V.

Safety and Security Assessment

The safety and security assessment is one piece of the overall country evaluation used to
determine the opening of a Peace Corps post, to determine if the safety and security
conditions in the country are conducive for the Peace Corps program to restart, and, if it is
restarted, is there reasonable certainty that the Peace Corps staff will be able to comply with
MS 270. The assessment also provides valuable information to both headquarters and post
staff.

The safety and security assessment will address the following issues:
• Overview of the current security situation in the country
o If appropriate, address any war/conflict history in the country that would affect the
Peace Corps program
o Review the current political situation, including elections.
• Current status of the following potential threats:
o Describe the level of crime in semi-urban/rural communities.
• Types of crime (assault, robbery, petty crime, banditry, etc.)
• Trends and patterns (frequency, locations, time, season, and targeting)
• Level of crime in the capital/urban settings
o Types of crime (assault, robbery, petty crime, banditry, etc.)
o Trends and patterns (frequency, locations, time, season, and targeting)
• Issues related to war or conflict
0 Landmines
0 Unexploded ordnance
0 Armed forces activities
0 Rebel forces/incursions
0 Border conflict
• History and/or potential threat of terrorism
o Identifiable groups (description)
o Acts of terror
o Trends and patterns (frequency, location, time season, and targeting)
o Counter-terrorism strategies
• Sectarian violence
o Ethnic or religious conflict
o Political violence
o Civil strife
• Travel
o General road conditions
o Public transport
o Night travel
o Driving habits
o Roadblocks/checkpoints
o Accidents (frequency, location, time, and season)
o Robberies (frequency, location, time, and season)
o Restricted roads/areas

• Trafficking (drugs, vehicles, persons, etc.)

o Characteristics (type, distribution and targeting)
o Identifiable gangs
o Associated violence
o Interdiction activities
• Security issues for women
o Sexual assault, rape
o Laws or customs that restrict women
o Limitation on movement/activities due to gender
• Type and dependability of communication systems
oLand lines/cellphones/satellite phones
o Radios
o Telegrams
o Mail service
o U.S. mission warden system
o Internet access
• Effectiveness of police/military
o Training
o Reliability
o Deployment
o Use of weapons
o Corruption
• Emergency preparedness and response
 o Types of disaster (natural disaster, fIre, nuclear)
o Monitoring capabilities
o Response capabilities
• Nongovernmental organizations (NGO), especially those with workers posted to the
fIeld are an excellent information source.
o What are their personal safety concerns (theft, assault, banditry, terrorism, etc.)?
o What are their existing security measures (policies/procedures, hiring practices, and
travel restrictions)?
o Describe any recent incidents involving staff or Volunteers.

The assessment team makes safety and security recommendations.

• IdentifIes any restrictions or conditions to placing Volunteers.
• IdentifIes security issues that need to be addressed prior to Peace Corps reentering the
country.
• IdentifIes local systems/safeguards already are in place that would lend themselves to
Volunteer support.

Much of this information can be obtained from the regional security offIcer, national and
local police, host country government officials, NGOs, international volunteer agencies,
vendors, taxi and bus drivers, etc. Please collect any documents and/or statistical
information on safety and security and attach this material to the assessment report.