Crises, whether triggered by natural hazards or by social events, are becoming an increasingly common feature of political life. These crises test the ability of democratic leaders to communicate. Ineffective communication not only fails to foster critical trust but also provides opportunities to aspiring autocrats whose movements use crises as fuel. Effective communication that is democracy-intentional—transparent, inclusive, accessible, responsive, and accountable—fosters trust, provides the credible information required to guide citizens to take the necessary actions, and safeguards democratic norms. 

This guide was developed to assist national and local democratic leaders, civil servants, and crisis communication teams in understanding how better to integrate democratic values into crisis communication practices in order to fashion more effective crisis responses. It provides tangible advice and examples on how public leaders can better prepare prior to a crisis, better communicate once it begins, and better communicate and gather feedback after it ends. It draws upon lessons learned from recent crises from a diverse set of places such as Fiji, the Gambia, Germany, Italy, Kosovo, Liberia, and Moldova.