WORLD BANKAVIAN INFLUENZA SIMULATION EXERCISEExploring Cross-Sectoral Communications

Background

Avian Influenza in Africa Role of the Africa Avian Influenza Task Force Funding Availability Africa Country Programs Collaboration between ESSD, HNP &

Communications Capacity Building of Staff through Workshop

Strengthening technical capacity Improving cross-sectoral collaboration

interactive role-play Ministry exercise

Introductions

National Plans-AI Simulations Orientation Table-top exercise Drill Functional exercise Full-scale exercise

Scope of AI Simulations

Outbreak and/or Pandemic

Orientation

An introduction to acquaint participants with: Planning Process Overview of the National Plan Procedures Equipment

Group setting Little or no simulation Discussion possible, but not interactive Best for ensuring that personnel

understand their roles and responsibilities

Table-Top Exercises

Interactive learning exercise Facilitated analysis of a simulated emergency

situation, based on existing operational plans Informal and stress-free environment Designed to elicit constructive discussion as

participants: Act out critical steps Recognize difficulties Resolve problems

Best for familiarizing with roles, demonstrating proper coordination, examining logic of plans and integrating new policies into the decision making process

Drills

Coordinated and Supervised activity

Focuses on only a small part of the integrated national plan

Tests a operation or function onsite

Culling Drill

Functional Exercise

Emergency simulation

Interactive under medium stress

May be cross-sectoral

Designed to test the capability of an organization

Held in emergency agency environment Field operations

simulated through messages

Best for training and evaluating operations and management.

Full Scale Exercise

Mobilizes several components of the plan simultaneously

Simulates a real event as closely as possible by including a field component

Designed to evaluate on-scene management and operational capacity of systems with command center coordination

Highly stressful environment Serves to evaluate entire plan

Time & Preparation Required Orientation

2 weeks; participants need no prior training Table-Top Exercise

1 month; scenario development, facilitator and evaluator training, participant selection

Drill 1 month; easy to design, participants need orientation

Functional Exercise 6-18 months; staff need experience in functions being

tested, controllers and evaluators training, prior drills Full-Scale Exercise

1-1 ½ years; prior table-top, drill and functional exercises

Business Continuity “Simulation” Corporate senior management Non-business groups represented:

Government, Healthcare, and International Organizations

Operations consequences and loss of income due to: Workforce shortages Supply chain disruptions

WB Avian Influenza Exercise

Role Play vs Actual Stakeholders Tabletop exercise

Act out steps, identify difficulties & solve problems Coordination, plan logic, integrate new policies

Focus on Outbreak and Suspected Human Case (WHO Phase 3)

Pandemic

Human Infection(s) with a new subtype, but no human-to-human spread, or at most rare instances of spread to a close contact.

Role-Playing 101

Similar to acting, but more sincere Forget one’s actual position with WB or a

Partner Organization Imagine actually representing the

Ministry Embrace that perspective, limitations,

‘private’ agendas, etc. Be that other person for the exercise There are no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ behaviors

WB Avian Influenza Exercise

Role Play vs Actual Stakeholders Tabletop exercise

Act out steps, identify difficulties & solve problems Coordination, plan logic, integrate new policies

Focus on Outbreak and Suspected Human Case (WHO Phase 3)

Pandemic

Human Infection(s) with a new subtype, but no human-to-human spread, or at most rare instances of spread to a close contact.

Zilmania

Suspension of disbelief semi-conscious decision in which you put

aside your disbelief and accept the premise as being real for the duration of the exercise

Country Narrative Visual Cues:

Flag Television Newscast

Assignments to Ministries

Scenario Variables

Remote village 30km from any city

Governed by headsman Diseased chickens from

backyard farm Child in contact with sick birds

is suspected case Neither media nor vet/health

infrastructure

Capitol of Baharu 4 million population

19 large commercial poultry farms and 600 small or middle-size farms

large-scale bird deaths among 40,000 chickens at one farm

Poultry worker suspected case Mass media and infrastructure

Rural Urban

How the Scenarios Differed

As in real life, the Ministries in the exercise were given different information and private agendas

‘PROPRIETARY’ information in different scenarios: Sector appropriate info Level of detail

AND Information on political sensitivities Information on power dynamics

MOA/MOH/MOC;Shareholders to Consider

Handout Ministries:

Agriculture Health Communications Army Transportation Finance Commerce Tourism Education

Other Government: President/Prime

Minister Parliament

Partner Organizations: FAO OiE WHO ALive CDC Unicef

World Bank Bilateral Donors Poultry Association Civil Society Groups

Progression of the Exercise

Materials Developed

Zilmania Narrative Flag TV Urban and Rural scenario

Background information for each ministry Commodity prices for budget preparation

List of Stakeholders Technical material binders Questions/Outputs to address Facilitation guidelines for execution of exercise

Progression of the Exercise

Progression of the Exercise

Outcomes

Reinforced knowledge of technical issues

Brought to the forefront the importance of inter-sectoral communications and collaboration

Saw the need for effective external communications

Nigeria AI Project

HPAI confirmed in Nigeria Feb. 2, 2006 Between Feb. 2006 and April 2007,

outbreaks in 84 localities in 24 states IDA loan of $50 million

Facility effective June 22, 2006 Emergency Multi-Sectoral Project:

Response and containment Control and Prevention Preparedness and Planning

Project Implementation Problems Supervision Mission in May 2007

indicated slow implementation due to: Project management structured under

existing and separate Agricultural and Health programs (FADAMA II and HSDP II)

Lack of effective Monitoring and Evaluation and no clear, prioritized action plans for the 3 components

Weak inter-ministerial collaboration Interventions not reaching the field level

Addressing the Sectoral Divide Workshop for Government Ministers,

Federal Sector Coordinators, and 74 State Officials AI simulation exercise will be used to help

strengthen AI technical plan and improve inter-sectoral collaboration

Comments; Questions, Discussion