Press Release
February 25, 2025 • 3 min read
The world’s largest assembly of humanitarian and human rights NGO security professionals is taking place in Dublin this week (26-27 February). Over 100 security specialists will join representatives of the Irish, EU and British governments to address the ever-increasing rate of aid worker deaths.
World’s largest assembly of humanitarian NGO security professionals opens in Dublin
Annual aid worker fatalities broke records in both 2023 and 2024, with 378 deaths recorded last year. Ireland was amongst a number of nations that supported a UN resolution in December calling for renewed global commitments to aid worker protection.
The Global Security Risk and Policy Conference is hosted by the Global Interagency Security Forum (GISF), and will be opened with a keynote address by recently re-elected Senator and former Irish Peacekeeper, Tom Clonan.
Speaking in advance of the GISF Conference opening, Jon Novakovic, Executive Director, GISF said,
“NGOs’ sophisticated risk management practices often fly under the radar. When organisations are defending human rights, delivering food aid or working to stabilise conflicts, they can’t hide behind walls and barbed wire. It’s the security function that manages risks so others can carry on and support communities in need.”
NGO security covers a range of activities, from vehicle tracking, to negotiating with armed groups, to complex risk analysis and incident management. Participants from NGOs, the United Nations and Governments will spend the two days focusing on doing ‘more with less’, finding efficiencies and scalable innovations to continue to keep staff and programmes safe.
“The world is undoubtedly more complex and unpredictable than it has been for a generation or more. Our member organisations are being asked to do more with less. Increasingly NGOs will be forced to make impossible choices – either operate with unacceptable risk or pull out of delivering life-saving assistance. GISF works to help NGOs avoid that situation,” continued Jon Novakovic.
Commenting on global funding to strengthen local and national security risk management, Paul Westbury, Global Head of Safety and Access at GOAL and GISF Conference Panellist said,
“Global investment in bolstering local and national security risk management is, frankly, alarmingly under-prioritised. This oversight not only undermines the safety of humanitarian programmes around the globe but also risks the very lives of those brave individuals delivering aid. Misguided and insufficient security expenditure threatens to unravel the entire humanitarian system, placing both beneficiaries and aid workers in harm’s way.”
“To tackle this pressing challenge, we must go beyond mere safety training; we need to immerse ourselves in local communities and remain agile, adapting our risk management strategies to counter emerging threats. At GOAL, with our presence spanning 17 countries, we are steadfast in cultivating innovative solutions. Our active membership in organisations like GISF exemplifies our commitment to this cause,” continued Paul Westbury.
Also speaking in advance of the Conference on crucial aid worker protection, Senator Tom Cloonan said,
“We are living through a very fast moving and febrile geopolitical moment. We must hold fast to our values in this tumultuous atmosphere. As the world’s most powerful men fight for status, we must ensure we can protect our frontline aid workers who protect the most vulnerable people.”
“Having this event in Dublin shows the ongoing value of our commitment to multilateralism. People see Ireland as the obvious venue to address the key challenges facing the world today. If we are not able to protect aid workers and give them the tools to get on with their vital work, we are limiting our options in bringing stability to an increasingly chaotic world,” continued Tom Cloonan.
GISF is an NGO network that works to improve the safety and security of NGO workers globally. GISF bridges the gap between operational realities and high-level policy discussions, shaping global policy, fostering collaboration, and providing practical tools that help NGOs manage security risks effectively.
For more information, please contact GISF’s Communications Lead, Christian Kriticos (christian@gisf.ngo).
