Contingency Planning

Defining Contingency Planning

The Oxford dictionary defines the word contingency as “a future event or circumstance which is possible but cannot be predicted with certainty.” Contingencies (such as a tsunami, earthquake, drought, or epidemic) that produce emergencies are the focus of contingency planning. The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC; a forum involving United Nations and non-UN partners for humanitarian assistance) defines contingency planning relating to humanitarian crises, but the definition is applicable more generally and is a recognized standard within the United Nations system. The IASC defines contingency planning as “a management tool used to analyze the impact of potential crises and ensure that adequate and appropriate arrangements are made in advance to respond in a timely, effective, and appropriate way to the needs of the affected population(s). Contingency planning is a tool to anticipate and solve problems that typically arise during humanitarian response.” In research on drought contingency planning for the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), Lesukat Marko points out that emergency managers sometimes use the terms contingency planning and contingency plan interchangeably. He draws attention to the important conceptual distinction between these terms, showing that while contingency planning is a systematic management process, a contingency plan is a product of that process.

Importance of Contingency Planning

When carried out well as part of an integrated approach to emergency planning, contingency planning enables planners to anticipate problems and identify appropriate responses to deal with emergencies. Contingency planning ensures that public agencies, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and communities are better prepared for situations that require emergency response. Contingency plans detail specific risks that require attention beyond the provisions of general plans. Contingency plans contribute to an integrated approach to emergency response and highlight specific training and exercise requirements to deal with particular kinds of emergency. Good contingency planning thereby enhances organizational and community resilience.

Governance Context

Different management regimes provide different national and agency contexts. United Nations agencies and national governments that commit to democratic, effective, and efficient emergency management recognize the need for a governance framework that provides the conditions for effective leadership to guide the planning process; accountability and transparency in management; the participation of stakeholders in the planning process; good coordination and communications; and the enhancement of sustainability, robustness, and resilience.

International Assistance

The UNISDR promotes common understanding and usage of disaster reduction concepts, and the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005–2015 underlines the need for more consistent terminology related to disaster risk reduction. The IASC regards contingency planning as part of preparedness in accordance with Priority 5 of the HFA that refers to “strengthening disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels.” Preparedness under the HFA involves “increasing the capacity to predict, monitor and be prepared to reduce damage or address potential threats” and “strengthening preparedness to respond in an emergency and to assist those who have been adversely affected.”

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