Non-Governmental Organizations (or NGOs) are typically non-profit organizations that operate in the ever-changing humanitarian sector. The work NGOs do is an incredibly important part of modern society in a world where danger is frequent, altruism is rare, and the number of those around the globe that need aid grows every day. Vismo is therefore proud to support several NGOs and be a commercial partner of the Global Interagency Security Forum (GISF) – a network of NGOs and partners with a specific focus on security risk management.
Following Vismo becoming a partner of GISF, and our CEO Tom Cowling alongside Business Development Manager Isaac Buckingham attending the recent GISF Global Security Conference, it has become increasingly apparent that the risks faced by NGOs must be viewed as vastly different to risks faced in other sectors. The risk landscape that surrounds NGOs, often due to the locations they must base themselves, is one of constant development and instability with several, often unrelated, dangers presenting themselves at any given moment. A great example of this is the current Ebola outbreak, predominantly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This is a situation that clearly requires humanitarian work, but for those on the ‘front line’ one can immediately identify travel, infection and political instability as key risks faced by staff at any given moment, with the UN Refugee Agency describing the humanitarian situation in the country as ‘critical’. This ever-changing nature ensures that each risk faced by an NGO cannot be viewed independently of one another or in a vacuum, highlighting a key operational difficulty faced by NGOs on a day-to-day basis.
Another key reason as to why risks faced by NGOs must be viewed through a specific lens revolves around the fact that, generally speaking, NGOs operate with a combination of travelling staff and locally based teams that operate permanently from the high-risk location. This combination, while one of the key reasons for the effectiveness of NGOs due to the amalgamation of expertise and knowledge, is also a key cause for the operational difficulties in keeping staff safe. This is as a result of almost every member of staff, or at very least each department or group of personnel, requiring different risk assessments and protective measures. This also makes escalation in moments of emergency difficult to coordinate, as the correct procedure often depends on an individual’s role or location within a particular country. This not only highlights the different risk landscape that NGOs experience compared to organizations of different industries but also highlights a key reason why Vismo is often used by NGOs as part of their overall security ‘toolbelt’.
Vismo’s superb tracking capabilities, using both our Locate & Protect App for areas with WiFi/coverage, and a range of satellite devices for remote areas creates a comprehensive view of all staff, regardless of location or movement. Furthermore, Vismo’s customizability and operating structure allows organisations to alter each element of the Vismo solution depending on groups of staff and location, ensuring all staff can be protected at all times with one underlying system.
It is these key features of the Vismo solution that NGOs, and organizations of all sectors, commonly identify as valuable - providing Vismo with a keen sense of pride knowing the solution is part of the crucial, protective ‘hand on the back’ of those performing important humanitarian work worldwide.
