5. Pre-deployment planning
- Complete all CO pre-deployment responsibilities and provide all required information to the incoming staff member.
- Arrange accommodation for all incoming staff.
- Ensure sufficient office space, phones and equipment for all incoming team members.
- Confirm arrival and pick-up details with incoming staff.
See Annex 23.11 Pre-departure/deployment checklist , which the CO may use for every new staff member deployed to the emergency.
The CO and the Deploying Member must implement a number of critical steps in pre-departure planning to ensure a safe and speedy deployment for a new staff member travelling from one country location to another to the emergency environment. These critical steps are listed in section 5.1.1, which also outlines the roles and responsibilities of the CO and National Member in this process.
| The receiving Country Office must: |
The Deploying Member must: |
- Request selected staff member to complete ‘Arrival form’ before departure. This form requires personal and passport details.
- Issue a ‘Letter of invitation’ to the staff member prior to their departure. This is required by immigration authorities and embassies on occasion.
- Facilitate the visa processing requirements. This may include defining the most efficient process-that is, visa on arrival, business or tourism, duration of visa, etc.
- Prepare a CO ‘Visitor briefing kit’ to inform staff members of critical information to prepare them for their arrival in the country. This briefing kit contains emergency contact numbers, a list of personal items and equipment that staff is required to bring, critical security matters, overview of the emergency environment and country information. A brief version containing essential information can be used before the CO has time to gather full details to complete the kit. This information kit should be forwarded to the CI Emergency Human Resources Coordinator and all National Member Human Resources Units.
- Issue a laminated CARE identification card to the staff member upon arrival.
- Arrange for staff pick-up at airport.
- Arrange accommodation.
- Arrange telecommunications capability, including internet access and mobile phones/SIM cards.
- Prepare information for security briefings and operations planning briefings upon staff arrival.*
- Advise of essential/personal supplies that may need to be organised by the staff member before departure to the field.
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- Issue employment contract or contract variation, and terms of reference as agreed by all parties.
- Provide brief on terms and conditions, including per diem policy and R&R entitlements.
- Ensure visa requirements and travel schedule is organised. Where air travel is involved, allow a 3-6 month period for open economy return airfares to ensure flexibility, as travel plans may be subject to change.
- Ensure staff member has completed medical checks and vaccinations are up to date.
- Activate the Emergency Personnel Support Programme, in particular coordinate the pre-assignment briefing before departure for the field.
- Activate insurance provisions and ensure full compliance with minimum standard including travel, health and medivac (SOS), and war risk requirements.
- Coordinate pre-departure administration requirements including cash advances and currency transactions where needed.
- Ensure the staff member has received:
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- letter of invitation from the CO
- CO visitor briefing kit
- on-arrival pick-up details
- accommodation arrangements
- CO emergency contact numbers.
- Provide the staff member with a safety and security brief relevant to their assignment before departure.
- Provide any available and relevant written materials on the emergency environment and country location-for example, sitreps, programme summary sheets, etc. Provide information on known conditions (accommodation, food, living and working conditions).
- Inform the staff member of any personal supplies or equipment that they should travel with-for example, laptop computer, radios, etc.
- Update personal details on file including emergency/next of kin contact details.
- Provide staff member with emergency contact numbers at National Member level.
- Update staff member on latest relevant HR policies and procedures manuals.
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| * Refer to Chapter 14 Safety and security, to ensure security briefings are thoroughly prepared and fully meet the requirements of the assignment.
Annex 21.11 Pre-departure/deployment checklist
Annex 21.12 Record of emergency data form
Annex 21.13 ID card-template
Annex 21.27 Arrival form
Annex 21.28 Letter of invitation
Annex 21.29 Country Office visitor briefing kit
Annex 21.30 Country Office visitor briefing kit CARE Pakistan sample |
The CO must make accommodation arrangements for international staff arrivals, including contingency planning, if a major increase in staff numbers is anticipated. Some staff may stay for lengthy periods, therefore options for short-term and long-term accommodation should be anticipated. Accommodation must be paid for directly by the CO and should not be provided for in the form of subsidies or cash allowances. Refer to Chapter 18 Administration for more information on staff accommodation options.
International staff is usually given a per diem (daily amount of money for a specified amount of time), and the CO needs to ensure sufficient cash is available to manage the staff and cash requirements that will arise. A system must be put in place with finance staff to ensure per diems are issued efficiently. This will ensure staff do not go to the field without sufficient cash, and will also ensure demands on finance staff for per diems are not inconvenient.
The CO needs to also ensure adequate office space, internet access and equipment including mobile phones for incoming staff. Refer also to Chapter 18 Administration.
Whenever possible, make sure that new staff members arriving in the country are picked up at the airport by a nominated driver. If this is not possible, then the CO should advise of the most appropriate taxi service and provide clear directions for office or accommodation and emergency contact numbers to the staff member before their arrival in the country. On arrival, new staff members should complete induction and orientation requirements (refer to section 8 Induction and orientation).
