CEA in Emergencies

This page is a one-stop shop for CEA in emergencies. It outlines the minimum actions for community engagement at each stage of the response, and the tools to help you put these into practice. It has links to CEA training packs for emergencies, a guide to CEA in emergencies, and case studies specific to conflict, earthquakes, and extreme weather. For health related emergencies, visit our CEA and Health page.

Ten actions to engage communities during emergency response operations

To successfully engage communities during emergency response operations, CEA should be incorporated into all stages of the programme cycle. To help you to do this, you can follow the ten actions below which have been categorised by the different stages. Under each action, you’ll also find a list of related tools from the CEA Toolkit. View a full explanation of each step here.

Explore CEA in Emergencies Related Trainings

21 July 2022

CEA in Emergencies Training

A one-day training package exploring in detail the 10 minimum actions for good community engagement and accountability in…

21 July 2022

CEA in Emergencies Module

A three-hour training module providing an introduction to the 10 minimum actions for good community engagement and accountability…

18 July 2023

CEA branch-level training (updated)

A highly interactive two-day training to support branch staff and volunteers to improve levels of community engagement in…

Explore CEA in Emergency Case Studies

25 September 2023

Eswatini Drought FbF: Validating Early Actions with Community Members

This case study captures learnings from an Early Action Protocol (EAP) validation exercise which was carried out by…

22 February 2023

Engaging communities to build resilience and accountability mechanisms

A case study on engaging communities to build resilience and accountability mechanisms after the Nepal 2015 earthquake.

28 September 2020

Feedback mechanism, the guidelines: Hurricane Dorian operation

As part of the Hurricane Dorian emergency appeal, a community feedback mechanism was established by Bahamas Red Cross…

24 September 2020

Case study: Operating a feedback hotline in the Bahamas

This case study presents the process of establishing and operating a feedback hotline that was undertaken by the…

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29 June 2019

Good practices, opportunities, methodologies and recommendations for the Incorporation of Cross-cutting Themes in Emergency Preparedness and Response

Type:

Tool

Organization:

Canadian Red Cross

A guide produced by the Canadian Red Cross on ‘Good Practices, Opportunities, Methodologies and Recommendations for the Incorporation of Cross-Cutting Themes in Emergency Preparedness and Response’.

  • Emergencies
  • Good practice
  • Preparedness

29 June 2019

Cash Transfer Programme – Ecuadorian Red Cross

Type:

Video

Organization:

Ecuadorian Red Cross

A video showing a Cash Transfer Programme implemented by the Ecuadorian Red Cross. The programme aimed to provide financial support to families affected by the 2017 earthquake and stimulate the…

  • CEA and Cash
  • Disaster
  • Earthquakes
  • Emergencies

27 June 2019

Charting the new norm?

Type:

Report

Organization:

Humanitarian Advisory Group

A report from the Humanitarian Advisory Group and the Pujiono Centre: ‘Charting the Norm? Local leadership in the first 100 days of the Sulawesi earthquake response’. The report looks at…

  • Disaster
  • Earthquakes
  • Emergencies
  • Response

20 June 2019

SURE programme – video report

Type:

Video

Organization:

InsightShare

A Participatory Video (PV) produced by InsightShare to support the CEA efforts of the British Red Cross and Nepal Red Cross Society, as part of the region’s SURE programme.

  • Earthquakes
  • Ebola
  • Information as aid
  • Tools

19 June 2019

Engaging people in armed conflict

Type:

Report

Organization:

ICRC

A discussion paper from the ICRC called ‘Engaging People Affected by Armed Conflicts and Other Situations of Violence’. It recommends how to overcome the challenges faced when delivering assistance to…

  • Communication
  • Conflict
  • Disaster
  • Displacement

19 June 2019

CEA 2017 Good practices from around the world

Type:

Report

Organization:

ICRC, IFRC

A document featuring examples of community engagement and accountability initiatives carried out by the IFRC in both emergency and longer-term contexts.

  • Conflict
  • Crisis
  • Disaster
  • Emergencies

19 June 2019

Perception survey: Nepal

Type:

Tool

Organization:

Nepal Red Cross

Community perceptions surveys produced by the IFRC to measure satisfaction in relation to disaster response, following the Nepal earthquake in 2015.

  • Disaster
  • Earthquakes
  • Engagement
  • Feedback

17 June 2019

Exit guidance (Haiti)

Type:

Report

Organization:

IFRC

IFRC ‘Exit Guidance’ document, detailing the key messages, lessons learned and exit strategies following the Haiti earthquake.

  • Mainstreaming
  • Project cycle management

17 June 2019

CEA planning template

Type:

Template

Organization:

IFRC

A CEA planning template following the 2015 Nepal earthquake. This document covers the strategic steps of implementing CEA following the disaster, for urban and rural areas respectively.

  • Earthquakes
  • Mainstreaming
  • Project cycle management

17 June 2019

Strengthening community voices in disaster law decision making

Type:

Training Material

Organization:

IFRC

A presentation from the IFRC Asia Pacific about the importance of community influence in decision making; community participation in disaster management in Asia Pacific and a national perspective of citizen…

  • Disaster
  • Emergencies

17 June 2019

CEA leaflet

Type:

Infographic

Organization:

IFRC

An IFRC leaflet detailing what is meant by CEA, why it is important and how it helps to build more resilient communities, both in emergency situations and as part of…

  • Communication
  • Disaster
  • Emergencies
  • Information as aid

17 June 2019

Behaviour change: communication in emergencies toolkit

Type:

Tool

Organization:

Sierra Leone Red Cross, UNICEF

A toolkit produced by UNICEF to promote behaviour change in emergency situations. Tools include guidelines, charts, checklists and monitoring tools.

  • Behaviour change
  • Communication
  • Video

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