IRC is looking for a regional safety and security officer for its operations in their Great Lakes and West Africa region. The position is New York based but there will be frequent travel.

Head on over to IRC’s Careers page for more details on this and other jobs.

Tags: Africa, USA, Jobs

CARE has a position for a Deputy Director of Security in Atlanta. Head on over to CARE’s careers portal for more information.

Tags: Jobs, USA

Intermon Oxfam has a vacancy for a Security Advisor in Barcelona, Spain. Your Spanish will have to be better than mine to apply but you can follow the link to ReliefWeb for more details.

Tags: Jobs, Spain

Thanks to noodlepie for sending the link to this video of the aftermath of the suicide attacks in Hargeisa.

Warning: Some of the footage is graphic. Don’t watch it if you find coverage of victims of violence exploitive.



More video showing the UNDP compound.

Tags: Somalia, Incident

Update: New information suggests three killed and eight injured at UNDP compound.

A UNDP compound has been struck by a suicide bomb attack in what seems to be a series of co-ordinated suicide attacks across northern Somalia. Initial reports suggest that at least one UN staff member and a security guard were killed.

It appears that Horn Relief, an NGO working in the horn of Africa may also have been hit in the attacks.

Suicide bombers in Somalia strike UN compound

Tags: Somalia, Incident, Death of aid worker

Phil at itinerant and indigent has an interesting personal security assessment form that some may find useful. It is intended for ex-pat staff but I don’t see why it could be used, with some slight modifications, for national staff.

However, I recommend it with a caveat. It is important that the user of the form and the compiler of the data recognize that there is a difference (sometimes a very large difference) between feeling (un)secure and being (un)secure. People tend to underestimate threats to which they have become familiar and overestimate new threats especially if those threats are vivid and easy to recall.

I especially like question 5:

Describe a few things that could happen over the next two months,  that would cause you to review your posting here. Try to be very specific as you describe a threshold that, once  crossed, would make you radically reassess  being here in Afghanistan 

Having people assess their risk cut off level proactively might just help counter some of the cognitive bias that skews risk perception.

You can find the form here. Just scroll down to the bottom of the post.

Tags: Tips, Tools

Wisdom consists in being able to distinguish among dangers and make a choice of the least harmful. — Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince

Tags: risk

A female aid worker was gunned down by unknown assailants on 25 October near the Somali town of Gurilel. Duniya Sheik Daud worked for Iida, a group that campaigns for women's rights and against female genital mutilation.

more: Another aid worker killed in Somalia

Tags: Somalia, Death of aid worker

InterAction is looking for a manager for its International Humanitarian Security Association.



For more details go to InterAction’s job listings.

Tags: Jobs, USA

The Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) seeks an Aid and Security Researcher.



You can find out more, including details of how to apply for the job, at ReliefWeb.

Tags: Afghanistan, Jobs

The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the murder of a female aid worker early on 20 October. Gayle Williams was targeted by two motorcycle riding gunmen while she walked along a Kabul street.

According to a Taliban spokesman, “We killed her for spreading Christian propaganda.”

Read more:
British woman aid worker killed in Afghan capital

Tags: Afghanistan, Death of aid worker

Gunmen killed a WFP staffer on Friday. Abdinasir Adan Muse was murdered as he left a local mosque after evening prayers. The incident occurred in Merka, about 80 kilometres south-west of Mogadishu.

Read more:
Official says gunmen kill a Somali UN aid worker
UN aid worker gunned down in Somalia - AFP

Tags: Death of aid worker, Somalia, Incident

The above chart is based on information from the MIPT Terrorism database. Unfortunately the database does not segregate aid worker fatalities.

N.B. The figures for 2007 only include the first three quarters for the year.

Tags: Terrorism, risk

If you are interested in this job contact:

Feisal Hussain
ThinkAhead Consulting Limited
72 Queenborough Gardens
Gants Hill
Ilford
Essex IG2 6YB

Telephone: +44 (0)7985-415-675
Skype: feisal.hussain
Email: Feisal.hussain@consult-thinkahead.com

Tags: Jobs, Kenya, UK

Relief International (RI) is looking for someone to revise their current Iraq security handbook. The position appears to be US based.


JOB TITLE: Iraq Security Consultant

DURATION: 2-3 Weeks

START DATE: ASAP

SUMMARY:
Relief International (RI), an international relief and development agency with cross-sectoral programs bridging relief and development, seeks a Security Consultant to facilitate the revision of its Iraq Safety and Security Handbook.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Facilitates routine conference calls with senior program staff based in Iraq to discuss and come to consensus on security policies and procedures.

2. Revises the current handbook as needed based on the feedback of senior program staff. Each draft will require a quick turnaround.


POSITION REQUIRES:

1. Demonstrated experience writing technical and/or policy manuals.

2. At least three years of field security experience in conflict afflicted settings (preferably Iraq).

3. Excellent communication skills. Strong English writing skills are essential.

To Apply: send resume, cover letter, writing sample, salary history, date of availability, and 3 professional references to hrinternational@ri.org. Subject line must include: Iraq Security Consultant.

Tags: Jobs, Iraq, USA

The confidence that people have in security is inversely proportional to how much they know about it.

In many non-governmental organizations, especially smaller ones, it is the security advisor’s responsibility to monitor staff for, and advise on the effects of, excessive stress. Even if it is not on your formal job description it is in your best interest to keep an eye on staff stress levels. Overly stressed staff frequently make poor decisions regarding their own security and are inclined to take short cuts when it comes to following established security procedures.

Excessive, prolonged stress can lead to an emotional and physical exhaustion commonly referred to as burnout. It often begins as normal stress but then you start to feel overwhelmed and unable to meet constant demands. As the stress continues, you begin to lose the interest or motivation that led you to humanitarian work in the first place. If left untreated burnout can eventually threaten your job, your relationships, and your health.

According to the Mayo Clinic you may be at greater risk of developing burnout if:

* You identify so strongly with work that you lack a reasonable balance between work and your personal life
* You try to be everything to everyone
* Your job is monotonous
* You feel you have little or no control over your work
* You work in a helping profession, such as health care, counseling, teaching, aid worker or law enforcement


The signs of burnout tend to be more mental than physical. They can include:

* Feeling detached
* Isolating yourself
* Irritability
* Frustration
* Feeling trapped
* Feeling like a failure
* Despair
* Cynicism
* Apathy
* Feeling powerless
* Feeling hopeless
* Emotional exhaustion

It is important to catch burnout quickly. Doing so can save a valued, experienced aid worker. Failure to do so can result in yet another bitter, cynical, possibly alcoholic, aid worker who is merely going through the motions.

One final note of caution: NGO security officers are as prone to burnout as other aid workers. You’ll need to monitor yourself for the signs and symptoms and take action because there is a very good chance that no one else will. Don’t try to work through it. It won’t work... and the only thing more dangerous than a bitter, cynical, alcoholic, aid worker is a bitter, cynical, alcoholic, security officer.

Tags: resources, stress