AMEND CONTENT

5. What to do after the first 72 hours

It could now be time to quickly increase the CO’s capacity and scale up the response. A CO’s operations can become 10 times bigger in the first weeks of an emergency depending on the size and speed of the emergency.

Accountability

  • Check that the response complies with CARE’s Humanitarian Accountability Framework and the CHS
  • Pay close attention to communication with beneficiaries. Seek their views in the first place, share our plans with them in return and accept their feedback.
  • Check that the response complies with the conflict sensitivity checklist for rapid onset emergencies.

Humanitarian policy

Programme response

  • Examine the main needs and any gaps in the response so far. Look at:
    • how you are responding in CARE’s key sectors (food security, shelter, WASH, SRH)
    • what sectors you should focus on (assessment needs, partner capacity, CARE capacity, EPP)
    • how to build on current CO expertise
    • how you are coordinating with clusters.
  • Consider cross-cutting issues, especially:
  • Work out what extra funds and technical expertise you need.
  • What are the key advocacy issues?
  • Update the emergency strategy based on the latest assessments.
  • Start planning for the change from emergency response to long-term recovery.

Scaling up capacity

see also ‘Tips for scaling up’ at section 7.

  • Fundraise from donor groups, the UN and the public.
  • Have proposal writers in the CO so that you can get proposals reflecting the real situation on the ground to donors as soon as possible.
  • Set up a system for managing contracts. Each large contract will need their own project manager – also key to have a point person for each contract..
  • Ensure to consider how to best ensure geography and or sectors are shared among donors to make management oversight of each contract as efficient as possible.
  • Build good relationships with partners. This includes supporting their capacity and designing approaches and proposals with them.   Ensure they are aware of CARE’s gender in emergency approach.
  • Start M&E as soon as possible-recording numbers of beneficiaries (broken down by sex and age), amounts distributed etc.
  • Plan and budget for an after action review to be done three months after the emergency. For a type 2 or 4 emergency you will need an independent evaluation (ie from outside CARE) as well as an AAR.
  • Plan ahead for scaling down and closing the response or moving to longer-term development programming.

Scaling up support

Scale up all CO operational capacity at the same time as programme expansion. To avoid delays, you will need more staff and faster/better systems for:

HR

  • Hiring new staff
  • Orientation of new staff
  • PSEA training.
  • Internal TDYs to support emergency programming
  • Working with CARE Humanitarian Affairs and your Lead Member on international deployments (and remember to start planning for the second wave as early as possible).

Finance:

  • allocating and tracking emergency funds/contracts
  • budgets preparation and reporting
  • donor and audit rules
  • master budget

Logistics

  • storage, inventory and transport
  • CIKS (if applicable)

Distribution 

Procurement:

  • purchasing relief supplies and equipment
  • donor rules
  • customs

Administration:

  • travel and transport
  • government regulations
  • office services
  • Support for new staff / accommodation, pickup etc.

Telecommunications

  • phone, radio, satellite and internet

Safety and security.

  • Ensure protocols are in place, update as required depending on changed situation.

Communication

Communication can be confusing, as many different parts of CARE will give support and need information. Make sure you know who you need to communicate with on key matters.

  • High-level decisions: Country Director talks to the CCA Meeting group (Line Manager, Lead Member Emergency Director and CI Humanitarian  Director, Head of Emergency Operations and the REC)
  • Information management (sitreps etc.): Lead Member emergency unit and CARE Humanitarian Affairs
  • Media: Lead Member media manager (who will talk to CI Media and Communications Coordinator/COMWG).
  • HR: CI HR coordinator (emergencyHR@careinternational.org)

Reports to send to CI

Immediately

  • Emergency alert.
  • Latest EPP
  • Gender in Brief.

Within 24-72 hours

  • Capacity assessment.
  • Regular sitreps.
  • HSF Proposal  / budget if required (can be used as generic proposal).
  • Photos and information for media.
  • Initial response strategy.
  • Key messages on advocacy issues.

As needed

  • Assessment reports.
  • Funding proposals.
  • Human interest stories.
  • Reports for donors.

Responding to an emergency using CARE’s protocols and guidelines

Notes:

This chart refers to chapters in the CET.

The phases often overlap. E.g. you can start phase D before the assessment is finished.