United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) May 2016
InterWorks conducted the eCentre’s standard Safety In the Field (SIF) exercise co-sponsored by the UNHCR eCentre and JICA in southern Thailand from 15-21 May 2016. The exercise was conducted with support from the Royal Thai Army per their longstanding arrangement with the UNHCR eCentre. Participants were from diverse backgrounds, offices, and countries, representing UNHCR, JICA, NGO and Government counterparts. In addition to training together, this diverse group of actors was provided with the opportunity to share real experiences from the field and further strengthen inter-agency ties.
The objective of the workshop was to address basic elements of personal security for staff in the field, and to highlight security risk management tools and strategies for maintaining operations in complex security environments as well as inter-linkages between security and protection. The workshop was highly participatory, emphasizing hands-on application of tools and skills. Participants discussed real-life cases, best practices and lessons learned from the humanitarian and development fields. Above all, they were required to apply lessons in practical and realistic exercises and complex field simulations.
This year’s workshop included an extra focus on the centrality of protection and the criticality of continuing operations in complex security environments. There was continued emphasis on structured information exchange amongst participants, with a view to sharing good practices and lessons learned from the field through a series of group presentations.
All lectures and simulations were more than I expected. Thank you so much!
– Workshop participant
