Nokero Lights

I've recently been hearing good things about solar products from a company called Nokero. The firm's impetus was to design an alternative to kerosene lanterns for developing countries (Nokero is short for no kerosene). Besides environmental concerns, Kerosene fumes and smoke aren't healthy; especially for children. While FreePlay and a few other businesses have long been providing wind-up, kinetic lighting devices, Nokero took a different approach and primarily went solar. Their N100 and N200 lights are LED powered and feature a replaceable, rechargeable AA battery (sustainable). They even look like conventional incandescent light bulbs (familiar). A durable, water-resistant design coupled with an affordable price makes these lights worth considering for office back-ups or primary lighting in austere environments.

EISF Gender and Security Research

The European Interagency Security Forum (EISF) just released a set of online questionnaires as part of a study on the role of gender in NGO security issues. This is a worthy project and if you work for a humanitarian organization, the researchers would like to hear from you (the survey period runs until 10 February 2012).

There are three questionnaires, but you only need to fill out one based on the type of work you do and where. Click on a link below to go directly to the applicable survey form. All information entered will be held in strict confidence.

HQ staff and EISF members (~20 minutes to complete)

Field personnel working in country offices in a non-security role (~15 minutes)
Available in English and French

Security and management staff in country offices (~20 minutes)

The researchers are also interested in organizations that are willing to share existing policy documents, identify staff members with expertise, and help set up discussion groups.

For additional information about this project, contact EISF at: eisf-research@eisf.eu

Safety and Security and Wordle

If you do much browsing on the Web, you most certainly have encountered a word cloud. Word clouds have nothing to do with cloud computing, but instead are a visual representation of text. Unique words on a Web site or from some other source are listed, arranged artistically and shown in different type sizes. The size depends on word frequency, with words used more often appearing larger compared to those that are used less. For example if Afghanistan was mentioned 12 times, and Pakistan twice, Afghanistan would be displayed significantly bigger.

If you're still a little unclear on all of this, a picture is worth a thousand words, so check out: www.wordle.net; a cool utility for creating word clouds from your own text or a specified Web site. Even if you're hip to word clouds, head over to Wordle anyway. When you get there, give some thought to how you could use a word cloud in an NGO safety and security context. If nothing leaps to mind, here are a few ideas.

Identifying perceived threats and vulnerabilities - Before meeting with headquarters and field management staff for the first time, I always like to get a sense of what people feel are primary threats and vulnerabilities. Responses typically vary by job responsibilities and experience. Displaying a word cloud with the top five perceived threats and vulnerabilities (previously emailed) is a great and visually engaging way to start a conversation.

Reviewing security reports - In reviewing security reports from field offices I'll sometimes create a word cloud of the document to see if there's anything I may have overlooked. On more than one occasion, seeing something in a word cloud has prompted me to ask questions about an issue that wasn't apparent.

Analyzing emails - You can also use a collection of emails as your word cloud source, looking for things you may have missed. I remember a lengthy exchange of email messages once, about employee theft in a field office. Everyone was focused on the emotionally charged event, which involved a longtime and trusted staff member. I created a word cloud for the discussion thread which led me to an unreported and unrelated sexual harassment incident. The theft case had everyone's attention, and an oblique reference in an email had gone unnoticed.

I don't claim word clouds are magic (keep in mind that word frequency doesn't always correlate with significance). But I do find that Wordle and similar visualization tools give me a different way of looking at text data that can be surprisingly useful.

Acceptance Research Report

USAID (through OFDA) has been funding a research project that looks at the role of acceptance in security management. While acceptance has long been part of the humanitarian security triad (along with protection and deterrence), its effectiveness has mostly been through anecdotal accounts. The Acceptance Research project is the first time academic rigor has been applied in determining if acceptance is indeed a viable strategy. Over a year's period, field research was conducted in Kenya, South Sudan, and Uganda. The conclusions aren't going to startle anyone who's been doing NGO security work for awhile (acceptance works), but the final report is worth reading and the toolkit is a great way to increase awareness of the value of acceptance within your organization. Kudos to Larissa Fast, Christopher Finucane, Faith Freeman, Michael O’Neill and Elizabeth Rowley for some great work.

Google Public Alerts

Google's Crisis Response Team just rolled out another application in its increasing collection of emergency-related tools. This one is called Google Public Alerts. It overlays real-time earthquake and hazardous weather information on Web-based Google Maps. At the moment, coverage is limited to the United States, but I have a sneaking suspicion it will eventually go international.

Safety Maps

Cartography (the art and science of making maps) has been democratized over the past five or so years. You no longer need to turn to a graphic designer, GIS technician, or cartographer when you need a map. Thanks to MapQuest, Google Earth, and a host of do-it-yourself map Web sites and programs, it's simple and easy for anyone to create a map.

Just because you have access to the tools though, doesn't necessarily mean you can produce National Geographic quality maps. There are a number of design rules you need to know to make top-notch, usable maps. Designers and map-makers who support the citizen cartographer movement are starting to become hip to this, and are offering user-friendly tools that non-designers can use to make professional quality maps.

An example of this is Safety Maps. This slick, free Web site allows you to create a map that tells where to meet during an emergency. You specify a location, write up instructions, and the site creates a PDF file map (based on Open Street Map data). Print the file, cut out the wallet-sized maps, and share them with friends, family, or co-workers (you can even have the site email a copy of the map to people). It's a great idea, executed quite well. And very applicable to humanitarian safety and security work. Check it out and spread the word...

Animated Safety and Security Training

RSM Consulting is offering some unique training on NGO safety and security issues. The learning material features animated, human-like characters facing a variety of challenges (abductions, fires, natural disasters, civil disturbances, and more). Check out a few samples here. While I can't vouch for the educational effectiveness, this is certainly an innovative (and perhaps cost-saving) approach.