Inclusive WhatsApp-based early warning system for visually impaired micro-entrepreneurs in Kupang, Indonesia
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Abstract. Ndaparoka SL, Hadiyati E, Sjion EW, Dhana IMA. 2026. Inclusive WhatsApp-based early warning system for visually impaired micro-entrepreneurs in Kupang, Indonesia. Intl J Trop Drylands 10 (1): t100104. https://doi.org/10.13057/tropdrylands/t100104. In tropical dryland urban centres, extreme weather events increasingly threaten informal livelihoods, yet standard early warning mechanisms often fail to accommodate marginalized populations. This accessibility gap creates profound socioeconomic vulnerabilities for micro-entrepreneurs with visual impairments who rely heavily on outdoor trading activities. This study examines the implementation of an inclusive WhatsApp-based Early Warning System (EWS) designed to support visually impaired micro entrepreneurs in Kupang City, East Nusa Tenggara, during extreme weather events. Utilizing an exploratory qualitative design, in-depth interviews were conducted to eight purposefully selected informants, comprising six visually impaired vendors and two institutional stakeholders. Data collected during the extreme weather cycle (December 2024-April 2025) were analysed and methodologically triangulated with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) documents of the system and digital message archives. The findings demonstrate the practical use of the system in converting visual meteorological alerts into accessible audio formats within a rapid 3-to-5-minute dissemination window. Qualitative evidence from user experiences suggests that these audio alerts appear to strengthen immediate economic decision making, such as enabling vendors to secure their kiosks or suspend outdoor trading activities before a storm onset. The novelty of this study lies in its documentation of a community driven, inclusive governance model within a vulnerable tropical dryland urban setting. While persistent challenges include mobile data affordability and a critical reliance on a single human resource for content production, the system offers a potentially adaptable model for strengthening inclusive disaster risk reduction and livelihood in other urban centres.
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