Manu Samuel Seth is a computer scientist and data analyst and works for Jireh Doo Foundation (JDF) as the Senior Programme Officer in Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL). Manu has worked as the MEAL officer on the Nigeria Joint Response (NJR), a consortium of 12 organisations aiming to provide holistic support to vulnerable populations in northeast Nigeria. He is currently the NJR MEAL Community of Practice lead, and a member of the Community Engagement and Accountability Working Group. Manu is also coordinating the Federal Government’s World Bank Assisted Third Party Monitoring activities for JDF in Nasarawa and Kwara states. He has a passion for designing and implementing systems that make life and work easier and better for humanity. Truth, honesty, transparency, loyalty and relationships are core values for Manu. He is interested in books, music, writing, travelling and poetry.
Manu Samuel Seth is giving us an overview of the risk assessment and management tool developed by the RSH Nigeria team, and top tips on how to make the most of it. Download the risk assessment and management tool and the guidance on our page here. To view the recording and slides of the Live Q&A on the risk assessment and management tool, click here!
RSH: Could you give us a brief explanation about the risk assessment and management tool?
I see the risk assessment and management tool as a tool to help an organisation identify potential risks and put necessary measures in place to avoid or mitigate these risks.
It’s the perfect tool to use on a safeguarding journey as it gives an organisation the opportunity to protect people who come in contact with their services from harm that is likely to be caused by an organisation’s operation, activities, programming or staff and associates.
The tool X-rays different potential risks areas, the causes and how they relate to the organisation and what realistic measures the organisation can put in place to mitigate those risk within a particular timeframe.
It is also a tool that you could always refer to over time to check your progress against planned activities you have outlined to carry out.
RSH: What do you like about the tool?
The tool gives organisations a broader understanding of the different risk areas which they may have overlooked in the past as potential risks. It also serves as a guide for organisations to using the safeguarding lens throughout a project life cycle. I also like that it encourages strategic thinking.
RSH: How do you or your organisation plan to use this tool in the future?
JDF as an organisation plans to use the tool as a measuring and evaluation reference. The risk assessment and management tool will be administered at fixed intervals, to check if the organisation has made progress in planned risk mitigation measures, and if those risks are still prevalent or not. This will help the organisation to have a robust and up-to-date risk assessment and management tool with the overall goal of protecting communities of intervention from harm.
RSH: Do you have any recommendations for other civil society organisations on using the risk assessment and management tool?
When filling the risk assessment and management tool, firstly ensure that each risk identified if prevalent in your sphere of work. If it is, then proceed to define how it affects your work, then brainstorm on the measures you need to put in place.
Also ensure that you have all sectors you are implementing in adequately represented in the process, the more persons, the more perspective and the better outcome.
Do not entrust this task to a few persons in the organisation, all hands must be on deck.
Set realistic timelines and ensure to have review meetings when these timelines have elapsed.
Remember, the goal is not to have a “clean slate” where no risks are identified, but to know the risks and be better positioned to stop them from occurring or to respond should they occur.
