Pre-departure Security Workshop

Learn how to improve your personal safety while abroad and develop stress management techniques.

Are you preparing for a posting or a short-term assignment in a new country? You should not overlook the need to prepare adequately for your future security. Feeling safe is something you need to develop in advance, no matter where you are travelling or relocating. The pre-departure workshop will help you take the necessary steps to protect yourself from the various risks associated with international assignments, whether long-term or short-term. It is designed for development, humanitarian and peacebuilding professionals and those accompanying them.

Location

Online

Duration

1 day

Languages

English

Price CHF

450

Cancellation:
up to 5 days before the workshop, you will be refunded with a deduction of CHF 50

Price member CHF

350

Get in touch

Lilian

Danz

cinfo

Office Manager

training@cinfo.ch

+41 32 365 80 02

Possible situations and questions

You are a programme coordinator

You travel regularly to Lebanon, Syria and Jordan to monitor and coordinate child protection projects. You know the region quite well, but unfortunately you do not speak Arabic.

How can you prepare and improve your security when travelling to fragile contexts? And what advice should you give to the colleagues you supervise in the field?

You are an accompanying partner

Although you are of Iraqi origin, you are not a practising Muslim and have never lived in Asia before. Your wife, who works in international cooperation, told you about this workshop.

How can you prepare yourself for life in Bangladesh, where you will be perceived as belonging to an ethnic minority? You also have many questions about family life and bringing up your daughter in this context.

You are a volunteer

You are preparing for a six-month assignment in Honduras – your first in Latin America. You know that there is a lot of crime in the country, especially from youth gangs known as 'maras'.

Will you have to deal with them? You have also heard that corruption is very widespread. How can you prepare yourself for that?

Why is pre-departure preparation so important?

Often it is not the catastrophic events but the everyday, small hazards that disrupt work and upset personal equilibrium. That's why it's important to learn how to distinguish between controllable problems and those that are beyond our control.
The reality on-site is rarely what we imagine. Are those who go on missions aware of the gap between their perception and the real risks? Those who anticipate and assess key risks are better equipped to respond appropriately.
When people go abroad, they leave behind a familiar context where they know the rules and have a certain status. In the host country, however, they become a clearly identifiable minority. How will the local population react to their presence? By developing scenarios in advance, individuals can adapt their behaviour to the new situation.

A participatory workshop

This one-day workshop combines:

concise theoretical input
individual and group reflection and exercises
exchange of experiences among participants
a tailored approach to the participants' destinations

We place particular emphasis on personal preparation for dangerous situations and confrontation with violence. Topics include practical aspects, risk analysis and how to deal with armed persons, for example during demonstrations or at checkpoints.

Takeaways

You can identify the main risks in your target countries

You can analyse and better navigate your environment

You can create a comprehensive security framework

You know what criteria to consider when choosing accommodation or means of transport

You understand the links between personal safety and stress management

Please note that this is not a HEAT (Hostile Environment Awareness Training) course.

Duty of care

Your employer may cover the cost

Make sure you inform your employer about this workshop, as they may cover the cost. Employers have a responsibility to prioritise the health, safety and well-being of their employees. By stressing the importance of this workshop, you can encourage your employer to fulfil their duty of care and support your participation.

Discount for staff of our member organisations

Pay only CHF 350 instead of CHF 450:

Check if your employer is a member of cinfo
Ask your employer for the secret code or email/call us: training@cinfo.ch / +41 32 365 80 02
When you register, click on "Redeem Coupon" and enter your secret code