Emergency365: Why and How Emergency Response Is Evolving

Humanitarian emergencies are not new, and Save the Children has responded to every major humanitarian crisis since World War I. However, the scale, frequency and complexity of these disasters – ranging from covid to climate to conflict – have evolved over the past century.?This means “more of the same” will not suffice and may even compromise our ability to provide the necessary support most effectively. That’s why we are adopting what we call an “Emergency365” approach.

What does this mean? Two things:

1. Fundamentally, it acknowledges that while media coverage of emergencies may fade in days or weeks, we are often still helping communities and countries recover for months or even years. Every day and every hour, somewhere in the world, we are working to help kids and families caught in crises.
2. With new technologies and tools, we are now able not only to respond more swiftly but also to predict and prepare more effectively. We can be working hard 365 days a year to lessen the impact of emergencies, even before they strike.?

A recent discussion with corporate leaders about this “Emergency365” approach underscored the need for this evolution. Here are some of the highlights from that dialogue, with our thanks to guest speakers?@Euan Wilmshurst, formerly of LEGO Foundation, and?@Charlotte Gauthier?from Citi Foundation.?

1. Better Preparedness is Less Costly and More Effective than Response Alone?

The more we can do to pre-position people, products and funds in advance of an emergency, the faster and better we can respond. Improved prediction tools help us anticipate, for example, where the next climate disaster will hit, allowing us to make timely, informed decisions about where and when to go and what to send. This not only saves time and money but ultimately saves lives.

2. Addressing Gaps in Emergency Responses to Ensure Kids Keep Learning

Education is a lifeline for children in crisis, offering them stability and hope for the future. Yet, it remains a woefully underfunded area.?According to the UN, only 22% of humanitarian appeals for the education sector were met in 2021, far less than other sectors. That’s why we are ramping up our investment in Education in Emergencies (EiE), including for preschool-aged children. We know that if a child misses that crucial early brain development, there is no way to fully recover. So, it is critical that we not only keep kids safe and healthy, but we keep them learning, even in an emergency.?

3. Leveraging Local Organizations and Building Capacity

No matter how well prepared we are, local organizations and individuals will often be the first responders to a crisis. Investing heavily in empowering and equipping countries and communities mitigates impacts, speeds up the response time and builds long-term resilience.

Looking ahead, the need for prediction, preparedness and response is expected to rise, driven largely by climate-related disasters. To combat this, the geographic reach, economic might and range of products and services that companies can bring to bear make this sector uniquely able to help. We urge all corporate leaders to consider joining us in this “Emergency365” effort.

Working together, we can build a more resilient and better prepared global community, where businesses can rebound faster and children can be healthy, educated and protected- today and every day- even when an emergency strikes.

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