Implementing an effective preventive security strategy: where to start?

Humanitarian actors often operate in unstable contexts, where security threats can hamper their missions and endanger their teams. To minimize these risks, it is essential to put in place a solid preventive security strategy adapted to each operational context. But how do you get started? What are the fundamental elements you need to integrate into your approach? Here are the key steps to follow.

Precise assessment of safety risks

The first step is to carry out an in-depth assessment of the risks that humanitarian teams may face in the field. This methodical approach can be broken down into several sub-steps:

• Identifying potential threats: teams need to gather information on different types of potential threat, such as armed conflict, ethnic tensions, local violence or natural disasters.
• Internal vulnerability analysis: assess the response capacity of humanitarian teams, their equipment, communications and training, in order to identify internal weaknesses.
• Probability and impact assessment: determine the probability of occurrence of the various risks identified, as well as their potential consequences for the teams and the mission.
• Risk mapping: produce a visual representation of risks that facilitates an overall understanding of potentially dangerous situations and helps guide operational decisions.

Sahco supports you in this crucial process by offering a comprehensive strategic and operational consultancy program to map risks precisely and help you anticipate complex situations.

Raising awareness and training your humanitarian teams

A preventive safety strategy is only effective if it is fully integrated and understood by all teams in the field. To ensure this, several key steps are essential:

• Comprehensive initial training: every humanitarian professional must undergo detailed initial training in the basics of preventive safety, covering essential gestures and appropriate reactions in the event of immediate danger.
• Regular refresher courses: these courses should be held periodically to remind staff of current protocols, present new emerging risks and reinforce their vigilance.
• Constant awareness: regular campaigns are needed to maintain constant vigilance and remind people of the importance of proactive security on a daily basis.

This requires regular training in advanced safety and security management. Sahco offers a number of comprehensive training courses dedicated to this theme, so that all humanitarian professionals can develop in their working environment with peace of mind. Discover our detailed training courses here.

Develop clear operating protocols

Precise procedures must be defined and communicated to all humanitarian operators. These protocols include

• Safe travel: strict procedures to be followed when traveling, especially in hostile environments, and clear identification of routes to be avoided.
• Interactions with local populations: precise definition of behaviors to be adopted to avoid tensions and strengthen bonds of trust with communities.
• Emergency management: clearly defined and comprehensible emergency plans, including evacuation procedures and safe assembly points.

These operational protocols are an essential lever for effectively protecting humanitarian teams.

For example, an NGO operating in a conflict zone could establish strict procedures for night-time travel, or clear rules for interactions with local armed groups. These operational protocols are an essential lever for effectively protecting humanitarian teams.

Implement a continuous safety watch

Preventive safety requires constant vigilance, which includes :

• Adapted technological systems: integration of modern technological tools such as GPS devices, mobile safety applications, and early warning systems enabling teams to be constantly monitored and communicated with in real time.
• Networks of local informants: development and maintenance of solid networks with local players who provide reliable, up-to-date information on the security situation on the ground, enabling humanitarian teams to react quickly.
• Ongoing analysis of security data: setting up dedicated teams or using analytical solutions to process the information gathered, identify emerging trends and anticipate potential changes in the security environment.

Test and adjust your strategy regularly

No strategy remains relevant unless it is regularly tested and adapted. To guarantee its effectiveness over time, you need to :

• Frequent simulation exercises: we regularly run realistic scenarios simulating potential incidents, to check the effectiveness of established procedures and reinforce our teams' practical skills.
• In-depth internal audits: regular audits enable us to detect and rapidly remedy any weaknesses in security protocols or equipment.
• Constant review of protocols: continuous adaptation of procedures in line with the results of simulations, internal audits and changes observed in the field.

Take the lead with Sahco

A well-designed preventive security strategy not only protects aid workers, but also guarantees the continuity and effectiveness of their interventions. For personalized advice and customized support in implementing your strategy, rely on Sahco's recognized expertise. Visit our contact page or discover our other articles dedicated to the security of humanitarian teams, to take your thinking and your approach one step further.