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Partnerships

Our Approach to Partnership

Partnership is fundamental in security management. In today’s increasingly complex global security environment, UNDSS, as a crucial enabler of all UN programs and activities across the globe, must collaborate with diverse partners. Effective security management requires enhanced partnerships with multi-stakeholders, namely the host Governments, Member States, United Nations entities, and non-UN entities, including regional and other international bodies, as well as civil society and the private sector.

The UN alone cannot advance the ambitious 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. As such, partnership is Goal 17 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

No one security situation is the same. Consequently, not one security solution will fit all security requirements in specific contexts. The UNDSS strongly believes that offering an effective security solution to enable programs requires various levels and types of partnerships. The UNDSS placed solid mechanisms ensuring we are a trusted partner of all individuals and entities who, like us, work toward a better world, from remote locations working with local host Government authorities and INGOs, to devising a UN system-wide policy and supporting the intergovernmental process.

A group of people offloading items from an aircraft.
Locals offloading vital supplies from a UN aircraft UN photo

Member States

Host Governments

First and foremost, it is a host government's responsibility to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel in their territory. UNDSS leads host Government security collaboration for the UNSMS and reinforces the capacity of the host Government to fulfill these obligations. This means that UNDSS liaises with host Government police, military and foreign ministries (or similar) to facilitate cooperation and adherence to requirements, and to ensure security support is provided to UN personnel on the ground in times of crisis.

Intergovernmental Process

Annually, UNDSS’s Division of Partnerships and Specialised Support (DPSS) provides technical support to the European Union in the United Nations Intergovernmental negotiations on the "safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel.” The aim is to sustain Member States' political support for UNDSS and the UNSMS. A positive result: For the past three years, Member States have supported the need for “predictable and adequate resources” for UN security management.

UN General Assembly

As mandated by the UN General Assembly (GA), UNDSS is the author Department for the report of the Secretary-General on “safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel.”
Following weeks of negotiations on these issues, during the 77th Session, the GA in its plenary adopted its resolution on the same title of the report ().

Saving Lives Together

A woman squatting next to a man laying down with smoke at the back
A session on managing injuries in the field during a SSAFE training UNDSS / Chris Kariyo

The Saving Lives Together (SLT) initiative was created in recognition of the fact that the organisations of the United Nations Security Management System (UNSMS), International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) and Intergovernmental Organisations (IOs) face similar security challenges when operating in volatile environments. SLT was established to provide a framework to improve collaboration on common security concerns and enhance the safe delivery of humanitarian and development assistance. SLT is a series of recommendations aimed at enhancing security collaboration between the UNSMS organisations, INGOs and IOs. It recognises the collectively experienced security threats and the importance of collaboration to support the safe delivery of humanitarian and development assistance.

The objective of SLT is to enhance the ability of partner organisations to make informed decisions, manage risks and implement effective security arrangements that enable delivery of assistance and improve the security of personnel and continuity of operations.

Although SLT is a voluntary engagement by partner organisations, the success and effectiveness of the initiative are dependent on the commitment of all participating organisations to work collectively towards the mutual goal of improving the security of personnel and operations. Accordingly, organisations that wish to become SLT partner organisations must commit to the adoption and effective implementation of the principles, objectives and arrangements in the SLT Framework.

To this end, SLT partner organisations commit to:

  • Establish security collaboration arrangements
  • Share relevant security information
  • Cooperate on security training
  • Cooperate on security operational and logistics arrangements, where feasible
  • Identify resource requirements for enhancing security coordination between the UN, INGOs, and IOs, and advocate for their funding
  • Consult on common ground rules for humanitarian action

It is recognised that SLT partner organisations perceive and assess threats and vulnerabilities differently, accept different levels of risk and implement security arrangements which they consider suitable for their organisation and operational conditions. SLT is designed to enhance and complement security risk management systems of SLT partner organisations, not substitute these systems and related arrangements.

Private Sector

Members of the press surrounded by a group of people
Delegates attending the COP 28 conference after addressing the media COP28 / Christopher Edralin

Since 2017, the Strategic Partnerships and Policy Unit (SPPU) in the Division of Partnerships and Specialised Support (DPSS), has initiated cooperation with the private sector and thought leaders in the security industry to keep abreast of current security trends and policy approaches, as well as security policy applications according to internationally accepted human rights standards and code of conduct.

SPPU has maintained regular contact and is fully engaged with the Geneva-based . The purpose of ICoCa is to promote, govern and oversee the implementation of the International Code of Conduct and to promote the responsible provision of security services and respect for human rights and national and international law in accordance with the Code.

UNSMS and IASMN

A group photo with many people standing in rows
UN Secretary-General, António Guterres takes a group photo with Chief Executive Board Members UNDSS / Chris Kariyo

The United Nations Security Management System (UNSMS) comprises more than 50 member organizations. The goal of the United Nations Security Management System is to enable the activities of UNSMS organizations within acceptable levels of security risk. UNSMS organizations are Inter-Agency Security Management Network (IASMN) de facto members, 15 of which are IASMN Steering Group members.

The UNSMS plays a fundamental role, not only as clients but also in guiding, supporting and being recipients of UNDSS’ services. UNDSS provides leadership for the UNSMS. The Department works with Executive Heads, Designated Officials for security, and Security Representatives of all UN entities across the UNSMS. This critical network under the IASMN is responsible for system-wide security policy developments underpinning the work of the UNSMS. The IASMN holds its meeting four times a year, including two full IASMN sessions and two Steering Group sessions.

Civil Society

People sitted in a large conference room
A conference room full of delegates with a meeting in session UN photo

To promote innovative thinking in policy approaches to security management, UNDSS initiated engagement with various academic institutions and think tanks on multidimensional issues impacting the global security environment. The Department of Partnerships and Specialized Support (DPSS) regularly attends and reports on policy dialogues and seminars organized by think tanks, such as the International Peace Institute (IPI). The IPI is an independent international non-profit think tank dedicated to managing risk and building resilience to promote peace, security, and sustainable development. The Strategic Partnerships and Policy Unit (SPPU) maintains a database of relevant academic institutions and think tanks whose work focuses on analysis and policy dialogue concerning trends relating to the global security environment and policies.