Assessing the Differential Effects of Early Disaster Warning Systems in Malawi: Focusing on the Digital Divide = 디지털 격차에 따른 말라위 재난 조기경보시스템의 차별적 효과

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The research purpose was to explore the impact of the digital divide on the performance, accessibility, and community responsiveness of Malawi’s early warning systems for disasters. Despite advances made to improve disaster communication capabilities the vast majority of warner’s have been technologically, socio-culturally and economically excluded from receiving timely and accurate warnings. Analyzing the mixed methods of research combined questionnaire answers from a sample of organizations who are in a position to provide disaster warning services with interviews with experts as well as community-based survey results from rural disaster prone under-represented communities enabled a rigorous quantitative assessment of community participation. The quantitative analysis revealed that while there is generally a high level of awareness among individuals and communities regarding early warning systems digital inequalities constrain their access/participation. Statistical analyses found significant differences in educational attainment as well as digital literacy and institutional capacity between providers and users. Statistical modelling showed inclusiveness and the existence of ‘social barriers’ as primary predictors of early warning systems effectiveness. The qualitative analysis provided additional insights into how poverty, gender norms, lack of basic infrastructure and cultural restrictions hinder the vast majority of individuals and groups (particularly women, rural communities and elderly people) from reaping the benefits from the various forms of digital communication platforms. Consequently, the Malawi early warning system is predominantly top-down and lacks sufficient community involvement in the design and dissemination of early warning messages. More importantly to increase the effectiveness of the early warning system in Malawi the study recommends creating new digital innovations that include human inclusion through community-centered approaches to build local digital literacy translated messages into local dialects equitable construction and maintenance of digital communications technology infrastructure and equal access to digital technologies through gender-equitable social policies. a more inclusive, people-centered approach to disaster preparedness and resilience building. Ultimately the study affirms that technology alone cannot safeguard peoples understanding, trust and participation are the true foundations of effective early warning systems. By bridging the digital divide Malawi can move forward.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• Abstract i
• Table of Contents iii
• List of Tables v
• List of Figures. v
• List of Abbreviations vi
• 1. Chapter Introduction 1
• 1.1. Disaster Risk Reduction Efforts and Early Warning Systems 2
• 1.2. Problem Statement 4
• 2. Chapter Research objectives 6
• 2.1. Research flow chart with objectives. 6
• 3. Chapter Study area 10
• 3.1. Physical Characteristics and Disasters in Phalombe 10
• 3.2. Socio-Economic and Demographic Characteristics 13
• 3.3. Institutional and administrative setup 15
• 3.4. Relevance of the Study Area to the Research 16
• 4. Chapter Literature Review 17
• 4.1. Problem of early warning systems and the digital divide in Malawi 17
• 4.2 Perspective of Disasters (Global and Africa) 20
• 4.3 The Contextual Landscape of Disasters and EWS in Malawi 22
• 4.4 Framework of Disaster Risk Reduction and Early Warning Systems 24
• 4.5 Elements of Early warning systems 32
• 4.6 Challenges of Early Warning Systems 35
• 4.7 Malawi’s Disaster Management Policies related to Early Warning
• Systems.41
• 4.7 Digital Divide on Early warning System 44
• 4.7 Literature Gap 47
• 5. Chapter Research Methodology 49
• 5.1 Quantitative Study 49
• 5.1.1 Survey instruments 50
• 5.1.2 Survey Process 51
• 5.2 Statistical Analysis 52
• 5.3 Qualitative Study 57
• 5.3.1 Interview Method 58
• iv
• 5.3.2 Interview group 59
• 5.3.3 Interview Process 60
• 5.3.4 Thematic Analysis 61
• 5.4 Mixed Method Approach: Quantitative and Qualitative Analyses 62
• 5.5 Research Methods Flow Chart 64
• 5.6 Ethical Consideration 66
• 5.7 Limitations of the Study 66
• 6. Chapter Results 68
• 6.1 Quantitative results 69
• 6.1.1 Descriptive survey results 69
• 6.1.2 Exploratory factor analysis 74
• 6.1.3. Factor Analysis Loadings 78
• 6.1.3 Linear Regression 84
• Table 6.6 Linear Regression Results 85
• 6.2 Qualitative Study 86
• 7. Chapter Discussion 95
• 7.1 Community Satisfaction, Understanding and Participation 95
• 7.2 Effectiveness of Early Warning Messages and Communication Channels 97
• 7. 3 Digital Divide and Socio-Demographic Barriers 98
• 7.4 Accessibility, Responsiveness, and EWS Performance 99
• 7.5 Recommendations for Bridging the Digital Divide 100
• 8. Chapter Conclusion 102
• 8.1 Recommendation 104
• 8.2 Limitations of the Study 108
• 8.3 Prospective Research Paths 110
• Reference. 112
• 국문초록 124
• Acknowledgement 127
• v