{TESS+} is the primary global focal point for guidance and support on Security Communication Systems for the United Nations Security Management System and NGOs.
What’s new?
📣 {TESS+} has recently launched the Digital SCS Scorecard, a new online platform designed to offer intuitive navigation and clear visualization of UN Security Communications System (SCS) data. It is organized into four interactive dashboards, each providing progressively deeper levels of detail to help users explore global, regional, and country-specific SCS information. The Digital SCS Scorecard platform is open to personnel from UNSMS organisations. For instructions on how to register read the user guide which is published on UNSMIN and in the {TESS+} Restricted Library.
📣 {TESS+} has updated the technical standards for the UN Security Communications System (SCS) VHF/UHF radio networks document, supporting the United Nations Security Management System (UNSMS). Based on the 2019 UNDSS USG Communiqué and updated guidelines from 2020 and 2022, these standards apply to all new or extended UN SCS VHF/UHF networks. Special thanks to WIPO for assisting with the translation of these standards, which are now available in French and Spanish, along with the updated ICOM and Motorola radio programming manuals. Click here to get them.
📣 The {TESS+} Regional Training Programme was delivered in the Asia-Pacific (Bangkok), Central & West Africa (Dakar), Latin America & Caribbean (Panama), east Africa (Nairobi) and south Africa (Johannesburg) and North Africa and Middle east (Cairo) regions. The {TESS+} Regional Training Programme – held in six regions – concluded in June 2024. Through interactive sessions, including table-top exercises, participants expanded their knowledge and embraced the opportunity to network with like-minded professionals.
Missions –
Recent & Upcoming
March 2026: Digital SCS Scorecard (webinar)
Mar 2026: SCS assessment mission in Jamaica
Mar 2026: SCS apps: SCAAN & Everbridge (webinar)
Feb 2026: eTA/UNSMIN hands-on session (webinar)
Feb 2026: SCS assessment mission in Colombia
Jan 2026: Intro to eTA Command Centre (webinar)
webinars
{TESS+} webinar: Digital SCS Scorecard Platform
Date/time: 25 March 2026, 12PM UTC
To join the webinar: Registration required (UN personnel only)
Quiz link: To be confirmed
*Click here to access past {TESS+} webinars.
Scheduled trainings
Contact us at tess@wfp.org to discuss your SCS training needs.
Our story
Setup in 2018 at the request of the Inter-Agency Security Management Network (IASMN, chaired by UNDSS) and the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC, chaired by WFP), {TESS+} is an institutionalised service to the United Nations Security Management System (UNSMS) and NGO community. {TESS+} provides recommendations on the standardization of UN Security Communication Systems (SCS) in terms of connectivity, applications and procedures. A large part of the work of {TESS+} is to provide active field support, guiding and assisting the UNSMS in establishing pragmatic and cost-effective SCS solutions based on endorsed standards. Mandated by the IASMN and the ETC, and facilitated by the World Food Programme (WFP), {TESS+} works in collaboration with all UN entities, in consultation with NGOs (represented through the ETC), individual telecommunications and security professionals, academia, private and public sector.
{TESS+} conducts in-country technical missions to support UNDSS and ICTWGs to maintain their SCS
{TESS+} supports the UNSMS to standardise SCS implementations
Ensuring the safety and security of UN and NGO personnel is a basic requirement for all field operations.
{TESS+} in numbers:
132+
Missions conducted
105
Countries visited
by {TESS+} missions
2.5M $
Cost savings on
investment (annual)
81
Online webinars & trainings delivered by {TESS+}
8199
Participants joined {TESS+} webinars and trainings
{TESS+} resources:
- {TESS+} public library – open to everyone
- {TESS+} restricted library – open for registered UN personnel only. Register here: https://my.emergency.lu
- UNSMIN – {TESS+} page –strictly reserved for selected UN staff members with responsibilities in UNSMIN
- ETC website – {TESS+} page
- WFP website – {TESS+} page
- Remote Security Operations Centre (RSOC) factsheet
- {TESS+} Factsheet
- Motorola R5 Handheld Radio Testing Report – approved part of the Security Communications Systems
- Motorola R5 Firmware Upgrade Details
{TESS+} Online Community:
The {TESS+} Online Community is an informal virtual space to exchange ideas and discuss any topic related to the SCS and {TESS+}. It brings together all people interested in Telecommunications Security Standards or “{TESS+}” services. Currently the {TESS+} Online Community has more than 1400 members from various backgrounds including UN, NGO, private sector, academia, and more. We encourage all interested people to join the {TESS+} Online Community to receive the latest announcements from {TESS+} including updates to UN SCS standards, webinar invitations, and online and in-person training opportunities.
Membership is free and open to anyone interested in {TESS+} including personnel from UN entities, NGOs and the private/public/academic sector with a focus on those in ICT and security roles. Simply send an email to tess@wfp.org stating your name, organization and contact number and you will be added to the {TESS+} Online Community.
{TESS+} Telecommunications Security Standards 