The Field Support Service mission is to increase the safety and security knowledge and skills of both managers and staff of the United Nations security management system, to manage, prevent or reduce critical-incident stress and enhance the crisis management response and coordination of the UN Security Management System.

Training & Development

The Training and Development Section (TDS) develops the system-wide security training strategy for the organizations of the United Nations system. It designs and delivers standardized training for UN and associated personnel, security officers, Designated Officials, Security Management Teams and other members of the UN security management system. TDS also conducts needs assessments and post course evaluations to complete the training cycle and ensure that the training requirements of the UN Security Management System are met, and remain current.

Critical Incident Stress Management Unit

The Critical Incident Stress Management Unit (CISMU) is part of the United Nations Department of Safety and Security. Because UN security officers are often first responders during crises, they frequently encounter distressed staff members during emergencies. To address the needs of UN staff members and their eligible dependents in these difficult situations, CISMU serves as the focal point for the provision of emergency psychosocial support to UN staff members worldwide. CISMU is also responsible for coordinating and implementing the UN’s global stress management training programme.

Information Management Section

Information management capacity is an indispensable requirement in managing critical UN staff data and essential in crisis planning and management. IMS maintains a system-wide UN security management database and coordinates the many independent networks and infrastructures which draw from this data.

The section’s Security Information Management Systems provide such resources as the Integrated Security Clearance & Tracking (ISECT) system, a Travel Advisory repository, the Security Incident Reporting System (SIRS), and hosting of the Basic and Advanced Security in the Field training modules.

Crisis Management Support Unit (CMSU)

The Crisis Management Support Unit (CMSU) is located at the strategic level within Headquarters and works in close and permanent coordination with the headquarters units relevant for crises, such as the Threat & Risk, Compliance, and/or Policy units. CMSU's fundamental mission is to support the USG DSS, as Chairman of the Crisis Operations Group (COG), and the UN crisis managers worldwide to help them to handle the transition from regular response to crisis mode, while facilitating communication and preparing expectations from the strategic to the operational level. CMSU provides guidance to security management, reviews lessons learned and recommends adjustments to current crisis management planning, works to harmonize a standardized crisis management approach, and researches best practices for new innovations to share.The Unit is also the DSS focal point for the Organizational Resilience Working Group and Business Continuity.