Managing External Relations - Disaster Management Center ...

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Managing External Relations
Establish means by which collaboration will be promoted in the following areas, and
others as appropriate:
♦ Joint assessment of local capacities and needs
♦ Agreement on services and standards of assistance
♦ The Consolidated Appeal Process or other forms of joint resource mobilisation
♦ Negotiation related to access to emergency areas
♦ Capacity building for local institutions and organisations
♦ Joint training programs
♦ Joint strategic planning and programming for:
– Preparedness and contingency planning
– Sharing personnel
– Sharing operations support resources
(4) Identify staff knowledge and skills that exist and those that need to be developed for
improved external relations, such as:
♦ An up-to-date and in-depth knowledge and analysis of political and social issues
♦ An understanding of international protection laws, protection issues, and
mandates of UNHCR
♦ An awareness of national priorities and needs
♦ An understanding of agencies’ goals, activities and relationships in the network
♦ An awareness of changes in the international response system
♦ An understanding of situations and needs in the field
(5) Establish a timeline for accomplishing goals including meetings, briefings and staff
development in facilitation, negotiation, presentation and other required skills.
Recommended reading for development of an external relations strategy
UNHCR Publications
UNHCR Emergency Handbook, 1998.
Partnership: A Programme Management Handbook for UNHCR’s Partners, March 1996.
The State of the World’s Refugees, The Challenge of Protection, UNHCR, 1993.
The State of the World’s Refugees 1997-98: A Humanitarian Agenda, 1997.
UNDP-DHA Disaster Management Training Programme Publications
Co-ordination Among International Organisations in Complex Emergencies, 1997.
Emergency Information Management and Telecommunications, 1997.
Developing a Pro-Active Media Relations Strategy
A media relations strategy is necessary in order to get the best results from UNHCR’s relationships
with the media. This strategy will only be effective, however, if you have something of value to say to
the media. What is of substance will be dependent on the context in which you are working. Plainly,
advocacy of refugee protection principles and basic human rights issues, will be important in almost
all cases. Beyond that, contingency planning situations might require messages about the need for
common ground and mutual preparedness for possible refugee influxes or displacements. Active
emergency situations may require up to date assessment information and reporting on critical needs.
As an active or potential emergency manager you must develop your strategy to meet current needs
as well as those that might arise if an emergency operation is needed.