INSSA is a non-profit global membership association of individuals committed to improving the quality and effectiveness of safety and security for humanitarian relief and development assistance workers operating in complex and dangerous environments. INSSA does this through four main avenues of programming: Advocacy, Collaboration, Education & Professional Development, and Standardization.

In partnership with DisasterReady.org, the INSSA has launched the Security Management Professional- Regional (SRMP-R) level certification exam. The SRMP-R certification is a strategic level certification, which applies to security management with responsibility for more than one country office. INSSA certification process and requirements may be found on both INSSA and DisasteryReady.org websites.

INSSA is providing this curated list of third party resources to help members remain informed and updated during the COVID-19 Pandemic. While we've made very effort to choose sites that are relevant to the NGO and International Development community, INSSA is not responsible for the content of these sites. Given how quickly the COVID-19 Pandemic is evolving, it's essential to reference the date of any materials used to ensure they reflect current data where needed. 

• Centers for Disease Control COVID-19 site: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
• WHO COVID-19 Site: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
• EISF COVID-19 resources: https://www.eisf.eu/theme/coronavirus/
• Intelyse list of travel restrictions: https://intelyse.com/coronavirus-travel-restrictions/
  
• iSOS public version of their COVID-19 site (more is available to subscribers): https://pandemic.internationalsos.com/2019-ncov
• OSAC resource page: https://www.osac.gov/Content/Announcement/fee23fa6-8c30-44ae-985f-180e3ce9635e
• Konterra Group, Managing Stress during a Disease Outbreak & Self Care during a Pandemic (front page of their website): https://konterragroup.net/
• AHT Insurance COVID-19 resource page: https://www.ahtins.com/coronavirus/
• Disaster Ready COVID-19 learning pathways: https://www.disasterready.org/coronavirus-resources (requires free Disaster Ready membership)

Podcast available here

After years of consultations with NGO security professionals worldwide, the Mentoring Program is now live. Register yourself as mentee, mentor (or both!) and give your professional career and personal development a BOOST. Grow and give back!

INSSA 2018 Membership Survey results and analysis are now available. The results of the survey offer a snapshot of the security management best practices in place, providing the community with peer benchmarking data in this essential area of operational management along with INSSA membership engagement data. Analysis of the data along with links to the survey results can be found here.

Over the past few months, many INGOs have been coping with the impacts of COVID-19 and the restrictions imposed by national governments and states. As restrictions are loosened and INGOs are planning to re-open offices and adapt programs it is incumbent on risk managers to consider the changing risk landscape and the mitigation measures required to meet their respective duty of care responsibilities to their colleagues and partners.  INSSA is thrilled to have been part of a team of highly-respected professionals in developing "Recovery and Wellness, COVID-19: Operating Considerations for US Based International NGOs", a principles-based approach to planning and implementing recovery strategies in a manner that mitigates risks, supports staff, and meets INGO duty of care responsibilities.

INSSA can count on moving company DeWitt Move Worldwide for its interest in and support for the humanitarian security profession. Can we count on you too?

Become a Sponsor or Supporting Member with a monthly donation. Your contribution will make a positive impact in achieving our mission. Being a sustaining member makes giving easy!

INSSA is happy to announce a new partnership with RSM to offer members a discount on select courses.  Click here for more information.

This research paper complements GISF’s 2012 report Security Management and Capacity Development: International agencies working with local partners. This first analysis brought key insights into partnership dynamics, including strengths and weaknesses from the international NGO (INGO) perspective.

The latest research builds on this work by dedicating similar attention to the perspectives of local and national NGOs (L/NNGOs).

The paper seeks to:

1. Provide insight into L/NNGOs’ security risk management cultures, perceptions, capacities, practices, needs and expectations in their partnerships with INGOs;
2. Establish a platform for L/NNGOs to share their views and enhance dialogue between international and local/national NGOs;
3. Identify opportunities to improve the effectiveness of support in partnerships as well as shared understandings of security risks.

The paper is based on a literature review, a global survey with over 200 respondents, more than 70 interviews with representatives of L/NNGOs and 4 case studies (in Colombia, Ethiopia, Myanmar and Syria).

The security risks that L/NNGOs face, and their management of them, aren’t sufficiently addressed in their partnerships with INGOs. Besides a lack of systematised collaboration and support within partnerships, there is an absence of conversation. Because issues aren’t voiced – or sufficiently listened to – security risks remain under-prioritised and poorly addressed. Open discussion between partners is necessary to collectively progress on the issue. This research project makes initial steps in this direction by deconstructing obstacles to honest conversations on security risks and investigating the perspectives of L/NNGOs on both their partnerships with international agencies and the management of security risks.

Stewards of Humanity: Lighting the Darkness in Humanitarian Crisis, by Robert Seamus Macpherson, is a clear-eyed and riveting testimonial exploring the challenges faced by humanitarian field workers and the impact these experiences have had on their mental health and emotional well-being. Anyone who has deployed to a conflict or complex emergency will feel the tug of emotion that inexorably draws one back to the next response.   

After retiring as a Colonel from the US Marine Corps, Robert Seamus Macpherson enjoyed a long career as a security risk management professional in the humanitarian and development aid sector.  Bob served as Director of Global Security for CARE, served on the INSSA Board of Directors, and participated in numerous security forums representing the interests of NGO field workers and developing the nascent security risk management profession.  Stewards of Humanity highlights the commitment and sacrifice of several humanitarians that Bob has encountered throughout his long career.  With deep emotion, he describes, through a powerful narrative, his difficult and, at times, painful experiences responding to disasters and conflicts, and the toll these experiences have taken on him and many among the humanitarian community.  Finally, Bob guides us through his difficult and continuing journey toward healing.   

Bob’s openness about his own struggles gives urgency to the need to pay closer attention to PTSD among aid workers and the need for more comprehensive psychosocial support.  His clarion call to bring greater focus and a more supportive response to the psychosocial needs of humanitarian field workers is undeniable. His honesty and self-reflection, is truly inspirational.  Stewards of Humanity speaks to/for many of us who have served on the front lines.  

Principled Humanitarian Action in Afghanistan

INSSA Board of Directors