Contingency Planning
Print this pageNote: A more extensive set of resource material for inter-agency contingency planning is available online by the IASC Sub WG on Preparedness and Contingency Planning on HewsWeb.org/cptoolkit (password protected). Some of this material is available below under resource material.
What is contingency planning?
Contingency planning is a management tool used to analyse the impact of potential crises and to ensure adequate arrangements are made in advance. This is achieved primarily through the participation in the contingency planning process itself, as well as through follow-up actions and regular review of critical planning elements.
Experience clearly indicates that effective humanitarian response at the onset of a crisis depends on the level of preparedness and planning of responding organizations as well as the capacities and resources available to them. Contingency planning is an important component within the broader framework of emergency preparedness, which includes early warning mechanisms, capacity building, creation and maintenance of stand-by capacities, stockpiling, among others.
Contingency planning is a process that includes four broad components:
- Preparation;
- Analysis;
- Response Planning, and
- Follow up and continuation of the process.
These components commonly divided into the six steps, as follows (taken from IASC Contingency Planning Guidelines, Nov 2007, p. 12):
In 2001, the IASC endorsed the "Inter-Agency Contingency Planning Guidelines" which were developed by the IASC Sub-Working Group on Preparedness and Contingency Planning. These Guidelines have been revised in order to adequately reflect the evolution of the humanitarian context. The revised Guidelines were endorsed by the IASC Working Group in November 2007.
Contingency planning resource material
IASC Inter-Agency Contingency Planning Guidelines for Humanitarian Assistance, endorsed by IASC WG on 5 November 2007 available in English, Arabic, French and Spanish. The document includes several annexes, including a) A Comprehensive IA-CP Workflow, b) and IA-CP Brainstorming Guide and Checklist, c) the ToRs for an IA-CP working group, d) the Generic ToRs of Sector/Cluster Leads at Country Level, e) the list of Global Sector/ Cluster Leads, and f) a glossary.
IASC Contingency Planning Training module, "Inter-Agency Contingency Planning - Concepts and Process": This is a 60 to 90-minute training module prepared by the IASC Sub Working Group on Preparedness and Contingency Planning in June 2008. It is intended to provide an introduction to Inter-Agency Contingency Planning, drawing directly from the Inter-Agency Contingency Planning Guidelines for Humanitarian Assistance. The session is designed as an inter-active module that can be integrated into larger training modules. You will find a) the facilitator's notes, b) an exercise, and c) a powerpoint presentation.
Outline/template of an Inter-Agency Contingency Plan for Humanitarian Assistance, document developed by the West Africa Regional IASC Working Group in collaboration with the OCHA Regional Office West Africa.
UNDMTP module on Contingency Planning, UNDP & DHA for the UN Disaster Management Training Programme, October 1996. These Contingency Planning Guidelines were written with a focus on complex emergencies for field staff of international humanitarian organisations. The typical reader of this document might be a country director of an organisation or a programme officer in a field office where there is a need to initiate contingency planning or to enhance existing planning processes. The context for the planning activities is an inter-agency forum, where participants will be from Government, the UN or non-governmental agencies.
Guidelines for the Development of a National Environmental Contingency Plan; also see ochaonline.un.org/ochaunep, then go to Response Preparedness Activities;
Sample of a National Environmental Contingency Plan, ; also see ochaonline.un.org/ochaunep, then go to Response Preparedness Activities;
General presentation "Outline for inter-agency contingency planning", English & Présentation générale "Esquisse d'un plan de contingence inter-agence", français - general presentations prepared by EPS which can be used as material for contingency planning facilitators.