What are the best ways to develop a crisis management plan that accounts for international cooperation?

1 Identify potential crises and stakeholders

The first step in developing a crisis management plan is to conduct a risk assessment and identify the potential crises that could affect your organization, community, or country. You should also identify the relevant stakeholders, both internal and external, that are involved or affected by the crisis. Stakeholders can include employees, customers, suppliers, partners, media, regulators, competitors, and international organizations. You should map out the roles, responsibilities, and interests of each stakeholder group and establish clear communication channels and protocols.

2 Define objectives and strategies

The next step is to define the objectives and strategies for managing the crisis. Objectives are the desired outcomes or goals that you want to achieve, such as minimizing losses, restoring operations, protecting reputation, or supporting humanitarian efforts. Strategies are the general approaches or methods that you will use to achieve your objectives, such as prevention, mitigation, response, or recovery. You should align your objectives and strategies with the international standards and frameworks for crisis management, such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the International Health Regulations, or the United Nations Security Council resolutions.

3 Develop action plans and resources

The third step is to develop specific action plans and resources for implementing your strategies. Action plans are the detailed steps or tasks that you will take to manage the crisis, such as activating emergency procedures, mobilizing teams, deploying resources, or engaging stakeholders. Resources are the assets or capabilities that you will need to execute your action plans, such as personnel, equipment, information, or funds. You should also identify the potential sources and mechanisms of international cooperation and assistance, such as bilateral agreements, regional networks, multilateral institutions, or non-governmental organizations.

4 Test and update the plan

The final step is to test and update the crisis management plan regularly. Testing is the process of simulating or rehearsing the plan to evaluate its effectiveness, identify gaps or weaknesses, and improve its performance. Testing can involve exercises, drills, scenarios, or audits. Updating is the process of revising or modifying the plan to reflect the changes in the internal or external environment, such as new risks, opportunities, technologies, or regulations. You should also incorporate the feedback and lessons learned from the testing and updating processes, as well as from the actual crisis events and experiences.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?