Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week (HNPW)

18 April | 16:00-17:30 CEST | Data for Decision Making: how the humanitarian sector could be better served through collaboration and joint standards | Virtual

19 April | 13:00-14:00 CEST | Human Resources & Security Risk Management | Virtual

21 April | 14:00-15:30 CEST | Diverse Careers Within Security Risk Management | Virtual

21 April | 16:00-17:00 CEST | Building Better Together, Saving Lives Together: Nigeria case study | Virtual

25 April | 11:00-12:30 CEST | Organisational Culture and Power | In Person, Geneva

25 April |15:00-16:30 CEST | Inclusion in SRM: Putting Theory into Practice | Hybrid

26 April | 11:00-13:00 CEST | Interactive Security Training | In Person, Geneva

26 April | 14:00-15:00 CEST | Closed Session: Building a Collaborative Security Network | In Person, Geneva

26 April | 16:00-17:00 CEST | Does the Triple Nexus Compromise Security Risk Management in Fragile Contexts? | Hybrid

27 April | 14:00-15:00 CEST | Closed Session: How can Donors Better Support Staff Safety and Security for Humanitarian Personnel | Hybrid

What is HNPW?

The Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks (HNPW) is the annual event of the LEP and the largest event of its kind. Every year, the HNPW brings together more than 2000 experts in crisis preparedness and response from over 350 organisations and countries. Well-established Networks and Partnerships, such as INSARAG or UNDAC, but also newly created networks hold their annual meetings and consultations at the HNPW and collaborate in identifying solutions and solving common challenges in crisis preparedness and response. The event offers a space where LEP stakeholders meet annually to take stock, become inspired and build new coalitions.

The HNPW provides a unique forum for humanitarian networks and partnerships to meet and address key humanitarian issues. One of the largest humanitarian events of its kind, it gathers participants from the UN, NGOs, Member States, the private sector, the military, academia and beyond to discuss and solve common challenges in humanitarian affairs.

HNPW & GISF

In 2021, HNPW identified Integrating Security Risk Management Across Humanitarian Action as one of nine priority topics for the first time. Recognising the Global Interagency Security Forum’s (GISF) leading role in supporting collaboration on SRM and improving aid workers’ protection, GISF was selected to lead sessions on this critical topic.

In 2022, now under the Area of Common Concern (AOCC), GISF continued to lead on this topic at HNPW. Bringing together experts from across the aid world, GISF hosted nine virtual and face-to-face sessions in partnership with different actors and encouraged all humanitarians to join us and discuss how to keep aid workers safe and facilitate access for affected communities.

In 2023, GISF is partnering with UNHCR on Integrating Security Risk Management Across Humanitarian Action as part of the HNPW. We’ll be joined by experts from across the NGO sector, such as UNDSS, Women for Women International, CBM, Arete Business Performance, Duty of Care International, World Vision, Humanitarian Outcomes, Insecurity Insight, and WFP to explore the challenges to safe humanitarian action, and how individuals and organisations can work together to create a strong culture of security risk management (SRM) that enables aid workers to do their job safely.

We welcome all humanitarians to join our sessions and discuss how to keep aid workers safe and facilitate access to affected communities. SRM impacts all aspects of humanitarian action, and together, we will improve communication and coordination across the sector and identify how SRM must adapt to face current challenges.

Registration for HNPW is now open! To find out more, and register, click here. 

GISF-led Sessions

Week One | 17 – 21 April 2023 | Virtual

Data for Decision Making: how the humanitarian sector could be better served through collaboration and joint standards | Tue 18 April | Virtual | 16:00 – 17:30 CEST

Speakers:

• • • Abby Stoddard, Humanitarian Outcomes
    • Meriah-Jo Brackenridge, Humanitarian Outcomes

Summary: The increased use of data to inform humanitarian response and risk management has led to more evidence-based approaches and more accurate contextual reflections. The sharing of public humanitarian data by the UN, lNGOs consortia, and research entities has made this possible and helped to minimize duplicative data collection. At the same time, multiple overlapping or piecemeal datasets sometimes add more noise than illumination. The quality and relevance of humanitarian data is directly tied to who is able to access and contribute to it.

This session aims to demonstrate what is available in terms of live data on humanitarian needs, operational, and security conditions and shine a light on the gaps and challenges facing humanitarian users, and a way forward in terms of principles for collaboration and quality standards.

Human Resources & Security Risk Management | Wed 19 April | Virtual | 13:00 – 14:00 CEST

Speakers:

• • • Lisa Reilly, Independent Consultant
    • Christine Williamson, Duty of Care
    • James Davis, Women for Women International
    • Lisa Short, Arete Business Performance

Summary: Although the interplay between human resources and security may not be evident, integrating strong security risk management (SRM) practices into all aspects of the employee cycle is critical to ensuring staff safety. In this session, we will explore how security and HR staff can work together to build SRM into humanitarian operations by incorporating security responsibilities at all levels of the organisation.
Through three case studies, we will explore how NGOs have conceptualised the relationship between people management and security functions, the importance of adequate staff support in preventing security risks from materialising, and how implementing effective security practices helps organisations to achieve their duty of care towards employees.

Diverse Careers Within Security Risk Management | Fri 21 April | Virtual | 14:00 – 15:30 CEST

Speakers: TBC

Summary: Security risk management requires a security workforce that is technically proficient, diverse and inclusive. This session hosted by UNHCR and UN Women will explore how organisations have increased their inclusivity and diversity within the security workforce. The session will also highlight career development pathways of a range of security professionals.

Building Better Together, Saving Lives Together: Nigeria Case Study | Fri 21 April | Virtual | 16:00 – 17:00 CEST

Speakers: TBC

Summary: The Saving Lives Together (SLT) framework was established in 2005 by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) to improve security arrangements among the United Nations, international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) and international Organizations (IOs). Following extensive consultations, a revised SLT Framework was issued in October 2015, aiming to achieve a clear, more focused and systematic approach. Detailed SLT Implementation Guidelines were issued in July 2016.

This session will provide an update on the implementation of the SLT framework, highlighting good practices and challenges. UN and NGO staff based in Nigeria will share their experience with the practical implementation of SLT at field level.

Week Two | 24 – 28 April 2023 | In-person week, International Conference Centre (CICG), Geneva

Organisational Culture and Power | Tue 25 April | In Person | 11:00 – 12:30 CEST

Room: Pleniere C

Speakers:

• • • Christine Williamson, Duty of Care
    • James Davis, Women for Women International
    • Lisa Reilly, Independent Consultant

Summary: An organisational culture of power imbalance can have serious implications for security and safeguarding. The role of humanitarian security staff in addressing these imbalances and preventing and responding safeguarding incidents has not been adequately explored.

By delving into a number of anonymous safeguarding case studies, this session will explore how security professionals can work with leadership, safeguarding, and HR professionals to prevent power imbalances and establish an effective safeguarding framework.

Inclusion in SRM: Putting Theory into Practice | Tue 25 April | Hybrid | 15:00 – 16:30 CEST

Room: Salle Lausanne

Speakers: TBC

Summary: This session will address Inclusivity and Person Centered Approaches in Security Risk Management at a global and field level. While most people agree that this is the right approach to take to SRM, many struggle with what this means in practice.

Panelists will discuss the real life challenges they have faced, as well as the opportunities it has brought when taking a more inclusive approach. Good practices will be shared by both NGOs and the UN to demonstrate the necessity of inclusivity within SRM. Practical tools will be introduced to facilitate the implementation of a person-centred approach.

Interactive Security Training | Wed 26 April | In Person | 11:00 – 13:00 CEST

Room: Salle 14

Speakers:

• • • Conducttr
    • Lisa Reilly, Independent Consultant

Summary: Are your operations secure enough? Join us for an immersive live simulation!

Crisis management is an integral part of managing risks, but simulating the conditions for people to practice for that ‘just in case’ scenario is not always easy. How is your organisation planning for that worst case scenario? Are your teammates prepared enough?

Join our interactive live simulation to experience first-hand why you need to embed crisis response and security risk management into your operations.

In this realistic exercise, you will need to deal with a crisis. Your decisions have an impact on your team members and the populations they serve. Your goal will be to control the narrative, deal with public opinion, and make sure those in danger are helped on time.

Experience the consequences of your plans in a safe environment to understand the impact your actions would have in the real world.

Closed Session: Building a Collaborative Security Network | Wed 26 April | In Person | 14:00 – 15:00 CEST

Room: Salle 12

Summary: This is a closed session; more information will be released soon.

Does the Triple Nexus Compromise Security Risk Management in Fragile Contexts? | Wed 26 April | Hybrid | 16:00 – 17:00 CEST

Room: Salle 1

Speakers: TBC

Summary: The triple Nexus refers to the interlinkages between emergency relief, international development, and peacebuilding when and where appropriate. The Nexus continues long-running efforts to link humanitarian and development actions to peace efforts building long-term resilience, especially in protracted crises, complex emergencies, or situations of chronic vulnerability.

However, under the Nexus approach, there is a risk of compromising on humanitarian principles in favor of development or peace targets. In fragile settings where the Nexus approaches are employed, an integrated approach bringing together all humanitarian, development and peace actors should be implemented to ensure delivery of independent, neutral and impartial assistance to affected population while ensuring the safety and security of aid workers.

This session is expected to explore the challenges and opportunities that the Triple Nexus programming poses for Security Risk Management among implementing partners. Are agencies putting community acceptance at risk when they actively deliver on all three objectives? What does this mean for frontline aid workers’ security? How can humanitarian and development agencies work side by side on sensitive issues? Case studies from DR Congo and Ethiopia will be used to highlight some of the practical concerns and help us identify solutions.

Closed session: How can Donors better support staff safety and security for humanitarian personnel | Thu 27 April | Hybrid | 14:00 – 15:00 CEST

Room: Salle Vevey

Speakers: TBC

Summary: This is a closed session; more information will be sent to invitees.

To find out more about each individual session, please click the titles above, or check out our events page.

Steps to register for a session:

• • 1. Click the link above and follow instructions to register

Or

• • 1. Log in (or create an account)on the HNPW homepage;
    2. Select ‘Event Programme‘ on the navigation toolbar, where you can view the full HNPW event programme;
    3. To find any GISF event, you need to find ‘Priority Topics‘ in the filter selection on the left-hand side of the screen;
    4. Under ‘Priority Topics’ please select ‘Humanitarian Security’– this will filter to show you any registered GISF event;
    5. To register your attendancefor any event, please select ‘register‘ just to the left-hand of the session title;
    6. You will have the option to register, either face to face or virtually depending on the session; bookmark the event; or cancel your registration;
    7. When you select register, the ‘register’ button will change to ‘registered‘, and you will receive a confirmation emailfrom ‘no-reply@un.org’. 

If you have any questions on registration, please reach out to Megan (gisf-info@gisf.ngo)

Exhibition Stand

GISF will be having an in-person exhibition stand at HNPW this year, during the organised face-to-face at the International Conference Centre (CICG) in Geneva from the 24 – 28 April. If you are in Geneva, and attending HNPW, feel free to come and find us, and say hello to the team!

GISF are also scheduling some virtual exhibition stands, where you can drop in and speak to one of the GISF secretariat to find out more about GISF or ask any questions you may have. More information about these will be released soon. 

If you have any questions about GISF’s sessions, registration or HNPW, please reach out to Megan (gisf-info@gisf.ngo).