AMEND CONTENT

3. EPP guidelines and steps

CARE has developed a set of comprehensive guidelines for emergency preparedness planning, which provides step-by-step instructions and guidance. These guidelines and workbook are available at Annex 37.1 (a-d) CARE Emergency Preparedness Planning Guidelines, and 37.2 (a-d) CARE Emergency Preparedness Planning Workbook. The Guidelines are to be used by all CARE offices. The planning guidelines include various annexes, which are referenced in the guidelines document, or included as separate annexes below. The annexes below also include  Annex 37.13 (a-d) Cash Preparedness Guidance Note that is not yet reflected in the EPP guidelines.

See Chapter 3 of this toolkit for more information on addressing gender in emergencies in emergency preparedness, the CARE GiE guidance note series for guidance on gender in emergency preparedness, gender in brief, gender action plans & more. These are all also the CARE Emergency Preparedness Planning Guidelines as annexes.

All country offices regardless of risk ratings are required to review and implement every year the Minimum Preparedness Actions (MPAs) as found in Annex 37.8 (a-d).

The EPP process involves the following steps, depending on whether the country in question is low, medium or high/very high risk (see INFORM and  Annex 37.1 (a-d) the Planning guidelines):

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 Checklist

  • Undertake hazard identification and risk analysis to inform the emergency prepared planning. Collect information on historical disasters in the country and current trends related to migration patterns, emerging conflicts, food insecurity data, etc.
  • Form the emergency response team (ERT) and sub-office structures to support emergency operations. Assign key roles to individuals on the team. A high risk office will require a more extensive emergency response team. Provide orientation to ERT members of basic concepts and emergency protocols.
  • Develop a detailed inventory of office capacities using the CARE Capacity Assessment Questionnaire. Identify any capacity gaps.
  • Undertake response planning appropriate to the level of risk. Consider possible responses to emergency scenarios and establish the basic elements of response strategies. Review again any capacity gaps based on the response planning. Consider:
    • How to monitor hazards and risks
    • Whether to work with partners (involve partners in the planning wherever possible)
    • What modalities of response will be used (e.g. cash, in-kind, technical assistance, etc).
    • How to ensure gender and inc
  • Undertake action planning:
    • Assign CARE’s mandate minimum preparedness actions to the relevant staff. This will not be limited to ERT members, and will include both programme and programme support staff (e.g. finance, procurement, logistics, etc).
    • Identify and assign any additional minimum preparedness actions to address capacity gaps identified.
    • Identify and assign any advanced preparedness actions which will be carried out if it becomes likely a response will be needed.
  • Document and share the written plan using the CARE EPP Workbook and/or the Alert Platform (see below.
  • Implement the minimum preparedness actions throughout the year.
  • Undertake necessary risk monitoring throughout the year.
  • Mainstream preparedness and mitigation actions in development projects.
  • Review the plan at appropriate intervals (annually, for very high risk and high risk offices).

The actions above are shown in alternative format in the flowchart below:

 

CARE is part of the Alert Consortium, and in 2017 is piloting the use of the Alert Platform in the Philippines and Kenya. The Alert Platform is an online system for risk monitoring and emergency preparedness planning, with the potential to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of emergency preparedness planning. It allows for networked planning with partners and peers. Offices which are interested in also trialling the software can find out more here, or request further information from alert@careinternational.org.