This paper seeks to provide senior managers and decision makers in the field and at Headquarters with a clear overview of the humanitarian programme cycle, its various parts and how they interact. While it must be applied in all types of emergencies1 , aspects of it may need to be streamlined in the early days of a volatile, rapidly changing Level 32 crisis, when speed of response is critical. The paper therefore seeks to clarify how the cycle is to be applied in such a crisis. This paper will be complemented by a reference module setting out additional details on each of the cycle‟s component parts, as well as the tools (e.g. Multi-Sector Initial Rapid Assessment (MIRA), Consolidated Appeal (CAP), Flash Appeal, etc.) and guidance that exist to support the implementation of the cycle. The paper will be revised and updated as the components and tools are refined.