Briefing Paper on SPU Payment Increment

1.

Background
The Governments of Somaliland with the encouragement and financial support from the donor and the United Nations
Country Team have established a Special Protection Unit (SPU) tasked with providing compound security and the escort
security for the international community including humanitarian and development actors.
SPU is established in Somaliland in 2004 and all processes and procedures are equal for both Somaliland and Puntland, to be
further referred to as Government Authorities (GA).
UN and INGO security focal points will interface between SPU and agencies who are requesting SPU services. All requests
should channel through the UN and INGO security focal points of the respective area.
SPU Functions and Services:
The functions of the SPU are to provide host government police protection to the international community, humanitarian
and development actors. SPU operations are designed to ensure the ability of international community implement
humanitarian and development activities. The following SPU services was providing on the request of the agencies/actors.
1) Static Security on 24/H basis to UN/INGO staff residences and offices as required;
2) Armed escort teams to UN/INGO missions in country;
3) Quick response capacity during an emergency situation as required;
4) Mobile security patrol services to UN/INGO staff residences and offices.
Accident and Injury Liability:
Referring to the letter of agreements (LoA) between the Governments and UNDP, the GA are liable for any claims such as
but not limited to, illness, injuries, death and property loss or damage arising while performing their duties. Any claim made
directly to organizations was forwarded to the GA concerned through the UN or INGO security focal points for resolution.
SPU Operations:
The SPU is composed of graduates from Police Training Academy (Mandeera ) with specialized training for the specific tasks
as a protective police unit. SPU is part of the Somaliland Force but will have their own command and control structure
operating under the direct command of Commissioners of Police. The SPU operations was coordinating through an SPU
Operations rooms,
Access to SPU services:
All NGOs have access to SPU services, but services are limited to international staff only.
Static Guard Service:
All agreed UN and INGOs been eligible to have armed SPU static guards for the office and residential compounds. The
number of SPU personnel will be determined by the UN Field Security Coordinating Officer and INGO Security Coordinating
Office based on security risk assessments (SRA) as part of residual risk mitigation. Request should be submitted through
them to the SPU Commander for allocation of officers.
No payment should be paid to officers on static guard details, as their financial allowances are born by the LOA between the
Government and the UNDP until a new modality of service and service payment is put in place.
Following facilities should be made available for SPU officers on static duty in their duty locations.
1) Guard House with bedding facility outside the compound (where stand-by personnel can rest);
2) Toilet facility;
3) Access to drinking water;
4) Location for praying.
SPU officers on static guard duty were not performing the duties of a watchman. Watchman duties are:
1) Opening /closing gates;
2) Inspection of identification of officers;
3) Recording visitors in to register;
4) Escorting visitors;
5) Internal inspection and patrols of compound;
6) Directing vehicles for inspection;
7) Liaise with SPU guards regarding security breaches, suspicious vehicles or persons.

2.

Concerns experienced by the SPU users particularly INGO

No minimum Standard of SPUs are not in place

Somaliland NGO Consortium/NSP: Emails rfpsl@somaliangoconsortium.org / yusuf@nspsomalia.org.

Briefing Paper on SPU Payment Increment

3.

The European Commission indicated that it will not continue financial support to service delivery of SPU through
st
UNDP from 1 January 2011 onwards.
UNDP has discussed and implemented in January 2010 direct payments of SPU services by UN Agencies Funds and
Programms through the country team cost-shared budget. It has enhanced its financial management of SPU
related funds; including the introduction of a strict validation process of escort services delivered to INGOs and
has introduced a complaints register.
Monitoring SPU officers assigned to provide services to the INGO,s increased the risk of exposure of the SPU
serves user to pressure, additional financial demands or criminal intentions/actions from SPU officers
Frequent change of SPU without consultation of the organization
Luck of SPU payment standard within INGO community
Suspicion of corruption and graft of SPU related funds has been signaled and reported
Created dependency on INGO
It is suspected that SPU static and escort guards do not carry with them enough ammunition( bullets)
The gap between service delivery and payment (4 weeks for static guarding, 8 weeks for escort DSA) is a serious
issues
SPUs are not available on holidays
During missions, SPU are not trained on convey management and sometime SPU vehicles left behind the mission
vehicle.

SPU Technical Working Formation.

SPU STWG is voluntary body formed to response the challenges encountered by the SPU users and based on the
challenges
Experienced by the NGOs STWG assigned to:
3.1 Provide advice on better management and utilization of SPU duties in consultation with national authorities, UN
agencies, NGOs, and Donors
3.2 Consult with relevant stakeholders and recommend actions on security and safety as appropriate and make
recommendations on implications for SPU arrangements.
3.3 Exchange information, share expert opinions, harmonize approaches and develop collaborative/joint
monitoring/reporting mechanisms for Government institutions, UN, NGOs, and Donors
3.4 Ensure, in full cooperation with the Somaliland authorities that safety and security issues are properly addressed and
reviewed on the ways to improve them

The STWG is composed by;

4.

5.

1. UN Area Security Coordinator (ASC), who is the Chairperson;

2. SPU Commander;
3. UNDSS FSCO;
4. NSP Area Manager and NGO Consortiums Regional Focal Point
5. EU Head of Office
6. DANIDA Head of Office
7. DFID Head of Office
8. UNDP Civilian Police Project Area Manager (for specific aspects related to capacity building
Reasons behind the position papers on SPU new management.
th
On 14 February 2015, the ministry of interior circulated a letter to all SPU users to continue the payment of $80 stipends
for each office in their compound and pay extra $120 per each officer working for the INGO, in order to substitute police
force working with INGO for the purpose of recruiting new police force.
The STWG and NSP/Somaliland NGO Consortium had different meetings with different stake holders including donors at the
ground to analysis the impact of this proposal to humanitarian programs as well as staff. The meetings were not productive
th
due to difference of decision making levels and perceptions toward the ministrys letter. In this regard, on Sunday 29
March 2015, Consortium monthly meeting present members decided to draft position letter with recommendation.
Here are recommendations raised by the Consortium members to sign.
1. Somaliland Government is fully responsible to save guard the INGO operating in Somaliland

Somaliland NGO Consortium/NSP: Emails rfpsl@somaliangoconsortium.org / yusuf@nspsomalia.org.

Briefing Paper on SPU Payment Increment

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

The previous MOU have to sign by the government to ensure safety and security of the development organization to
minimize the possible risks
Mechanism of payment should be reviewed and common understanding of the modalities of the new arrangement is
needed by all partners.
NGO to finalize on whether to agree on the payment of 120 per static guard as requested and as per circular from the
ministry
Adapting the new mechanism will require time to budget, donor agreement and restructuring of the system
There are certain situations that an NGO does not need SPU Escort (Somali staff with international contracts) and that
policy of forcing escort has to be reviewed to minimize the coast on case by case basis.

Here are the signatories

1. NRC
2. CARITAS
3. THET
4. CCM
5. MERCY USA
6. ACTIONAID
7. CARE INTERNATIONAL
8. DRC
9. WORLD VISSION
10. CONCERN W/W
11. COOPI
12. PROGRESSIO

Somaliland NGO Consortium/NSP: Emails rfpsl@somaliangoconsortium.org / yusuf@nspsomalia.org.