Introduction

In today’s rapidly changing risk environment, the need for comprehensive and forward-looking emergency preparedness has never been greater. The Strategic Planning for Emergency Preparedness Training Course is an intensive, high-impact program designed to equip professionals with the skills, frameworks, and practical tools necessary to develop and implement effective emergency preparedness strategies. This training empowers institutions and decision-makers to proactively plan for all hazards—natural, technological, or human-induced—ensuring readiness, resilience, and continuity in the face of potential crises.

The course provides a strategic lens on emergency planning, focusing on risk assessment, stakeholder coordination, resource allocation, and policy alignment with global frameworks. It emphasizes evidence-based decision-making, inclusive planning processes, and the development of robust, adaptable emergency preparedness plans that meet both local and international standards. Participants will engage with real-world case studies, scenario planning, and strategic simulations to strengthen institutional capacities and foster inter-agency collaboration.

Target Audience

• Emergency preparedness and disaster risk management professionals
• Public safety and homeland security officials
• Urban and regional planners
• Humanitarian and development practitioners
• Business continuity and resilience managers
• Local and national government policymakers
• Public health emergency planning personnel
• Civil protection and first responder coordinators

Course Objectives

• Understand the principles and processes of strategic emergency planning
• Identify risks and hazards relevant to organizational or community contexts
• Develop risk-informed preparedness plans across all sectors
• Integrate emergency planning into policy, governance, and budgeting
• Conduct stakeholder mapping and establish coordination mechanisms
• Prioritize resources, infrastructure, and logistics for emergency readiness
• Align plans with international frameworks such as the Sendai Framework
• Apply tools for scenario development and contingency planning
• Develop performance indicators for monitoring preparedness levels
• Engage communities and vulnerable groups in planning processes
• Build institutional capacity for plan testing, simulation, and revision

Duration

5 Days

Course Outline

Module 1: Foundations of Emergency Preparedness and Strategic Planning

• Key concepts, principles, and frameworks in emergency preparedness
• Differences between operational, tactical, and strategic planning
• Importance of a proactive and holistic preparedness approach
• All-hazards planning and risk-based decision-making
• Case studies of strategic failures and successes

Module 2: Risk Identification, Analysis, and Prioritization

• Methods for conducting multi-hazard risk assessments
• Vulnerability and capacity analysis for different sectors
• Risk matrices, probability-impact models, and hazard profiling
• Use of GIS and spatial data for preparedness planning
• Prioritizing risks based on potential consequences

Module 3: Emergency Preparedness Planning Process

• Steps in developing a comprehensive preparedness plan
• Setting objectives, timelines, and responsibilities
• Coordination across sectors and administrative levels
• Emergency SOPs, resource inventories, and contingency plans
• Designing flexible, scalable, and adaptive strategies

Module 4: Policy Integration and Governance Mechanisms

• Linking emergency planning with national and sectoral policies
• Legal and institutional frameworks supporting preparedness
• Role of local authorities in strategic preparedness
• Multi-level governance and decentralized planning models
• Budgeting and resource mobilization for emergency readiness

Module 5: Stakeholder Engagement and Communication

• Mapping actors and defining roles in preparedness planning
• Participatory planning and inclusion of vulnerable groups
• Building trust, transparency, and community ownership
• Communication strategies for preparedness awareness
• Collaboration with NGOs, private sector, and academia

Module 6: Simulation Exercises, Monitoring, and Evaluation

• Designing and conducting emergency simulation drills
• Evaluating plans based on real-time performance metrics
• Indicators and benchmarks for preparedness levels
• Lessons learned, after-action reviews, and plan improvement
• Institutionalizing monitoring and adaptive management

Module 7: Strategic Planning Tools and Innovations

• Decision-support tools and digital platforms for planners
• Scenario planning and strategic foresight methodologies
• Integration of climate adaptation and urban resilience
• Use of AI, big data, and dashboards in emergency planning
• Innovations in inclusive and community-based preparedness

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 10 working days before commencement of the training.