Toward a CAP-enabled National Alert System: Some Notes for the Government of Mexico
This document provides policy and technical guidance to support the Government of Mexico in the development of a country-wide, Common Alerting Protocol (CAP)–enabled National Alert System. Prepared with input from invited international experts, it is intended for government officials and institutions involved in public warning, civil protection, and emergency communications at national and sub-national levels.
The guidance outlines the strategic principles, governance arrangements, and system design considerations necessary to establish an effective, interoperable, and people-centred alerting system in Mexico. It emphasizes an all-hazards, all-media approach, equitable access to alerts, coordination across government, private sector, and civil society actors, and the clear definition of roles and responsibilities among alerting authorities.
In addition to policy considerations, the document provides practical and technical recommendations for implementing CAP within Mexico’s institutional and legal context. These include guidance on CAP profiles, alert dissemination via digital networks, validation and authentication of alerts, distinguishing high-priority warnings, and recommended practices for alert content, structure, language, and geographic targeting. Specific attention is given to alignment with Mexico’s General Law for Civil Protection and to interoperability with international alerting systems.
While tailored to Mexico, the document also serves as a useful reference for other countries seeking to design or strengthen national CAP-enabled alerting systems that are aligned with international standards and best practices.
This guidance builds on a more generalized reference, Advice on Implementing a CAP-Enabled Alerting System, which provides broader policy and technical considerations applicable across national contexts.