United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Jun 2019
InterWorks conducted the eCentre’s Safety In the Field: Operating in Complex Security Environments Exercise, co-sponsored by the UNHCR eCentre and JICA, in southern Thailand from 9-15 June 2019. It was held at the Suan Son Pradipat Hotel and Fort Dhanarajata (formerly Fort Thanarat) training post in Thailand, 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.
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. With the increasing number of terrorist attacks globally, the agenda increased focus on personal safety and security including sessions on immediate responses to a terrorist attack. The focus on the centrality of protection and the criticality of continuing operations in complex security environments was also maintained. In addition, the course involved structured information exchange amongst participants, with a view to sharing good practices and lessons learned from the field through a series of group presentations.
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.
I am forever changed by this training. I discovered a lot about myself and gained confidence not just on security but about leadership. A whole new world of possibilities opened up to me during the training.
– Workshop participant
