Contingency Plan (CP)

A Contingency Plan (CP) aims to anticipate a potential crisis by planning a country’s response in advance. It is based on risk analysis and the development of scenarios to define the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders involved in the response. The plan also includes a communication framework, an operational plan and intervention protocols, among other elements, to ensure effective coordination in emergency situations.

Contingency plans can be developed at various levels—national, regional, departmental, or community—and may focus on a specific risk (such as an epidemic or flooding) or adopt a multi-hazard approach. 

Ideally, the plan should involve authorities, government disaster management agencies (Civil Protection, Ministry of Risk Prevention), the Host National Society (HNS) and all humanitarian actors on the ground, including NGOs and the United Nations system.