Lessons for a Community Heat Early Warning System within Informal Settlements

Abstract

Cities face critical risks from extreme temperatures and heatwaves. Of the estimated 2 billion people that could face dangerous extreme heat in the coming decades, over 300 million will be in Nigeria living in some of the poorest urban communities. Over 50% of urban residents are estimated to live in such areas categorised as slums and informal settlements within sub-Sahara Africa (UN Habitat, 2012). Existing early warning systems operate at a national level and often fail to effectively reach last-mile communities. Our study evaluated the utilization of current early warning resources and identify access barriers within one low-income, informal community each in Akure and Lagos, Nigeria. This involved a survey of slum residents (sample size = 550) and focus group discussion (10 discussions) with purposively sampled residents across the two study areas. Also, the study involves 40-day trial of a Community Heat Early Warning System in the two settings. The trial was assessed through focus group discussions with residents who engaged the early warning resources deployed. The survey and pre-trial group discussions show how residents understanding, (dis)trust, and utilize early warning systems, and what constitute barriers. It also shows their preferences in terms of early warning communication, actioning that accompany the early warning resources deployed and some of the limitations involved. The need to further contextualize, scale up and automate early warning Systems came to the fore. The community-based heat early warning system can enhance preparedness and strengthen the resilience of low-income urban residents for extreme heat events.