Pre-departure Security Workshop for those involved in international cooperation

As you prepare to travel and work abroad, learn how to enhance your personal safety and security, and how to deal with stress.

A 1-day workshop, many benefits

Unexpected, annoying incidents

While we can prepare ourselves for the imaginable, we often ­encounter situations at work abroad that we never imagined could ­disrupt the balance in our professional and personal lives.

This workshop helps you to deal with those unexpected, ­annoying incidents without being thrown off track.

Challenges and risks

Only after a few weeks do you start to see the reality of the ­situation you are in. Have you assessed the challenges adequately? Do you have the right tools to deal with the risks you are facing?

In this workshop you learn how to proactively minimise risks and to react competently to unexpected events.

You and them

You are a complete unknown for the people in your ­future ­posting, even if they know your function. You will have to integrate and position yourself. What is valued here is not ­necessarily well-regarded there – and vice versa.

This workshop helps you to self-reflect from the perspective of the local population, to identify potential security risks and to adapt your behaviour accordingly.

Topics covered

  • Safety and security in daily life (e.g. choosing appropriate places to stay and means of transportation)
  • Reducing the probability and the consequences of incidents
  • Basic communication and negotiation techniques (e.g. when facing officials and weapon bearers at roadblocks or check-points)
  • Reacting to violence (e.g. sexual harassment, threatening individuals or angry crowds, shooting in public places)
  • Applying simple stress prevention tools and coping mechanisms
  • Learning from your own experience

How

The one-day workshop takes place at cinfo in Biel/Bienne (or online depending on COVID-19 situation).

  • Short theoretical inputs
  • Individual and group reflections and exercises
  • Exchange of experiences among participants
  • Tailor made approach depending on participants' destinations.

Get to know your trainer

Heinrich Schneider

Heinrich Schneider is our senior security consultant and a certified trainer. Since 2011, he has been advising national and international organisations on security structures, crisis preparation and management, and duty of care. He trains personnel in practice-focused courses in how to behave in an insecure environment, in sensitive situations and in stress management. Heinrich Schneider was head of international police reforms at the Federal Office of Police for 10 years, responsible for projects in cooperation with the UN, the EU and the OSCE, and a member of the federal government's crisis team on hostage-taking and extortion. He has worked as a consultant in many countries in Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

For whom

  • Professionals active in humanitarian aid, development cooperation or peace promotion
  • Accompanying persons who follow their partner (working in the sector) abroad.

At the end of the workshop, you will be able to...

  • identify the main risks in the context you are travelling to
  • analyse and monitor your environment
  • reflect upon a coherent security framework
  • analyse and monitor your environment
  • choose secure places to stay overnight and means of travel
  • acknowledge the links between personal safety and stress management.

Language

English

Registration

Select a date

Start date Title Member price Price
25.11.2021 Pre-departure Security Workshop CHF 350 CHF 450

Host
cinfo
Type
online
Place
Zoom
Price
CHF 450
Member price
CHF 350

Incl. beverages and snacks

The reduced fee applies to employees of member organisations of Network cinfo (except educational institutions).

Cancellation
In case of cancellation 3 days or less before the start date, you pay 50% of the course fee.

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