Network Paper 59: Contingency planning and humanitarian action: A Review of Practice

This Network Paper explores the current process and practice of contingency planning in
humanitarian organisations. It sets out the key terms and concepts relating to contingency
planning, explores the contingency planning process, explains the main models used by
humanitarian organisations and presents a new concept of the process that enables a more dynamic approach than previous frameworks.

The paper also looks at the practice of contingency planning, examining scenario
development, including the techniques used, the types of scenarios that work in different
circumstances and the challenges scenario planners face. A number of case studies illustrate these different approaches.