{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 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. The {TESS+} Regional Training Programme is a transformative learning experience focused on building regional knowledge bases to support SCS field activities. Participants who joined the technical and security weeks provided us with invaluable feedback, affirming the value and impact of the regional training programme. We are proud to continue our mission of strengthening the capacity of personnel who design, operate and manage UN Security Communication Systems (SCS). We look forward to planning further regional trainings in 2025 and beyond!
Missions –
Recent & Upcoming
Jan 2026: Intro to eTA Command Centre (webinar)
Dec 2025: {TESS+} Year in Review (webinar)
Nov 2025: Crisis Management Training in Senegal
Nov 2025: RSOC technical mission in Somalia
webinars
Next {TESS+} webinar: eTA Command Center
Date/time: 28 January 2026, 11:30AM UTC
To join the webinar: MS Teams link
Quiz link: click here
*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 