Vets Without Borders in Africa

Veterinarians Without Borders: Crisis Management Team Training

Preparing for this engagement presented the team with some good challenges including a very globally dispersed work/volunteer force within this not-for-profit organization. At each location there is a mix of locally employed persons and expats with corporate leadership in Canada.

The session had three main parts: we started with a review of crisis management principles in accordance with ISO 22361 Security and resilience – Crisis management – Guidelines. We then conducted a guided warm up exercise and moved immediately into an in-depth international hostage scenario. This hostage taking location was defined by the client so that it would be a very realistic exercise.

It was wonderful to work with a team that had experience in resolving hostage takings and, for some of the team, actually having been hostages themselves. This resulted in very frank and in-depth discussions on the application of their crisis management plan.

Being a not-for-profit organization added its own flavour. Veterinarians Without Borders is well plugged into the regional non-governmental organisations (NGO’s) and various other sister organisations which vary by region. This somewhat loose affiliation of many entities operating in a similar space provided both resources to assist yet also some complexities.

Leadership principles were continually addressed for all Crisis Management Team members because, as we know, Crisis Management is Crisis Leadership!

Well done to the team at Veterinarians Without Borders!

Looking to augment or test your organisations crisis management plan, please contact us!

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The session had three main parts: we started with a review of crisis management principles in accordance with ISO 22361 Security and resilience – Crisis management – Guidelines. We then conducted a guided warm up exercise and moved immediately into an in-depth international hostage scenario. This hostage taking location was defined by the client so that it would be a very realistic exercise.

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Preparing for this engagement presented the team with some good challenges including a very globally dispersed work/volunteer force within this not-for-profit organization. At each location there is a mix of locally employed persons and expats with corporate leadership in Canada.

The session had three main parts: we started with a review of crisis management principles in accordance with ISO 22361 Security and resilience – Crisis management – Guidelines. We then conducted a guided warm up exercise and moved immediately into an in-depth international hostage scenario. This hostage taking location was defined by the client so that it would be a very realistic exercise.

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