South Sudan is considered one of the most dangerous countries for humanitarian organisations to operate in. An international NGO operating in South Sudan requested Forth Global to perform a physical security assessment of their country office. In addition, the NGO was also looking into expanding its operations into neighbouring war-torn Sudan. To achieve this, one of Forth Global’s experienced consultants travelled to Juba to conduct the assessment.
Our consultant started with an in-depth context analysis of both the security and operational conditions, along with the social and human rights impact of working in South Sudan as an NGO. This groundwork was further complemented with semi-structured interviews with key internal and external stakeholders from the organisation itself as well as with some of Forth Global’s NGO clients operating in the country. Following this, our consultant evaluated the security of the NGO’s main office, its premisses and assets, including food stocks and vehicles. Several hotels commonly used by international NGO visitors in Juba were also assessed.
Lastly, our consultant’s audit involved a desktop study of the broader safety and security set up of the NGO in question, from theoretical frameworks in terms of security documentation to operational practices. Based on this, recommendations for mitigation strategies were provided to ensure the organisation’s safety and continuity of their mission in South Sudan and its full preparedness before making any operational transitions into Sudan.
An increasing number of clients rely on Forth Global to conduct on-the-ground assessments in risky countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, Mali, Iraq or Lebanon. These invaluable on-site experiences provide Forth Global with first-hand insights into local dynamics and the specific operational risks faced by different organisations, thus enabling Forth Global to empower companies with the knowledge they need to navigate complex environments and make informed decisions effectively.
Picture by Daniel X. O’Neil. Find the source of the image here