collaborative learning approach to ngo security management international consultation washington, dc...
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International Security Consultation Agenda Sept 27, :00am – 4:30pm Save the Children, 2000L Street NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 9:00Welcome & Introduction to the Project: Key Objectives 9:30Session 1: Key Concepts of an Acceptance Approach Objective: To reach consensus on key concepts of acceptance as an approach to security management. 10:30Break 10:45Session 2: Identifying Acceptance Activities at the Field Level Objective: To identify specific activities/indicators used by your organization to apply the acceptance approach at field level in order to identify the practical elements of an ideal acceptance approach. 12:30Lunch (will be provided) 1:30Session 3: Promoting Acceptance at Headquarters Objective: To identify strategies for promoting organizational internalization of the acceptance approach at headquarters. 2:30Break 2:45Session 4: Successes and Challenges Objective: To identify the most notable success/challenges participants have experienced with promoting the acceptance approach at HQ and in the field. 3:15Session 5: Next Steps Objective: To generate input and support from participants for the next stages of the research project.TRANSCRIPT
Collaborative Learning Approach to NGO Security Management
International Consultation
Washington, DC27 September 2010
Objectives
1. To generate discussion about acceptance as a security management approach.
2. To provide an opportunity for participants to learn about other organizations’ experiences implementing acceptance as a security management approach.
3. To inform and design field research through a better understanding of headquarters’ level perceptions about acceptance.
International Security Consultation Agenda
Sept 27, 2010 9:00am – 4:30pm Save the Children, 2000L Street NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC
9:00 Welcome & Introduction to the Project: Key Objectives
9:30 Session 1: Key Concepts of an Acceptance Approach Objective: To reach consensus on key concepts of acceptance as an approach to security management.
10:30 Break10:45 Session 2: Identifying Acceptance Activities at the Field Level
Objective: To identify specific activities/indicators used by your organization to apply the acceptance approach at field level in order to identify the practical elements of an ideal acceptance approach.
12:30 Lunch (will be provided)1:30 Session 3: Promoting Acceptance at Headquarters
Objective: To identify strategies for promoting organizational internalization of the acceptance approach at headquarters.
2:30 Break2:45 Session 4: Successes and Challenges
Objective: To identify the most notable success/challenges participants have experienced with promoting the acceptance approach at HQ and in the field.
3:15 Session 5: Next StepsObjective: To generate input and support from participants for the next stages of the research project.
Session 1: Key ConceptsObjective: To reach consensus on key concepts of acceptance as an approach to security management.
Task:Discuss your organizational definition and identify the main concepts that underlie it.
Session 1: Key ConceptsRespect for mission/purposeStakeholder analysis – contextual analysis of all power players
(with potential to impact you)Should be used in negotiations for access, understanding motivations of actors, chains of command, etcPower balances; Negotiation mechanisms of community
Consultative process with stakeholders (very wide range of actors – observers, beneficiaries)
Transparency – genuine processPro-active and continual engagement with consultations and
analysis
Session 1: Key ConceptsPerceptions – understanding how you are perceived and how other organizations in the area are viewed (how that might impact your work)Tolerance v. embrace (degrees of acceptance)Negotiations – to arrive at culturally appropriate understandings
to gain accessto see if they are doing the right programsfor their presence there
Component of a security strategy – not comprehensive in and of itself
Session 1: Key ConceptsMany of key concepts for acceptance mirror good practices for
programmingHumanitarian principles – independence, impartiality, neutrality (should inform this balance)Acceptance for aid and development may look different for a humanitarian organization
Delivery – following through on promises, commitments or acceptance may be in jeopardy
Relationships – that enable you to be informed by actors of potential security risks
Security as enabling effective programming
Session 1: Key ConceptsApplication of Do no harm to security principles (ex. use of
armed guards contributes to small arms in community)Understand impacts of workNot putting people at unnecessary risk
Balanced – take into account ethnic divisions, impacts of supporting one community and not another
Passive acceptance is not acceptance
Session 2: Activities at Field Level
Objective: Identify specific activities/indicators used by your organization at field level.
Task:Identify specific field level activities that your organization has in place to implement an acceptance approach.
Session 2: Activities at Field LevelIndicators
Can the organization emblem/logo be used (i.e. need to go “low-profile” can be an indicator acceptance not in place or might not be fully possible)
Willingness of public figures to align themselves with the organization, and provide tangible evidence of support
Tracking the local media
Getting security-related information from the community
ActivitiesInvest time and resources to inform staff of projects and organizations mandate – disseminate information to community
Create pro-active community outreach program to describe mission before programming
Cross-cultural hiring - reflective of community composition
Adherence to humanitarian principles- impartiality, neutrality, independence
Engage/hire respected community authorities
Session 2: Activities at Field LevelIndicators
Staff willingness to travel to certain areas
Unsolicited and unnetworked third party information/feedback
Positive community response to rectify negative effects of specific incidents
Staffing analysis – who are they, ethnicities, etc.
Getting approval from local authorities to travel to certain locations
Extent to which organization is participating in local celebration and grieving customs
Activities
Code of conduct, security rules and regulations, HR policy (to deal with infractions) – tailored to acceptance strategy
Tap into existing and accepted decision making and arbitration mechanisms in community
Community committees and/or conflict mitigation bodies
Educate community (events, engage community members)
Session 2: Activities at Field LevelIndicators
Attendance levels at meetings
Content of staff orientation and induction materials to actively promote acceptance concepts with staff
Incident report analysis
Country agreement, sub-agreements
Regular documentation of networking efforts and impact in expanding the network; quality, accuracy of information
ActivitiesUnderstanding and acting according to celebration and grieving in community
Teaching humanitarian law
Analytical methods/tools – to build acceptance v. monitor?
Security plan that incorporates an acceptance strategy specifically? Is that formalized in security plan?
Monitor local media for perceptions, events, chitchat
Information/Education (build understanding of mandate, work, etc)
Session 2: Activities at Field LevelIndicatorsActivities
Inverse imaging – trying to see yourself as others see you
Show respect (v. blend in)
Standards on equipment, dress, associations, etc
Extensive networking (even w/belligerents)
Be mindful of impact of other areas, such as procurement, on acceptance
Is acceptance strategy built into security audit?
Session 2: Activities at Field LevelIndicatorsActivities
Dedicated community engagement staff
Stakeholder analysis and contextual analysis
Get community to liaise with oppos. factions
Session 2: Activities at Field Level• Back to the ideal vision –what’s missing?Managing to respond to the sphere of things outside your
control? Develop a more critical view of your own analysis so that you
question to make sure it still holdsKnow the context and culture extremely well so that you can
detect shifts/changes Subtext and nuance – be able to hear the tone of conversationStaff selection and turnover (ensuring ideas are transmitted to
new staff)Coordination/Information Sharing within community
Session 2: Activities at Field LevelObjective: Identify specific activities/indicators used by your organization at field level
Task:Identify verifiable indicators for each activity.
Session 3: Promoting Acceptance at Headquarters
Objective: Identify strategies for promoting acceptance at headquarters.
Unit
Senior Executive 11
Human Resources 8
Audit/Finance 4
Programs 13
Communications/PR 8
Development/Fundraising 1
Monitoring & Evaluation 3
Session 3: Promoting Acceptance at Headquarters
Unit
IT 2
Travel Services 1
Cooperation – across federation or family of organizations
4
Legal 6
Security units w/in family 5
Donors 4
US Military 5
Board
Session 3: Promoting Acceptance at Headquarters
Objective: Identify strategies for promoting acceptance at headquarters.
Task:Give specific examples of how these units think about acceptance and how they incorporate it into what they do.
HQ discussions RE acceptance• Disconnect b/t program and security staff in terminology• Requirement of proposals to go through review by security
(different mechanisms for review)• Opportunities with auditors and program evaluators for
information from the ground about perceptions• Donor branding and acceptance• Ways to talk with HR – recruitment, training, induction; in
some cases its country-level HR• Often reactionary discussions after specific security events
(can be more or less oriented towards acceptance)
HQ discussions RE acceptance• Orientation for new staff• Discussions at HQ level is opportunity to demystify and “de-
demonize” security• Discussions about security/acceptance are happening but not
systemmatically• Many discussions involve acceptance conceptually but
acceptance terminology is not used (e.g. community engagement)
• Discussions about acceptance as a means and an end (process/outcome)
Session 4: Successes & Challenges
Objective: To identify successes and challenges in promoting acceptance at headquarters and in the field.
Task: Take 5 minutes to complete the matrix and share within your group.
Session 4: Successes & Challenges
Session 5: Next Steps
Objective: To generate input and support from participants for the next stages of the research project.
Session 5: Next Steps
Your Support…..
•National staff from Uganda, South Sudan, and Kenya to attend training in Nairobi and to serve as field researchers•Hosting and logistical support for learning teams in Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda •Field contacts – program managers and local partners