Security for Humanitarian Actors in Violent Environments (SHAVE)

The course “Security for Humanitarian Actors in Violent Environments” (SHAVE) is the online version of Strategic Edge’s flagship course known as VEPT™ (Violent Environment Preparedness Training). Both courses focus on security training for humanitarian personnel, enhancing their safety and security in hostile and violent environments, thereby building resilience and enabling the successful completion of their mission at reduced risks.

Not every organization is able to organize the 2-day intensive VEPT™ course, especially if they are in hostile locations constrained by access, logistics, and financial limitations.

SHAVE overcomes this challenge through an affordable online course, giving every humanitarian the chance to understand risk and mitigation, analyze their security situation, develop adaptation skills, and learn methods for tackling the challenges of the operational environment.

SHAVE offers the same benefits as the VEPT™, namely:

• Certified in the UK by the Institute of Training and Occupational Learning (ITOL), as will appear in your certificate.
• Developed by a team of field-experienced instructors and course developers.
• Abides by humanitarian principles and developmental aid guidelines and meets the ethical and moral standards expected of an aid agency or NGO.
• Rich in context-specific examples and exercises.
• Enables organizations to comply with the Minimum Operating Standards of Security (MOSS).
• Helps fund Strategic Edge frontline medics and health projects, such as in Ukraine, Iraq, and Syria.

About SEI:

Strategic Edge International, or SEI, is a Swiss social enterprise that focuses on safety and security for humanitarian aid workers in complex, low-resource, and high-risk environments. Based in Zurich and operational in the ASIA and MENA regions, SEI is a group of highly trained, experienced, and ready-to-deploy humanitarian security professionals. We are unique in that we maintain neutrality, impartiality, and independence. Since 2012, Strategic Edge International has served over 40 international NGOs and trained over 4,500 staff in Nepal, Philippines, Iraq, Syria, and Ukraine.

In 2018, we built the SEI Online Academy to make our courses available to humanitarians worldwide. The SEI Online Academy gained traction during the COVID-19 years, and its followers have continued to increase ever since.