Red Cross is evolving

Operational planning for branches for 2027

As autumn begins, we can start planning activities for next year. At the same time, we will become familiar with the Red Cross’s new way of planning activities. At the heart of the new approach to operational planning is assistance: when we have information about the kinds of needs that exist in our own locality, we can target our help even more effectively.

Operational planning for branches is a three-stage process:

First, the people responsible for the branch’s operational planning familiarise themselves with the strategy (in Finnish). They then review the focus areas and result targets confirmed by the Board, which further specify the strategy.
Next, they review public information, information produced by partners and the Finnish Red Cross’s internal information on local needs. To support information gathering, branches will have access to a Power BI report, which will be published on this page during September.
Finally, the completed action plan is saved in the branches’ shared operational planning template. The link to the template will be published on this page during September. After saving the plan, the branch will receive a summary of its own plan. The plans of all branches will be visible in the Power BI report.

How operational planning is carried out

1. Familiarise yourselves with the focus areas and result targets specified by the Board

Based on the strategy, the Board has specified the focus areas and result targets that guide operational planning.

Review each focus area as part of the overall strategy.
Assess what implementing the focus area requires specifically from your branch’s activities and what kind of cooperation is needed.
Also consider any support needs.

Focus area 1: Targeting activities based on needs

Core of the focus area:
We target activities and resources where the need for aid is greatest and where needs accumulate or change. We identify local needs together with branches and work across branch, activity group and district boundaries. In planning, we systematically use information from people receiving aid, volunteers, branches and the operational environment. We monitor the impact of activities and the strengthening of community resilience using jointly agreed methods.

Targets:

Branches carry out an analysis and target their activities based on identified needs. (Focus areas for 2027.)
People receiving aid feel that they receive help according to their needs, with particular emphasis on the experiences of people in vulnerable situations.
Community resilience is strengthened and can be assessed systematically.

Focus area 2: Scalable preparedness

Core of the focus area:
We strengthen the Red Cross’s capability to help effectively in different disruption and crisis situations throughout Finland. Our preparedness is built on a critical mass of trained volunteers who can be alerted, cooperation between branches and functioning partnerships, as well as the capability to move aid resources to where the need for aid is greatest. This ensures that preparedness is visible as practical readiness to help at all levels of the organization.

Targets:

The number of trained volunteers who can be alerted increases. (Focus areas for 2027.)
Electronic contingency plans are in use and exercises have been carried out in accordance with them. (Focus areas for 2027.)

Focus area 3: Welcoming and leading volunteers

Core of the focus area:
We strengthen branches’ capability to welcome new volunteers into activities and to lead volunteer activities. We move leadership closer to local action so that it is easier for volunteers to join and so that we can better use volunteers’ competence in strengthening readiness to help. We focus more training efforts on leadership training for volunteers.

Targets:

Volunteers work flexibly across activity groups, branch and district boundaries and online, where the need for aid is greatest.
The number of people trained in leading volunteers increases in the branch.
Volunteers’ satisfaction with local leadership is strengthened. (Focus areas for 2027.)
Effective welcoming of volunteers increases the diversity of volunteers who join and engage in activities, especially young people, immigrants, people with disabilities and men. (Focus areas for 2027.)

Focus area 4: Visible humanitarian advocacy

Core of the focus area:
We strengthen the Red Cross’s role as a recognized humanitarian actor locally, regionally and nationally. We increase understanding of the Red Cross’s mandate and task and strengthen connections to decision-making at all levels. Agreements with municipalities and wellbeing services counties support this work. We make humanitarian advocacy visible by being actively present locally, both in everyday life and in disruption and crisis situations.

Targets:

At every level of decision-making, there is a connection to the local Red Cross.
All Red Cross actors understand humanitarian advocacy and how it is reflected in our activities.
Humanitarian space is visible and strengthened through our activities, presence and visibility. (Focus areas for 2027.)

2. Use information on needs in operational planning

Operational planning is based on information on needs at all levels of the organisation. As the new strategy period begins, we are moving to an operating model in which information guides our choices. We plan together at all levels of the organisation, prioritise activities and assess needs. The information we collect helps us guide and target activities where the Red Cross is especially needed.

Support materials help branches target their resources and activities

To support the planning of branch activities, we provide a situational picture that brings together public, locality-specific information. The link will be published on this page during September. The situational picture can be used to review the operational environment, regional population-level vulnerabilities and information describing the development of activities. It helps branches plan and target help and activities based on identified needs.

Public information is complemented by branches’ own observations of local needs, which have been reported as part of continuous information collection. The information saved by your own branch is available from your district, and in the future from OMA.

3. Save the completed action plan using the national template

Based on the discussions you have held, enter your branch’s action plan in the branches’ shared operational planning template. The link to the operational planning template will be published on this page during September. After saving the plan, you will receive a summary of your own plan and can view the plans of all Finnish Red Cross branches in the Power BI report.

Collecting information and acting on it makes us even more effective helpers as the Red Cross. Thanks to the new operating model, we can target our assistance activities exactly where we are needed most. This is how we remain humane and strong helpers, both now and in the future.

More information about planning branch activities:
Maija Erpestad, specialist in the development of organisational activities, Headquarters
maija.erpestad@redcross.fi

Red Cross strategy 2027-2029

Strategy 2027–2029 in Finnish (pdf)
Strategy 2027–2029 In Swedish (pdf)

News

The Finnish Red Cross strengthens its capacity to respond to changing aid needs

Enquiries

Red Cross reform:
Development Manager Sanna Pesonen, +358(0)40 624 9543, sanna.pesonen@redcross.fi

District discussions:
District contact persons or Organisational Development Specialist Maija Erpestad, maija.erpestad@redcross.fi