“SAF makes it possible to gain height on the activities. It is a tool that seems simple but where everything appears interrelated, in the sense that any action has an impact on others.”
Towards the end of 2017, the French Red Cross (FRC) – in light of new threats it was facing in the course of its activities – decided to integrate the Safer Access Framework (SAF) into its existing training programmes and response mechanisms. To that end, it asked the ICRC to organize a three-day ‘train the trainer’ workshop, which took place from 28 to 30 November 2017 and was facilitated by Catherine Marie Martin, the ICRC’s National Society capacity-building support adviser. The workshop featured participants from different teams from National Society headquarters: national emergency response managers, members of the Restoring Family Links teams in the field, training officers and managers, and the international department. The mix of teams involved (domestic and international) meant the participants were able to share ideas and learn from each other, as well as seek opportunities for complementarity, and thus break free from their ‘silos’.
Views were exchanged on issues of perception, acceptance, access and security in FRC operations. The SAF provided the participants with tools to evaluate and plan their responses more effectively, as well as to train their volunteers and staff who will be deployed in the field (domestically and overseas). During the workshop, each team developed an action plan to integrate SAF into training activities, adapted to the needs of each department – something the FRC sees as providing real added value for the organization.
The FRC also wants to see practical application of the SAF in its day-to-day activities and training programmes. One of the participants summed up the general opinion thus: “SAF makes it possible to gain height on the activities. It is a tool that seems simple but where everything appears interrelated, in the sense that any action has an impact on others.”
As a result of this training, the FRC has expressed an interest in organizing a round table with other European National Societies to strengthen integration of the SAF, especially in relation to migration activities, and to share experiences with one another.