Managing Crisis in Chad: Safeguarding Staff and Sustaining Operations

Overview

Amid heightened political tensions and instability, we initiated a swift strategic crisis management response to ensure staff safety and operational continuity in Chad during the unrest.

Problem

Movement restrictions, increased security force presence in main urban areas, and disruption to internet and telecommunication services triggered anxieties among our staff and clients in the region. A swift and robust crisis response was required in order to identify the most prominent risks and effectively enhance employee wellbeing and operational efficiency.

Solution

We implemented a strategic solution focusing on heightened awareness and comprehensive risk assessment to navigate the crisis in Chad. Our Crisis Management Team, comprised of local personnel and London-based intelligence analysts, mobilized to evaluate the escalating violence and plan for short-term scenarios. A rigorous trigger review process was instituted to identify and respond to signals of deterioration promptly.

• Our experts conducted a staff audit, pinpointing the locations and communication status of all personnel within the country, and preparing for any necessary movements.
• Our provider network was scrutinized to ensure readiness for escalation, ensuring that essential supplies like food, water, and power were adequately stocked and accessible.
• We procured additional SIM cards from Cameroonian providers to guarantee uninterrupted connectivity across borders.
• We established a robust 24/7 monitoring system, coordinating with our Global Threat Monitoring teams in London and Sydney to maintain constant vigilance and ensure all-round preparedness.

The effective management of this critical situation upheld our operational integrity and preserved internal and external trust, demonstrating best practices in crisis management during political instability and safety management for staff in volatile regions.

Impact

The mobilization of the full Crisis Management Team had profound and immediate impacts on our staff and client organizations. It instilled heightened reassurance among in-country employees, ensuring their safety and wellbeing amidst the crisis, and allowed us to provide our client organizations with robust support, information, analysis, and advice on the situation on the ground.

Leveraging an intelligence-led approach allowed for a nuanced, measured response that maintained business continuity and enhanced our ability to adapt to fast-changing conditions. The effective management of this critical situation upheld our operational integrity and preserved internal and external trust, demonstrating best practices in crisis management during political instability and safety management for staff in volatile regions.