Better Playbook for Global Crisis

Channel Foundation, as a member of the Human Rights Funders Network (HRFN) and in collaboration with 20 philanthropic organizations is proud to announce a pioneering resource – The Crisis Coordination Playbook for the philanthropic community.
This groundbreaking tool published on September 24, 2024 represents a collaborative effort to reshape how foundations respond to global human rights crises and civic space challenges. The Crisis Coordination Playbook is a part of the Better Preparedness: Funding Resilience initiative hosted by HRFN and Peace and Security Funders Group (PSFG). HRFN’s Better Preparedness Initiative significance can be affirmed as it was invited as a featured Commitment to Action (CTA) at the 2024 Clinton Global Initiative. This innovative tool offers:

• A flexible framework for rapid coordination start-up
• In-depth tools for crisis assessment and funding ecosystem mapping
• Guidance on risk assessment and coordinated strategy development
• Practical tools including a Taxonomy of Crisis Analysis and Crisis Timeline
• Principles for meaningful engagement with civil society and affected communities

Better Preparedness Initiative at the Clinton Global Initiative

Globally applicable, the Playbook is designed to assist foundations worldwide in addressing crises that often transcend borders. It’s particularly relevant for regions facing acute human rights crises or long-term civic space restrictions. This community-centered approach ensures that the Playbook remains a living document, evolving with the needs of the sector.

In an era of increasing global challenges, from political upheavals to environmental crises, there’s an urgent need for new approaches to funding civil society and social movements where human rights are most threatened. The Playbook addresses several critical needs:

1. Improved Coordination: It provides a structured approach for foundations to work together more effectively, avoiding duplication of efforts and maximizing impact.
2. Rapid Response: The Playbook’s rapid coordination start-up framework enables quicker, more efficient responses to emerging crises.
3. Risk Management: By offering tools for risk assessment, it helps foundations navigate complex situations more confidently.
4. Community-Centered Approach: The Playbook emphasizes the importance of engaging with and empowering local civil society organizations and affected communities.
5. Continuous Learning: As part of the Better Preparedness Community, foundations now have access to learning spaces and co-design labs, ensuring the Playbook remains relevant and evolves with the sector’s needs.

Members of the Guiding Group that helped create this tool are Urgent Action Fund, Front Line Defenders – who are long term grantee partners of the Channel Foundation. We are inspired by this new tool and will endeavor to implement these practices and encourage other foundations to join this crucial initiative. By adopting the Crisis Coordination Playbook, we can collectively ensure that human rights defenders, social justice movements, and civil society have timely access to the resources they need.