Module 11: ‘ Inclusivity and Security Risk Management’ is in section (B) ‘Operational Security’ of our three-part series ‘Keeping up with COVID-19: Essential guidance for NGO security risk management’.
This module is intended to guide security risk managers to be more inclusive during the COVID-19 pandemic. A persons’ intersectional risk profile is made up of various characteristics (including gender, sex, sexuality, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, and disability) that intersect with one another in a way that shapes their unique vulnerabilities, exposure, and coping capacities with regard to risks in their environment.
Inclusivity is the practice of proactively responding to the unique intersectional characteristics of personnel, to ensure that everyone has equitable access to resources and opportunities. An inclusive security risk management system ensures that staff security concerns are equitably prioritised by the organisation, regardless of their race, nationality, gender, seniority, etc. It also means that resources for reducing risk are equitably distributed, according to who has the highest exposure or vulnerability to risks in a particular environment.
This module was written by Elizabeth Detwiler, Nimisha Mascarenhas, Independent Consultants and Sarah Martin, Gender Associations, based on a literature review and consultations with Tara Arthur, GISF and Mohammed Ali, Aidworks.org.uk.