A week in the desert

I've (Ross) just returned from a week in the Jordanian desert, where I participated in a security training course run in co-operation with World Vision, the UN and the Jordanian military.  Security has become a significant issue for aid workers and NGOs, particularly as past approaches of 'community acceptance' as the primary strategy for security protection have been increasingly challenged in places like Afghanistan and Iraq.  Carrying a UN flag is no longer a signal of neutrality and impartiality, and in fact can actually have the opposite effect in some contexts.  This is, unfortunately, evidenced by the increasing number of attacks on the UN and also NGOs in various parts of the world.   

We spent a week in the desert being shot at, kidnapped and detained, harassed at hostile checkpoints and generally challenged in terms of how organisations can effectively manage their risks in complex operating environments.  We had about 30 participants on the course, drawn from countries all across the region.  There were some interesting cross-learning opportunities between participants and instructors, especially given some of the places where participants were from, and the daily risks and security issues they face eg. Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Iran, Bosnia and Georgia. All in all some remarkable people, and I feel privileged to be able to work with them. 

Downtown Amman

It was also good to spend some time in Amman, where World Vision has an office and program working primarily with Iraqi refugees.  Jordan is a relatively stable country in the Middle East, largely due to strong support from the broad population for the King Abdullah and royal family.  It's a country with enormous economic disparity though, and it's interesting to see how the current Middle East 'spring' is impacting even Jordan.  Whilst I was there, two very large protests occurred after Friday prayers in Amman, and these are a now a regular occurrence in various parts of the country.  World Vision and other NGOs in Jordan are preparing for a possible influx of refugees from Syria, where the political and social situation is highly volatile and may further deteriorate.  Syrian refugees are already arriving in the northern parts of Lebanon. World Vision has a number of long-term development projects in north Lebanon and has mobilised an emergency response to support the influx of refugees.


Managing the balance between effective long term development with a capability to respond quickly to emerging crises is one of the key challenges for World Vision and other NGOs working in this part of the world.  Lots of internal organisational issues as well as external challenges to manage in order to get this dynamic right.