Humanitarian (in)security: risk management in complex settings.

Area of Science:

• Humanitarian Security Studies
• Organizational Decision-Making
• Risk Management in Non-Profit Sectors

Background:

• Attacks on humanitarian aid workers and facilities are increasingly prominent.
• Existing research on humanitarian insecurity primarily addresses external threats.
• There is a gap in understanding the internal security mitigation strategies of humanitarian organizations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the internal decision-making processes employed by humanitarian organizations to manage security.
• To identify factors contributing to contextual uncertainty and complexity in humanitarian operations.
• To analyze how non-governmental organizations (NGOs) navigate high-risk environments.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research approach.
• Data collection through interviews with 16 security managers or advisors in humanitarian organizations.
• Focus on understanding the nuances of security decision-making.

Main Results:

• Contextual uncertainty is influenced by recipient perceptions, local government actions, and the behavior of other NGOs.
• Logistical issues, intra-location risk variance, and organizational mandates significantly impact security decisions.
• NGOs employ a combination of decision-making strategies to manage security in complex, high-risk settings.

Conclusions:

• Humanitarian organizations rely on multifaceted internal decision-making to address security.
• Understanding internal mechanisms is crucial for enhancing humanitarian worker safety and operational effectiveness.
• Further research should explore the specific combinations of decision-making processes used by NGOs.