Deciding whether or not to work overseas involves a combination of a probability-based risk assessment and thorough preparation. The recent attack on the Holey Artisan Café in an upmarket Dhaka suburb was one of the deadliest in Bangladesh and mostly hit overseas nationals. The café was one of the UK National Audit Office (NAO) team’s favourite places to eat and a few of its members had been there just a few days before. None of us wants to contemplate the worst, but such occurrences bring home the crucial importance of risk assessment and preparation for crisis management, writes Bob Shambler in a blog article.
What should you do to minimise risks? he asks.
First and foremost, listen to the locals – our friends and counterparts in the OCAG were often our best sources of how to live and work safely in Bangladesh.
Consult the FCO Foreign travel advice website for information about safety, terrorism, laws, health and other issues regarding the country you’re visiting; and register for email updates.
Ensure every member of the team is contactable in an emergency, including phones that operate internationally and contact details easily accessible by your colleagues at home. All personnel should keep their mobiles fully charged, switched on and with them at all times while abroad.
Have up-to-date maps and details of work locations – ensuring copies in secure locations.
Get all necessary inoculations.
Develop contingency plans, covering 24-hour contact with your colleagues at home, emergency evacuation processes, relocation arrangements, etc.
Establish robust and effective security arrangements.
Brief all personnel and run drills and crisis exercises.
Greater precautions may be appropriate and advice can be found on the FCO website.
Read the full blog at https://www.nao.org.uk/naoblog/managing-risk-overseas/.
