What do you do if your plans need to quickly adapt in a rapidly changing emergency situation?

1 Assess the situation

The first step is to assess the situation and identify the most urgent needs, risks, and opportunities. You should gather as much relevant and reliable information as possible from different sources, such as your team, partners, stakeholders, media, and data. You should also monitor the situation closely and update your assessment regularly. This will help you understand the current and potential impacts of the emergency, the available resources and capacities, and the gaps and challenges that need to be addressed.

2 Review your objectives

The next step is to review your objectives and see if they are still valid, realistic, and aligned with the situation. You may have to revise your objectives based on the new information, needs, and priorities that emerge from your assessment. You should also consider the feasibility, effectiveness, and sustainability of your objectives, and how they contribute to the overall goals of the emergency response. You should communicate your objectives clearly and consistently to your team, partners, and stakeholders, and seek their feedback and input.

3 Adapt your strategies

The third step is to adapt your strategies and actions to achieve your objectives. You may have to modify, add, or drop some of your strategies depending on the changing situation and the resources available. You should also evaluate the pros and cons of each strategy, and how they affect the outcomes, risks, and opportunities of the emergency response. You should be flexible and creative in finding solutions, but also realistic and pragmatic in implementing them. You should also coordinate and collaborate with other actors and sectors involved in the emergency response, and avoid duplication or conflict.

4 Communicate your changes

The fourth step is to communicate your changes and explain the reasons behind them. You should inform your team, partners, stakeholders, and beneficiaries about the changes in your plans, objectives, strategies, and actions, and how they affect them. You should also provide them with clear and accurate information, instructions, and guidance on what they need to do or expect. You should also listen to their concerns, questions, and suggestions, and address them promptly and respectfully. You should also document and report your changes and their impacts, and share them with relevant authorities and audiences.

5 Evaluate your results

The fifth step is to evaluate your results and learn from your experience. You should measure and analyze the outcomes, impacts, and effects of your changes, and compare them with your objectives and expectations. You should also identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of your changes, and how they influenced the emergency response. You should also solicit and collect feedback and lessons learned from your team, partners, stakeholders, and beneficiaries, and use them to improve your performance and practice. You should also recognize and celebrate your achievements and successes, and acknowledge and appreciate your efforts and contributions.

6 Prepare for the next change

The sixth step is to prepare for the next change and be ready to adapt again. You should anticipate and plan for the possible scenarios and contingencies that may arise in the emergency situation, and how you would respond to them. You should also update and refine your plans, objectives, strategies, and actions based on the latest information, needs, and priorities. You should also maintain and enhance your flexibility, resilience, and agility, and cultivate a culture of learning and innovation in your team, partners, and stakeholders. You should also keep an open mind and a positive attitude, and embrace change as an opportunity to grow and improve.

7 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?