- Aug 9, 2021
- 3 min read

Innovative security management e-learning

Designed for security focal points, local organisations and partners

Screenshot of Safer Edge Security Management E-learning training course for security managers and security focal points

Security management is a critical function for international NGOs, charities, foundations and universities to work properly in any location. Sometimes organisations will hire someone who is a full-time security manager. But, more often, security is managed by a project manager who is responsible for security alongside their other job functions. Or, it may be a volunteer or local organisation with whom security is managed in a consortium. No matter who is assigned these responsibilities it is crucial that they have the expertise and technical training to do their job well.

Too often they don’t receive this. Traditionally, security management training has meant 3-5 days out of work, travelling to international destinations to receive classroom-based, in-person training in English or French. National staff, local partners and grassroots organisations are rarely prioritised which exposes the organisation to multiple safety and security risks, compromising their organisational security, duty of care and programme delivery.

"Over and over again, I saw local organisations expected to work in some of the riskiest locations with little, or no, preparation to manage the risks they were facing." -Kelsey Hoppe, Safer Edge CEO

This occurs despite language barriers being cited as being a contributor to 25% of job-related accidents, according to the U.S. Department of Labor and language differences between coworkers being one of the most frequent challenges cited in promoting safety, according to the US Center for Disease Control.

We believe it’s time to change this and make security management training affordable, accessible and inclusive. We want to invest in those facing the sharpest end of risk. We want everyone who manages security to have the training they need to keep themselves, and their colleagues, safe which is why we’ve created the first Security Management e-learning course for social sector organisations.

We’re launching our 9-hour, self-directed e-learning course which is available on-demand whenever necessary. Priced affordably, it can be offered to both local staff and partners contributing to donor capacity-building requirements of security in consortiums and partnerships.

Using instructional story design, the training follows Khadija Tariq, a new security manager in an international NGO in East Africa as she handles the complexities of her new role. We don’t shy away from challenging topics like mental health, work overload and working with difficult people. Just like for real-life security managers, Khadija is faced with tough decisions that reflect the complex realities of security management like:

What happens when a colleague is hospitalised due to a drug overdose?
How should disgruntled former employees be handled?
What if no one is paying attention to security advisories?

What does the course cover?

Security Management E-Learning covers all the main areas a security manager or security focal point needs to know to manage security well in an NGO or development organisations. Learners will be trained on:

What duty of care is and how security contributes to it
Collecting, analysing and using security information
Context & risk assessments
Incident & crisis management
Handling deteriorating security situations
Managing site security, travel, digital security
Managing incidents of sexual violence
Managing relationships with project managers, partners and security providers
Managing security training, budgets & insurance

Wheel showing 8 parts of security management e-learning course including what is duty of care and how it contributes to security, collecting, analysing and using security information, context and risk assessment, creating a security plan, incident and crisis management, managing site security, digital security, travel and sexual violence, managing relationships with partners, security providers, and managing security training, budgets, insurance

Our Security Management e-learning was designed to be engaging and interactive; immersive and inclusive. Throughout, there are videos, scenarios and questions that learners have to navigate to complete the course. We’ve included 14 downloadable templates that participants can use if their organisation does not have security frameworks or templates already in place giving them a head start in creating a safer environment.

Safer Edge CEO, Kelsey Hoppe, says: “When I worked in Sudan, South Sudan, Pakistan, Ukraine and Indonesia over and over again I saw local organisations expected to work in some of the riskiest locations with little, or no, preparation to manage the risks they are facing. When we created this course we set out to correct that. We wanted local organisations to get the best, latest security management training for the work they do and we believe this course does that.”

Ready to have a look at the course? Click here or email us (operations@saferedge.com) and we'll send you a demo.