GISF has produced a new publication with ILS to improve NGO security at the strategy and policy level
A robust security risk management (SRM) strategy is critical for any NGO to achieve its mission. But for too many organisations, such strategies don’t exist. Even when they are in place, strategies are often siloed within a single department. And they may receive limited engagement from senior leaders.
To address this challenge, the Global Interagency Security Forum (GISF) has partnered with International Location Safety (ILS) to produce a new publication – Security Risk Management (SRM) Strategy and Policy Development: A Cross-Functional Guide.
This resource is designed to help NGOs approach SRM at a strategic, policy development and organisational level. The document was authored by ILS Senior Consultant, Beth Chapman. Her co-authors were ILS staff, Nathan Toms and Hannah Eastwood. GISF produced this publication as part of a three-year cooperative agreement funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through ChildFund International.
The guide was developed from 19 key informant interviews. Participants included senior-level security managers from national and international humanitarian NGOs, key experts with experience in SRM in the humanitarian sector, and corporate and donor representatives. Five facilitated group workshops with senior-level security managers and two online surveys were also conducted. And, an in-depth literature review complemented this information with a final peer-led review of the resource.
The finished publication is targeted at staff with direct responsibility for developing and implementing organisational SRM strategies and policies. But it is also a critical resource for senior leaders.
“This new publication is fairly unique within GISF’s library of resources,” said Jon Novakovic, GISF’s Executive Director. “It’s not just for security specialists. Rather, it is targeted at all senior staff – to help them understand how security touches all areas of operations and should be embedded across all departments. We strongly encourage readers to share this new resource with senior management in their organisations. We believe that by involving CEOs and heads of departments in the security conversation we can make a real impact on aid worker safety on the ground.”
Accordingly, the publication has dedicated sections highlighting specific links between security departments and HR, finance, IT, communications, and more.
Alongside the guide, there is also a set of 12 tools. These include various templates to help senior leaders draft risk attitude statements, a theory of change, and much more.
“We are very excited to share these critical resources with the NGO community,” said Dimitri Kotsiras, GISF’s Research and Programmes Manager. “SRM is too often treated as a segregated area of operations within NGO functions. In fact, it is a key strategic enabler, that touches on all areas of an NGO’s work.
“We hope this new guide will help NGOs to improve their SRM policies and strategies across all departments. With improved security approaches in place, NGO staff will be safer in their work and better able to support the communities they serve.”
To access the new guide, please visit this dedicated page. Make sure you continue to check back as GISF develops translations of the publication in French, Spanish and Arabic.
If you have any feedback or questions, please email the GISF team at research@gisf.ngo.