Alert System: Some Notes for the Government of Mexico”