UNDSS+Newsletter+2016+October

UNDSS
YOUR SAFETY, YOUR SECURITY, OUR PRIORITY
USG Offi ce
UNITED NATIONS SECRETARIAT SAFETY & SECURITY INTEGRATION PROJECT
Making
Integration
Work in the DRC
Paul Farrell recently joined the United
Nations Secretariat Safety and Security
Integration Project (UNSSSIP) as Chief Project
Officer. Before joining the UNSSSIP team, Paul
was the Principal Security Adviser (PSA) in the
DRC, where integration was a big part of his
work. Paul shared his thoughts on integration
with the UNDSS communications team.
When Paul Farrell arrived in the Democratic
Republic of Congo in July 2014 as PSA, he knew
overseeing UN security in a country the size of
Western Europe would not be easy. On top of the
challenges that operating in the DRC presented, it
soon became clear that there were two distinct UN
security structures in place in the country: a large
MONUSCO team, and a far smaller UNDSS team.
“The division meant security was not as effective as
it should have been”, he said.
Problems with non-integration
Having two security teams working relatively
independently of each other for the same
organisation caused significant problems. It was
confusing for clients and for security staff. It
caused overlaps and wasted resources. Paul gave
an example: “There were two radio rooms being
operated in various locations in the country – one
run by MONUSCO, and another by UNDSS. It
didn’t make any sense.”
Security staff needed to be moved around the vast
country to ensure maximum security coverage, but
Paul did not have any official operational command
over MONUSCO security staff to move them.
Because of these problems, structured threat
assessments, MOSS, and security plans were out of
date and the service provided to clients was less than
optimal. “This wasn’t because staff were not trying.
It was because personnel were not being used in the
most efficient and effective way”, he noted.
Achieving functional integration
Paul did not have the policy tools to bring UNDSS
and MONUSCO teams together, so he set to work
to achieve “functional integration” of MONUSCO
and UNDSS security staff and assets in the
country. He created a document, co-signed by the
SRSG and the Mission Chief of Staff, creating the
“UN Integrated Security Section – DRC”, which
effectively established PSA authority over all
MONUSCO security staff.
Clients noticed the benefits. Rein Paulson,
OCHA DRC Head of Office notes, “The benefits
of integration were immediate and obvious. The
depth and quality of analysis carried out within
the SMT was improved and Security became
more responsive due to consolidated capacity and
reduction of duplication. Even support to NGOs
through "Saving Lives
Together" was improved.
UNDSS Staff
Rein Paulson saw the
7,000
positive effect in the
DRC.
3,000
After Integration
Before Integration
“I wonder why
integration would not
always be adopted as
a default approach to
security management.”
—Rein Paulson, OCHA
Paul’s situation in the
DRC was not unique.
Many other duty stations
have achieved so-called
“functional integration”
through various means,
which has resulted in better work practices, team
cohesion, and better security delivery. However
it is clear that integration is needed at a global,
standardised level to meet the global security
needs and challenges of today.
“To be most effective at our jobs, it makes sense to be
under one roof.”
—Paul Farrell
Going global
Paul is passionate about integration. “To be most
effective at our jobs, it makes sense to be under
one roof. UNDSS gains a great deal from the deep
knowledge and experience of our DPKO colleagues.
UNDSS and Mission staff bring different skills and
experience to the table. We need one workforce, one
family, to fully benefit from this wealth of skills and
experience”.
Achieving integration in the DRC has given Paul
a realistic, on-the-ground perspective of what is
needed to make integration work. The problems
solved locally in the DRC are now being tackled at
a global level through the Integration project. HR
questions, such as the type of contracts staff will
have post-Integration, and thorny finance issues
such as funding models for integration are currently
being worked through. “This work is ongoing and
complex, but on-track,” he noted.
What integration means for security staff
UNSSSIP has a target of December 2017 to establish
integration worldwide. What does this mean for
security staff globally? Security staff from Missions
will come under the UNDSS umbrella, so the
number of staff that UNDSS oversees will increase
by 126% to a total of over 6,900 staff members
globally.
Every one of those staff members will come under
the management authority of the Under-Secretary-
General (USG) for Safety and Security, Peter
Drennan.
“Our clients will be far more effectively served by
having the right security personnel, with the right
skills, in the right place, at the right time. This is what
integration offers us.” — USG Drennan
Security Staff will benefit. There will be greater
mobility and career development opportunities,
both in the field and at headquarters. In addition to
greater mobility, recruitment and training practices
will be standardised and staff will have equal
opportunities and training.
Paul summarised, “At a policy level, the UN is a
global leader in safety and security. Member States’
security services often look to the UN as a good
example of clear, rational and accountable security
management. Integration will make it even better.
My experience in the DRC showed me how this can
work, how it can benefit all clients, and this is why I
believe in Integration”.
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