News
RedR successfully completes first credit-rated course in Security Management
04 February 2009
RedR ran its first ever Oxford Brookes University credit-rated Certificate in Security Management from Monday 26 to Friday 30 January at its London offices.
With the working environments in which relief and development personnel operate becoming increasingly insecure – and with humanitarian staff more frequently becoming direct targets for violence - safety and security management is becoming paramount for international relief agencies.
RedR’s Security Programme Manager, Erin Noordeloos, who co-facilitated the course along with RedR Associate Trainer Leonard van Duijn, states:
“The Certificate is an integral part of RedR’s commitment to the safety and security of aid workers. Having the skills to manage security, means an aid worker is able to assess the context of where they are working and link the security of their work to their programmes, missions and mandates. This means that we are all more secure in the work we do. “
The course was fully booked, attracting 18 participants from a variety of humanitarian organisations, including VSO, Care International, the Brooke, Mercy Corps and Samaritans Purse. Demonstrating RedR’s international appeal, attendees came from countries as diverse as the United States, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Afghanistan - as well as the United Kingdom.
During the five-day programme course participants investigated a wide range of issues aimed at improving organisational security practices. Key areas covered were Crisis Management, Security Planning and the Security Management Framework, which included exploring concepts of impartiality and neutrality in security.
Highlights of the course included a Moot Court exercise – where participants as part of a simulated court proceeding debated the legal liability of NGOs – and a role play exercise where students carry out site security inspections.
This is the first in a series of three credit-rated courses. To achieve the Certificate in Security Management, students are assessed against 15 core competencies in Security Management for the Humanitarian sector, such as being able to develop standard operating procedures and recommend and implement security strategies.
Feedback from the course has been overwhelmingly positive, with one participant commenting that he would recommend that his agency make use of the course in the future. Others stated that they would “review the security plan” for their organisation or “apply ideas learnt” after being on the course.
The rising threat to international relief workers
RedR has more than 10 years experience conducting safety and security training both in the field and at head office level, with a track record of facilitating the sharing, discussion and exchange of knowledge among organisations and individuals working in the sector.
The threat to relief workers has increased notably in recent years. In the period from July 2007 to June 2008, there were 63 documented deaths of international and national non-governmental (NGO) staff as a result of malicious acts. In the same period, there were 236 attacks on NGO installations or convoys, resulting in loss of property, injury or death.
Press Contact Details:
More News
