3. Identifying Needs of Children in the Community Prior to Disasters

3.3. Prioritize and Develop Strategies

Prioritizing Needs and Developing an Action Plan

Use the collected data and stakeholder input to prioritize identified needs and develop targeted strategies. Consider the urgency and potential impact of each need, the number of children affected, and the consequences of leaving the need unaddressed.

Review available resources, existing programs, current capabilities, and opportunities for collaboration. Whenever possible, strengthen and connect existing systems instead of creating duplicative processes.

Action Plan Components

  • Clearly defined priority need or planning gap
  • Specific actions required to address the need
  • Lead and supporting organizations
  • Responsible individuals or teams
  • Required personnel, funding, equipment, and other resources
  • Target dates and implementation milestones
  • Potential barriers and mitigation strategies
  • Measures for evaluating progress and outcomes
  • A process for reviewing and updating the action plan
An effective action plan assigns ownership, establishes realistic timelines, and defines how the community will determine whether each strategy improves child reunification capabilities.