World Humanitarian Day is held on 19 August each year, commemorating the devastating 2003 Canal Hotel bombing in Baghdad, Iraq. This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by humanitarians. Two decades later, we are…
We all know climate change is catastrophic. In the past few weeks alone, we’ve read the figures and seen the pictures of wildfires still ongoing in Greece, more fires spreading into the US from Canada,…
Dan Ford recently went on a research trip to the Central African Republic as a research assistant for a project co-run by GISF and Humanitarian Outcomes. This research is part of a larger project that is expected to be published…
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) can become targets for various reasons. While NGOs are typically driven by noble causes and engage in humanitarian or developmental work, there are certain factors that may make them vulnerable to targeting, including perceived influence, access to…
From content to collaboration, the 2023 GISF Spring Forums in Ottawa and Eschborn were filled with dynamic discussions. Across over 10 sessions, participants dove into the latest debates on HEAT training, the role of climate change in shaping…
Professionally, Baghdad always left me exhausted and confused. In my function as regional security advisor for a diplomatic representation, I visited the city on multiple occasions in the late 2010’s – assigned with the challenging task of assessing…
Insurance is a mechanism for transferring risk. Part of the feasibility study for any project should address all identifiable risks and allocate these into acceptable, transferable, and unacceptable. By taking out an insurance policy, we deal…
What are humanitarian access impediments? Humanitarian access impediments are any obstacles or restrictions that hinder the ability of humanitarian agencies to provide assistance or prevent crisis-affected populations from accessing services and protection. Access constraints can…
This year, International Women’s Day is campaigning for people everywhere to ‘embrace equity’. We spoke to some of our members and other humanitarians about what equitable security risk management (SRM) looks like, and why it is essential to enable safe,…
The threats facing the humanitarian and development sector For organisations working in fragile or conflict states, the risks from cyber-attacks are even more acute and consequential. A pattern of attacks suggests growing evidence of authoritarian governments…