Professor Sele

Senior Multi-Agency Operations Adviser | SafeHaven Strategies — Specialist Faculty

"When agencies work as one, the public is safe. When they work in silos, the gaps become vulnerabilities."

Module 2

Multi-Agency Coordination Structures

Professor Sele: Multi-agency coordination is not about who is in charge — it's about how organisations with different mandates, cultures, and capabilities work toward a shared outcome. That requires structure, not ego.

2.1 Why Multi-Agency Coordination Is Necessary

No single agency has all the resources, authority, or expertise required to manage complex public safety incidents. Without a coordination structure, each agency acts independently, creating duplicated effort, communication gaps, conflicting commands, and public confusion. Multi-agency coordination structures establish shared command, communication, and decision-making processes.

2.2 The Multi-Agency Coordination Centre (MACC)

A MACC is a facility or virtual platform where representatives from all responding agencies work together. The MACC does not replace on-scene command — it supports it. MACC functions include collecting and sharing situational information, allocating resources across agencies, coordinating public communications, facilitating strategic decision-making, and maintaining operational logs.

         STRATEGIC COMMAND
         (Senior Decision Makers)
                  │
         ┌────────┴────────┐
         │   MACC CORE     │
         │  Coordinator    │
         │  Liaison Reps   │
         │  Comms Officer  │
         └────────┬────────┘
    ┌─────────────┼─────────────┐
    ▼             ▼             ▼
  LNP           Medical      Private
 Liaison        Liaison      Security
                             Liaison

2.3 Unified Command vs. Single Command

In most major public safety operations in Liberia, a form of unified command is appropriate — particularly where LNP, AFL, and private security are all present.

Structure	Description	When Used
Single Command	One agency leads; others support	Routine incidents within one agency's mandate
Unified Command	Multiple agencies share command jointly	Complex incidents crossing agency jurisdictions
Area Command	Oversees multiple incidents in a region	Multi-site events or sustained operations

Key Points

•A MACC coordinates, supports, and facilitates — it does not replace on-scene command
•Unified command distributes leadership responsibility across agencies with joint authority
•Private security liaison officers are a legitimate part of multi-agency structures
•Documentation and communication logs are a critical MACC function

Field Note · Professor Sele

"During a major national event in Monrovia, SafeHaven was assigned a liaison officer to the joint security coordination cell. That officer's job was not to take orders from LNP — it was to keep both organisations informed. Every agency that contributed a liaison officer to the cell knew what the others were doing. Agencies that didn't were reacting rather than coordinating. Always send your best communicator as your liaison — not your most junior available officer."

Knowledge Check

What is the primary function of a Multi-Agency Coordination Centre (MACC)?