Security collaboration is when organisations come together to share relevant information and address common concerns regarding the security of their staff, programmes, and organisations.
[toolbox-standout-box]What affects the security of one NGO will affect the security of others. Actively sharing security information and collaborating with other organisations improves the collective security of all.[/toolbox-standout-box]
There is no standard model for NGO security collaboration; mechanisms exist in many different forms, from a small group of NGO security staff sharing security information informally, through to a standalone organisation providing a broad range of security services to the NGO community including security information, analysis, technical assistance and training.
Despite several successes, it is challenging to establish security networks and forums. Although some mechanisms have proved successful in certain contexts, similar approaches tried elsewhere have struggled to get up and running.
If you are looking to establish a mechanism to strengthen collaboration on security in your location, there are several options to consider, depending on the needs of different NGOs in your specific context and the resources and capacity available.