Resource centre
Safety and security
Given the insecure and often rapidly changing environments in which aid agencies work in today, safety and security management is not an optional extra. It needs to be at the heart of humanitarian programmes. This section conatians a number of resources which provide information and advice for anyone interested in learning more about how to keep themselves and their colleagues safe in hostile environments.
Filter resources
Information
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Agency Briefing
Author(s): RedR
Advice on what to discuss with your agency before you go on assignment.
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Safety & Security Review - Guidelines
Author(s): RedR
These guidelines are for anyone who wishes to contribute to the Safety & Security Review.
Publications
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Engineering in Emergencies
Author(s): Jan Davies & Robert Lambert
A practical guide for relief workers. £29.95 (free UK p&p). To purchase this book please download and complete the order form below and return to us either by fax, email or post.
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Code of Good Practice: In the management and support of aid personnel (2003)
Author(s): People In Aid
"The People In Aid Code is an important resource for the aid community around the world. It grew from the collaborative effort of relief and development agencies committed to improving the quality of assistance provided to communities affected by poverty and disaster. The intention of the Code is to improve agencies' support and management of their staff and volunteers."
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Experienced Advice Crucial in Response to Kidnappings (2008)
Author(s): Macpherson, Bob, Chrisine Persaud and Norman Sheehan
2008 article published in InterAction provides an overview of how and why humanitarian agencies are increasingly becoming the targets of kidnapping.
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Guard Management and Training for NGOs in Afghanistan
Author(s): RedR and ANSO
"The purpose of this guideline is two-fold firstly it is designed to form the basis for a guard training course to be implemented by an agency working in Afghanistan. Secondly and mroe importantly it is designed to advise an agency on best practice for the procedural security provisions required for good compound security and as such works very much hand in had with the RedR/ANSO Document 'Site Security' which deals with the physical aspects of compound security."
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Humanitarian Negotiations with Armed Groups: A Manual for Practitioners (2006)
Author(s): McHugh,Gerard and Manual Bessler
"This manual provides guidance on humanitarian negotations with non-State armed groups and is intended for use by humanitarian, development and human rights organizations and by humanitarian personnel tasked with conducting these negotiations."
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Press Release SG releases repont on 'safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of
Author(s): United Nations Press Release
UN Secretary-General "expresses grave concern at rise in deliberate targeting of humanitarian and UN personnel, calls for international collective responsibility to protect UN and humanitarian workers."
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Security Privatization: Challenges and Opportunities (2008)
Author(s): The Canadian Consortium on Human Security
"This Human Security Bulletin focuses on the trend towards the privatization of security. Functions traditionally performed by state armed forces are now increasingly outsourced to private contractors not only in complex emergencies but also in the context of day-today security provision..In presenting various aspects of the security privatization debate, this issue showcases a range of inter-disciplinary perspectives," Human Security Bulletin 6.3,(2008)1-40.
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The Interdependence of Security and Perception (2006)
Author(s): Jessica Stewart
Exerpt from Abstract: It will be argued that perception cannot be disconnected from the question 'what is the threat,' and thus perceptions are a necessary feature of any security equation. There are parties who would argue that it is only the actions and capabilities of actors which can be sued to calculate threat, and in isolation perhaps this is true... Journal of Security Sector Management 4.3(2006)1-9
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Operational Security Management in Violent Environments
Author(s): Brabant, Koenraad V.
"This Good Practice Review (GPR) is targeted at those individuals who are responsible for the management of an agency's staff and assets at field level...The review does not constitute a personal compendium of guidance to be distributed to each individual staff member. Although some recommendations and guidelines are formulated as if addressed to individual staff members, they are meant as guidance for managers."
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Preparing for the Unexpected
Author(s): Emergency Management Australia (EMA)
"This booklet outlines some practical steps to help you better prepare for an emergency and to let you know what to do if one occurs...If you have never experienced a major emergency or thought about the impact it may have on you or your family, this booklet is designed to help you to identify issues and prepare for the unexpected."
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Safety & Security Review - 7
Author(s): RedR
What was formerly the Security Quarterly Review has been renamed Safety & Security Review. This publication provides a forum for sharing knowledge and expertise in the global aid sector. This edition contains information on Duty of Care and also keeps you up to date on the provision and development of security training in the sector.
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Safety & Security Review - 8
Author(s): RedR
The eighth edition of the Safety and Security publication, which includes an article on perceptions of insecurity among aid workers, and an examination of training needs in Chad.
Report/briefing
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Mainstreaming Safety and Security Management in Aid Agencies (2001)
Author(s): Brabant, Koenraad V.
"This HPG [Humanitarian Policy Group] Briefing looks critically at the organisatinal structures, management tools and poilcies that aid agencies are using, or could use, to improve the overall quality of their safety and security management."
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Mainstreaming the Organisational Management of Safety and Security
Author(s): Brabant, Koenraad V.
HPG Report 9, 2001 "offers a comparative overview of recent aid agency attempts to strengthen the management of safety and security. It is based on consultation with 20 organizations, including NGOs, the Red Cross Movement and UN agencies...The report offers not only a management review, but also provides tools and arguments for managers to review rapidly where their organization is, to orient improvements and to identify objectives."
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Humanitarian action in the new security environment: policy and operational implications in Iraq (20
Author(s): Carle, Alexandre and Hakim Chkam
"This study aims to measure the insecurity of aid workers in Iraq, identifying changes in perceptions of security and threat levels, mapping the individual security practices of key humanitarian actors and their collective security arrangements, and drawing conclusions as to how the security environment has impacted on humanitarian delivery."
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Humanitarian Agenda 2015: Final Report (2008)
Author(s): Donini, Antonio et al.
"This report summarizes the findings of a major research project on the constraints, challenges and compromises affecting humanitarian action in conflict and crisis settings. The building blocks are 12 case studies of local perceptions of humanitarian action, conducted in 2006 and 2007 in Afghanistan, Burundi, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Liberia, Nepal, northern Uganda, the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Sudan."
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Humanitarian Negotiation: A handbook for securing access, assistance and protection for civilians in
Author(s): Mancini-Griffoli, Deborah and Andre Picot
"This handbook is written for humanitarians negotiating access, assistance and protection with government authorities, military personnel, armed groups and civilians in countries enduring armed conflict.It is not targeted at political or peace negotiators in war zones, nore do we specifically address negotiations between humanitarians and donors, suppliers, other agencies or co-workers, although many of our recommendations should prove helpful in such situations."
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NGO Security - Does Gender Matter? (2006)
Author(s): Gaul, Alexis, et al.
2006 research report by The George Washington University commissioned by Save the Children USA to examine the question of how gender impacts security for non-governmental oganizations' field staff.
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Press Release SG releases repont on 'safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of
Author(s): United Nations Press Release
UN Secretary-General "expresses grave concern at rise in deliberate targeting of humanitarian and UN personnel, calls for international collective responsibility to protect UN and humanitarian workers."
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Providing aid in insecure environments (Briefing Paper 24, 2006)
Author(s): Stoddard, Abby, Adele Harmer and Katherine Haver
A summary of the findings and recommendations included in the final report.
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Security Privatization: Challenges and Opportunities (2008)
Author(s): The Canadian Consortium on Human Security
"This Human Security Bulletin focuses on the trend towards the privatization of security. Functions traditionally performed by state armed forces are now increasingly outsourced to private contractors not only in complex emergencies but also in the context of day-today security provision..In presenting various aspects of the security privatization debate, this issue showcases a range of inter-disciplinary perspectives," Human Security Bulletin 6.3,(2008)1-40.
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The 'Global War on Terror' and its Implications for NGO Security Management (2003)
Author(s): RedR
RedR Seminar Report summarizing the proceedings of the 2003 event. The purpose of the seminar was to address the "challenging security issues in complex operating environemtns such as Afghanistan & Iraq...The seminar provided an opportunity to discuss the main challengs and constraints their organizations and staff are facing and to discuss the appropriateness of current security management theory and practice in managing risk within these contexts."
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NGO Seminar on Civil-Military Relations (2008)
Author(s): VOICE
"This seminar aimed to explore two themes: NGO policy and advocacy work in CivMil, and NGO operational strategies on CivMil at field level."
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Operational Security Management in Violent Environments
Author(s): Brabant, Koenraad V.
"This Good Practice Review (GPR) is targeted at those individuals who are responsible for the management of an agency's staff and assets at field level...The review does not constitute a personal compendium of guidance to be distributed to each individual staff member. Although some recommendations and guidelines are formulated as if addressed to individual staff members, they are meant as guidance for managers."
Training material
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Guard Management and Training for NGOs in Afghanistan
Author(s): RedR and ANSO
"The purpose of this guideline is two-fold firstly it is designed to form the basis for a guard training course to be implemented by an agency working in Afghanistan. Secondly and mroe importantly it is designed to advise an agency on best practice for the procedural security provisions required for good compound security and as such works very much hand in had with the RedR/ANSO Document 'Site Security' which deals with the physical aspects of compound security."
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Humanitarian Negotiation: A handbook for securing access, assistance and protection for civilians in
Author(s): Mancini-Griffoli, Deborah and Andre Picot
"This handbook is written for humanitarians negotiating access, assistance and protection with government authorities, military personnel, armed groups and civilians in countries enduring armed conflict.It is not targeted at political or peace negotiators in war zones, nore do we specifically address negotiations between humanitarians and donors, suppliers, other agencies or co-workers, although many of our recommendations should prove helpful in such situations."
