National Preparedness Leadership Initiative
Client: Harvard School of Public Health and Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
Background
After the 9/11 attacks, many government officials identified the lack of relationships and effective communications across government entities as barriers to effective emergency response to terror attacks. The National Preparedness Leadership Initiative (NPLI) emerged to equip leaders with the skills, knowledge, and abilities required to effectively lead during terrorist attacks and natural disasters. It works with key government agencies to ensure today's unprecedented challenges are met with effective leadership from federal, state, and local officials.
Process
NPLI provides trainings to prepare, teach and engage global, national, regional, and local leaders to work across geographic and organizational boundaries to prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural and man-made disasters as well as to identify and respond to institutional systemic constraints to improve preparedness.
Mediation and conflict resolution skills are a critical component of the weeklong training. PPM served as mediator mentor for several years for the NPLI trainings. With the tool of simulated negotiations, PPM provided in depth observations and feedback as well as mediation strategies and techniques for improved outcomes.
Result
Federal, state, and local leaders are likely to be better positioned to foster connectivity across public, private, and non-profit sectors and therefore, more effectively respond to and recover from attacks and natural disasters.
