The GISF Podcast - Global Interagency Security Forum

About this Episode: In this Episode, we are joined by Ziad Al Achkar, Ph.D. Candidate and Researcher at the Carter school for peace and conflict resolution to discuss his research that focuses on the use of digital technologies and remote sensing by humanitarian and peacebuilding organisations. Ziad shares his insights on the trending technologies we need to know about in the sector, key areas of humanitarian technologies that security staff should focus on that can help keep aid workers safe, as well as opportunities to better bridge the divide between IT security experts and physical security experts. We further explore technologies impact on safe access to enable acceptance and analyze the implications of mis-and-disinformation. You can access a transcript for this episode on the GISF website, here: https://www.gisf.ngo/resource/evolving-ngo-security-risk-management-ep4-the-intersection-of-technology-and-human-security-gisf-podcast/ About this Series: Welcome to the official launch of GISF’s new Evolving NGO Security Risk Management (SRM) podcast series. We invite you to follow along and not miss an episode of this dynamic series by subscribing to The GISF Podcast on your preferred listening platform, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts. This podcast series ’Evolving NGO Security Risk Management’, looks at the innovations, transformative developments, and dynamic trends facing the humanitarian and development sector. We have elected to explore the facets of ‘Evolving NGO SRM’, to unpack the changing environments, practices, discussions, and technical considerations impacting the safety and security of aid workers and operations. These conversations are enriched by expert guests spanning security professionals, humanitarians, and more. In an ever-changing humanitarian and development space, we ask what does the security and safety of aid workers look like? And what might it look like in the future? Join us as we unpack the evolutions of NGO security risk management.

About this Episode: 'Humanitarians operating in conflict settings seek to cultivate relationships with armed actors to enable humanitarian access, mitigate humanitarian insecurity, and promote civilian protection'. In this episode, Rob Grace delves into some of the operational challenges of humanitarian notifications systems (HNS) and their effectiveness by providing a historical overview and discussing how we may see humanitarian organisations use these systems in the future. You will also hear about Rob’s interesting journey that led him to explore HNS. ‘For the purposes of this conversation, humanitarian notification systems are mechanisms by which humanitarian organisations share geographic coordinates, with parties to armed conflict [concerning the locations of humanitarian] activities. With the ideal result being that fewer humanitarian organisations are accidentally struck or impacted by military activity... in volatile environments, such as armed conflict settings.’ (HNS)—also sometimes called ‘humanitarian deconfliction’ or ‘humanitarian notification systems for deconfliction’ (Rob Grace, Brown University). To further explore HNS you can also read Rob's blog on GISF's website here: https://www.gisf.ngo/resource/evolving-ngo-security-risk-management-ep3-humanitarian-notification-systems-unpacking-the-complexities-and-possibilities-gisf-podcast/ You can access a transcript for this episode on the GISF website, here: https://www.gisf.ngo/resource/evolving-ngo-security-risk-management-ep3-humanitarian-notification-systems-unpacking-the-complexities-and-possibilities-gisf-podcast/ About this Series: Welcome to the official launch of GISF’s new Evolving NGO Security Risk Management (SRM) podcast series. We invite you to follow along and not miss an episode of this dynamic series by subscribing to The GISF Podcast on your preferred listening platform, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts. This podcast series ’Evolving NGO Security Risk Management’, looks at the innovations, transformative developments, and dynamic trends facing the humanitarian and development sector. We have elected to explore the facets of ‘Evolving NGO SRM’, to unpack the changing environments, practices, discussions, and technical considerations impacting the safety and security of aid workers and operations. These conversations are enriched by expert guests spanning security professionals, humanitarians, and more. In an ever-changing humanitarian and development space, we ask what does the security and safety of aid workers look like? And what might it look like in the future? Join us as we unpack the evolutions of NGO security risk management.

About this Episode: As GISF’s Executive Director Lisa Reilly bids farewell to GISF and moves onto the next chapter of her career, she reflects on her experiences in the humanitarian and security sector. From the critical need for inclusivity and a person-centered approach to security, to breaking down silos across departments and the changing expectation/requirements of what it means to be a security manager, this episode unpacks how the security and humanitarian sector has evolved throughout her career. In this episode, Lisa Reilly reflects on her journey that led her to become GISF’s Executive Director by providing personal insights into how the security and humanitarian sector has evolved throughout her career. About the Series: This podcast series ’Evolving NGO Security Risk Management’, looks at the innovations, transformative developments, and dynamic trends facing the humanitarian and development sector. We have elected to explore the facets of ‘Evolving NGO SRM’, to unpack the changing environments, practices, discussions, and technical considerations impacting the safety and security of aid workers and operations. These conversations are enriched by expert guests spanning security professionals, humanitarians, and more. In an ever-changing humanitarian and development space, we ask what does the security and safety of aid workers look like? And what might it look like in the future? Join us as we unpack the evolutions of NGO security risk management. You can access a transcript for this episode on the GISF website, here:https://www.gisf.ngo/resource/evolving-ngo-security-risk-management-ep2-reflections-from-gisfs-executive-director-10-years-with-gisf-gisf-podcast/

In this episode, Mila Shutova (Christian Aid) unpacks some of the challenges facing security managers operating in complex environments, including the importance of historical understanding, community engagement, neutrality of information, and the importance of self-care. This podcast series ’Evolving NGO Security Risk Management’, looks at the innovations, transformative developments, and dynamic trends facing the humanitarian and development sector. We have elected to explore the facets of ‘Evolving NGO SRM’, to unpack the changing environments, practices, discussions, and technical considerations impacting the safety and security of aid workers and operations. These conversations are enriched by expert guests spanning security professionals, humanitarians, and more. In an ever-changing humanitarian and development space, we ask what does the security and safety of aid workers look like? And what might it look like in the future? Join us as we unpack the evolutions of NGO security risk management. You can access a transcript for this episode on the GISF website, here: https://www.gisf.ngo/resource/gisf-podcast-evolving-ngo-security-risk-management-e1-insights-from-a-security-manager-managing-operations-in-complex-environments/

Last year, GISF released a host of innovative resources facilitating the professionalisation of SRM, held conversations on making security practices more inclusive, and returned to face-to-face opportunities for shared learning. In this podcast, members of the GISF Secretariat reflect on some of their favourite moments from 2022 and the projects they are excited for in the coming year.

In this episode, Javeria Ayaz Malik unpacks the qualities and qualifications it takes to be a security manager of today, and examines how we can improve the security sector by amplifying good inclusive practices. This podcast series explores the elements of inclusive security, what it is, and what it looks like in the humanitarian context. These conversations are enriched by expert guests spanning security professionals, humanitarians, and more.

While anti-discrimination practices and legislation exist, the extent to which these are interpreted and lineally applied to all staff can raise challenges. This episode explores reflections on the dynamic challenges facing organisations and opportunities to improve inclusive SRM practices. This podcast series explores the elements of inclusive security, what it is and what it looks like in the humanitarian context. These conversations are enriched by expert guests spanning security professionals, humanitarians, and more.

This episode focuses on inclusive psychological safety featuring guest speaker, Mo Ali, Coach & Co-founder of The Innovation. Links: The Innovation communityUnleashing your inner leader programmeBAME, Ethnic Minorities, BIPOC - Which Terms To Use and WhyAnti-racism activists urge aid groups to improve monitoring and examine workplace culturesHalf aid workers report racism at work in past year - pollIf we want to build more inclusive cultures, we need to get comfortable talking about race.What is white privilege? Books: This series explores inclusivity through the lens of security risk management (SRM). It can be said that inclusivity is at the heart of successful SRM. Organisations have a responsibility to provide a duty of care to all staff. They must take all reasonable measures to protect their staff from foreseeable risks, including those that emerge due to an aid worker’s personal characteristics such as, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, disabilities, sexual orientation etc. Security professionals need to have a comprehensive understanding of how personal identities and characteristics can impact personal security. This knowledge should be integrated into security polices and approaches so that they are inclusive and effective for all. While it is important to design and create inclusive security policies and practices, operationalising inclusivity can come with challenges. What do security mangers need to know? How can they stay up to date and ultimately keep producing and designing inclusive security procedures? This podcast series explores the elements of inclusive security, what it is and what it looks like in the humanitarian context. These conversations are enriched by expert guests spanning security professionals, humanitarians, and more.

This episode focuses on inclusive security at the UN featuring guest speaker, Catherine Plumridge from the UN Department of Safety & Security. This series explores inclusivity through the lens of security risk management (SRM). It can be said that inclusivity is at the heart of successful SRM. Organisations have a responsibility to provide a duty of care to all staff. They must take all reasonable measures to protect their staff from foreseeable risks, including those that emerge due to an aid worker’s personal characteristics such as, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, disabilities, sexual orientation etc. Security professionals need to have a comprehensive understanding of how personal identities and characteristics can impact personal security. This knowledge should be integrated into security polices and approaches so that they are inclusive and effective for all. While it is important to design and create inclusive security policies and practices, operationalising inclusivity can come with challenges. What do security mangers need to know? How can they stay up to date and ultimately keep producing and designing inclusive security procedures? This podcast series explores the elements of inclusive security, what it is and what it looks like in the humanitarian context. These conversations are enriched by expert guests spanning security professionals, humanitarians, and more.

We are excited to release the second episode of GISF’s new Inclusive Security Podcast Series. This episode focuses on a operationalising inclusivity featuring guest speaker Araba Cole from the International Rescue Committee (IRC). This series explores inclusivity through the lens of security risk management (SRM). It can be said that inclusivity is at the heart of successful SRM. Organisations have a responsibility to provide a duty of care to all staff. They must take all reasonable measures to protect their staff from foreseeable risks, including those that emerge due to an aid worker’s personal characteristics such as, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, disabilities, sexual orientation etc. Security professionals need to have a comprehensive understanding of how personal identities and characteristics can impact personal security. This knowledge should be integrated into security polices and approaches so that they are inclusive and effective for all. While it is important to design and create inclusive security policies and practices, operationalising inclusivity can come with challenges. What do security mangers need to know? How can they stay up to date and ultimately keep producing and designing inclusive security procedures? This podcast series explores the elements of inclusive security, what it is and what it looks like in the humanitarian context. These conversations are enriched by expert guests spanning security professionals, humanitarians, and more.

We are excited to announce the upcoming official launch of GISF’s New Inclusive Security Podcast Series. We invite you to follow along and not miss an episode of this dynamic series by subscribing to The GISF Podcast on your preferred listening platform, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts. This new Inclusive Security Series explores inclusivity through the lens of security risk management (SRM). It can be said that inclusivity is at the heart of successful SRM. Organisations have a responsibility to provide a duty of care to all staff. They must take all reasonable measures to protect their staff from foreseeable risks, including those that emerge due to an aid worker’s personal characteristics such as, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, disabilities, sexual orientation etc. Security professionals need to have a comprehensive understanding of how personal identities and characteristics can impact personal security. This knowledge should be integrated into security polices and approaches so that they are inclusive and effective for all. While it is important to design and create inclusive security policies and practices, operationalising inclusivity can come with challenges. What do security mangers need to know? How can they stay up to date and ultimately keep producing and designing inclusive security procedures? This podcast series explores the elements of inclusive security, what it is and what it looks like in the humanitarian context. These conversations are enriched by expert guests spanning security professionals, humanitarians, and more. This episode focuses on a person-centered approach featuring guest speakers, Pegah Rajabi and Jean-Philippe Kiehl.

This episode highlights the ongoing and unique challenges faced by many security managers this year. "2020 … it’s not just a year it’s a phenomenon’. Vita Peake Associate Manager of Global Security for Population Services International (PSI), aptly describes the impactful year many have experienced. From the dramatic impact of Covid-19 to the evolving intersection of gender and diversity, we take a moment and reflect on how one security manager and their team embraced the events of this year.

As security managers increasingly contend with evolving and compounding crises, at the intersection of pre-existing security risks sits a climate crisis. In this episode we speak with Emma Villard, Global Duty of Care Project Lead and Campaigns Operation Security Advisor for Green Peace International to consider the role security managers can play in better understanding, forecasting and mitigating climate change risks.

Since its inception, humanitarian security risk management has developed rapidly. In recent years, the profession has evolved from the ‘compounds and barbed wire’ activities it used to be known for, shifting to include staff safeguarding, wellbeing, digital security and more. In 2020, a year that seems to define ‘compounding crises’, the profession has been forced to change yet again. NGO security risk managers can now add health and safety and domestic security risk management to their ever-growing repertoires. In this episode, we speak with Andrew Kirkham, Corporate Security Manager for Christian Aid, to unpack the ever-changing trajectory of the NGO security risk management profession.

For some, the digitisation of the humanitarian sphere is a crisis. For others, it’s a door to a world of unforeseen opportunities. Whatever way you look at it, digitisation has the potential to present real risks to NGOs and their staff. After dozens of NGOs were hit by a hack on a large US fundraising database in July, the message has been clear; don’t wait until an incident happens to improve your digital security. While the scope of security risk management continues to grow, encompassing safeguarding, wellbeing and many more non-traditional components, it’s understandable that those in security roles might prefer to leave digital security to their IT colleagues. As ACT Alliance’s Global Security Advisor, James Davis, explains, with such complex security and reputational threats at play in the digital sphere, security risk managers cannot afford to put these issues on the side-lines. ‘All of us… who have anything to do with risk… really need to start looking at, not so much the technical detail around digital risk, but what are the implications of this massive digital footprint we have?’ In this episode, we explore some of the digital risks that NGOs and their staff face in the modern world, and how and why security risk managers might begin to tackle them.

In the first episode of Compounding Crises, the third GISF Podcast series, we speak to Léa Moutard, GISF’s Research Advisor. Since joining GISF in August 2019, Léa has been managing a pioneering new research project on Partnerships and Security Risk Management: from the local partner’s perspective. In recent years, limited access and growing risks have meant that more and more international NGOs collaborate with local and national NGOs to implement humanitarian responses. With the travel restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, international NGOs’ reliance on local partners is likely to increase, while renewed attention to the localisation agenda has already been sparked. GISF’s upcoming project places the local perspective at the forefront and is one of the first pieces of research to focus entirely on security risks within NGO partnerships. Based on a series of case studies, interviews and questionnaires, the project seeks to raise awareness of the security issues faced by local partners, challenge common understandings of ‘risk transfer’, and encourage greater dialogue on security risk management between partner organisations. The first phase of the project, a research paper aimed at exploring the attitudes, experiences and needs of local NGOs in terms of security risk management, will be released in Autumn 2020. In 2021, a good practice guide building on the research findings will be developed to support both local and international NGOs partners in sharing responsibility for security risks. To open GISF’s latest podcast series, in this episode, we discuss the state of security risk management within NGO partnerships, in an era of compounding crises.

In this one-off podcast, Tara Arthur, GISF’s Projects and Membership Officer (Americas) speaks to Heather Hughes, GISF’s Deputy Director. Since February, Heather has been leading GISF’s activities on COVID-19. During this short release, Tara and Heather discuss some of the challenges the humanitarian security risk management community is facing and has faced in the COVID-19 world. Prior to joining GISF, Heather worked in a range of roles within the humanitarian sector - including working as the first-ever Global Security Manager at Oxfam GB. Learn more about Heather and Tara. Look out for GISF’s new podcast series, Compounding Crises, which will begin later this summer. This podcast series explores the diverse and compounding challenges facing the humanitarian community through the lens of security risk management. Humanitarians share their perspectives and advice for navigating shifting challenges. Relevant links discussed during the episode: · GISF’s collection of COVID-19 resources are available on our website · Recovery & Wellness, COVID-19: Operating Considerations for US Based International NGOs is available now · Over the coming months, GISF will be releasing a series of modular guidance notes for security managers dealing with the impact of COVID-19 · All of GISF’s existing resources are available on our website

In this episode of the Humanitarian Incidents podcast we speak to Frances Nobes, Security Operations and Research Analyst for World Vision International. Frances discusses what we mean when we talk about ‘analysis’, why it matters, and the role incident information can play in it, as well as some of the common challenges that analysts face and ways for organisations to overcome themFrances is responsible for leading analytical support for security operations for World Vision, one of the world’s largest INGO’s, dedicated to providing life in all its fullness to over 100 million sponsored children, their families and communities in over 90 countries worldwide. Frances works with a wide range of stakeholders across multiple functions in support of key projects and conducts analysis that ensures end-to-end security capability and delivery to the field. She plays a key part in shaping and influencing areas of organisational strategic risk and readiness while also providing an interface between the World Vision security operations team and the wider humanitarian security research and analysis community.

In the fourth episode of the Humanitarian Incidents series we speak to Nour Kossaibany, security lead at the International Rescue Committee. Nour explains why keeping national staff and local partner staff safe is critical for organisations and effective programme delivery. She discusses how security risk management and incident information can support this goal. Nour works with IRC in Lebanon, where she is from, and where part of her job is humanitarian negotiation mainly to ease access and maintain safer programming.

TW: this episode contains references to sexual violence throughout. Much information on security incidents can be considered sensitive, particularly when it relates to very personal cases, such as sexual violence. But if we are going to reduce incidents we need to know about them. In episode four of the Humanitarian Incidents podcast, Megan Nobert, founder and former Director of Report the Abuse, shares her advice on how NGOs should respond if a member of staff reports an incident of sexual violence.