10 July 2014
DFID Security, Justice and Defence Programme in Libya: Securing a safer environment for our projects’ beneficiaries, as well as WYG employees
We are pleased to announce that we are partnering with Cardno Limited, Upper Quartile, Altai and KBR on a major new Department for International Development (DFID) contract in Libya. The contract is part of the UK's Security, Justice and Defence programme in Libya and is funded and overseen by DFID, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Ministry of Defence.
After 42 years of autocracy undermining the foundations of the state and society, Libya is in the process of re-building itself. Over the next 3 years, we will be supporting the Libyan authorities in providing more effective, accountable and sustainable security, justice and defence for its citizens to create a safer place for them to live in. The £28 million contract involves overseeing the training of police officers and judicial police and supporting reform in government ministries and courts. Other components of the programme will include management of weapons stockpiling and decommissioning.
With our increasing number of programmes in fragile and conflict affected states (FCAS), it is also important to ensure the safety of all our people involved in our projects.
Mick Allen, Group Security Manager, WYG, highlights the duty of care we have invested in:
''As a business we have taken the approach to invest heavily in the protection and safety of employees working in FCAS environments such as Libya. This investment commences as early as the bid stage through to winning the bid and then preparing personnel for deployment with internal and external training, medical equipments, GPS tracking devices, communication devices and 24/7 safety and security support.''
He added: “Does this sound like a big investment? It is. From a strategic to operational level the intent is to provide a structure and service level that allows employees’ safety and security to be second to none which not only supports individuals and the team but sets us apart from our peer group as being best in class, which its hoped we will capitalise on through further international development opportunities adding wider revenue streams to the business.”
Paul Hamer, CEO, is very pleased with the latest addition to our portfolio of large-scale projects:
"This contract win is a major achievement as it is the single largest stabilisation project in Libya tendered by DFID to date, demonstrating WYG's expertise and leadership in delivering critical, strategic programmes in fragile and conflict affected states over the past 20 years as well as its ability to create growth by working closely with globally recognised partners such as Cardno.''
He added: "It builds on our experience in delivering large scale and complex projects, which include the £68 million Infrastructure Projects Facility (IPF) in the Western Balkans, and positions us well to continue building on our key strength in fragile states by converting our strong pipeline of opportunities."
Deployment in Libya’s capital, Tripoli, began last month.
ENDS