What Stichting Centre For Safety And Development does

Stichting Centre for Safety and Development (CSD), founded in 2004 by Ebe Brons and headquartered in Amersfoort, Netherlands, is a private Dutch nonprofit foundation (Stichting) specializing in hostile environment awareness training (HEAT) and security advisory services for professionals working or travelling in high-risk areas. The company serves three primary verticals: NGOs and humanitarian organizations (MSF, War Child, Cordaid, Save the Children, Care, Red Cross, Welthungerhilfe), universities and research institutes (Wageningen University, Harvard Humanitarian Initiative), and governmental and international organizations (NATO, NL Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Council of Europe, ESA, EUPOL COPPS, EUBAM Libya). CSD reports training approximately 1,300 participants per year across more than 100 annual sessions, with 200+ organizations supported and 20,000–24,000 total participants over its 21-year history.

The core product is a tiered HEAT catalogue anchored by the 5-day Advanced HEAT Course (€4,650, Netherlands only), the 3-day Basic HEAT Course (€3,200, available in Netherlands, Kenya, Jordan, and USA), the 2-day Safe Travel Course Plus (€990), the 1-day Safe Travel Course (€545), the Refresher Course (€695), and a women-only Safety for Female Travellers Course (€695). Training is built around hyperrealistic simulation methodology: each cohort moves through an evolving fictional-country scenario, supported by professional aggression and medical actors, deactivated weapons, news broadcasts, and 24 immersive simulations, with a psychosocially trained host present throughout. CSD complements catalogue courses with tailor-made in-house offerings (Express HEAT, Student Travel Safety Workshop, Crisis Management & Simulation Training, Family Support Masterclass) and a three-tier Safety & Security Advisory service for policy development. Curriculum is aligned with the EU's ESDC HEAT standard for CSDP missions, and the firm holds ISO 9001, CRKBO, and CEDEO (Lloyds Register) 9.8/10 certifications.

CSD monetizes via per-participant course fees (open enrollment via website), enterprise-level in-house training contracts negotiated directly with NGOs, universities, and government buyers, and recurring advisory retainers. Delivery is distributed across four HEAT hubs in Soesterberg (NL), Nairobi (KE), Amman (JO), and Montrose, Virginia (US) using venue-partner facilities (HPSS, KASOTC, Graves Mountain Farm & Lodges). A small permanent staff of approximately 6 (founder/CEO Ebe Brons, COO Sandor van Dijk, Head of Training & Development Henrico Kroek, plus Office Manager, Training Support Officer, and Financial Administrator) is augmented by a flexible freelance network of trainers and actors, keeping the cost structure lean relative to revenue. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales with self-serve online registration, supported by content marketing via the company website, LinkedIn, and a podcast, plus presence at GISF, Partos, INSSA, and related industry events.

Name

Stichting Centre For Safety And Development

Legal name

Stichting Centre For Safety And Development

Website

https://centreforsafety.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CSD, a Dutch nonprofit founded in 2004, provides hostile environment awareness training (HEAT) and security advisory services to NGO, academic, and government professionals traveling and working in high-risk areas, via open-enrollment courses, tailor-made in-house programs, and four global HEAT hubs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Amersfoort

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Open Enrollment Training Courses: Individual professionals enroll in scheduled training courses including Advanced HEAT, Basic HEAT, Safe Travel Courses, Refresher, and specialized courses. Pricing ranges from €545 to €4,650 per course.
2. Tailor-made / In-house Training: Customized training programs developed in collaboration with organizations including Student Travel Safety Workshop, Express HEAT, Crisis Management & Simulation Training, and Family Support programs
3. Safety Consultancy Services: Security advisors develop and implement compact and easy-to-use security policies. Three advisory packages (A, B, C) available for organizations with existing or no security policies

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Stichting Centre For Safety And Development (CSD) delivers Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) courses and complementary security advisory services for professionals working and traveling in at-risk areas. The core catalog includes the 5-day Advanced HEAT Course (€4,650), 3-day Basic HEAT Course (€3,200), 2-day Safe Travel Course Plus (€990), 1-day Safe Travel Course (€545), 1-day Refresher Course (€695), Safety for Female Travellers Course (€695), and the Dutch-language Grip op Agressie aggression management course, delivered through four global HEAT hubs plus tailor-made in-house programs and three-tiered security policy advisory services.

Product overview

CSD offers a portfolio of safety and security training courses and advisory services for professionals working internationally in risk areas. The core offering consists of HEAT (Hostile Environment Awareness Training) courses at various intensity levels: the 5-day Advanced HEAT Course for high/extreme risk areas (€4,650), the 3-day Basic HEAT Course for medium/high risk areas (€3,200) available in Netherlands, Kenya, Jordan, and USA, the 2-day Safe Travel Course Plus (€990), and the 1-day Safe Travel Course (€545). Additional courses include the Refresher Course (€695), Safety for Female Travellers Course (€695), and Grip op Agressie. CSD also provides custom/tailor-made training including Student Travel Safety Workshops, Express HEAT, Crisis Management & Simulation Training, and Family Support Masterclass. Advisory services include security policy development and implementation support. The training methodology emphasizes hyper-realistic simulations with professional actors, scenario-based learning, and a safe learning environment with psychosocial support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advanced HEAT Course 5-day intensive (44 hours) Hostile Environment Awareness Training for work and travel in high and extreme risk areas, featuring 3 experienced trainers, 14 professional actors, an immersive storyline, and 24 hyperrealistic simulations. Targeted at professionals heading into the highest-risk field assignments.
• Basic HEAT Course 3-day (32 hours) Hostile Environment Awareness Training for work and travel in medium and high-risk areas, available across all four CSD HEAT hubs (Netherlands, Kenya, Jordan, USA). Priced at €3,200 in Netherlands/Kenya/Jordan and $3,687 in the USA, including accommodation (2 nights), food and beverages.
• Safe Travel Course Plus 2-day (16 hours) training for work and travel in low and medium risk areas with limited access to medical healthcare, including medical first aid modules. Includes a professional medical kit for travel and quick reference cards. Priced at €990.
• Safe Travel Course 1-day training for working and traveling safely in low and medium risk urban areas, with a focus on practical exercises and information security. Includes a waterproof quick reference card. Priced at €545.
• Refresher Course 1-day training that refreshes knowledge and skills for working in complex environments, featuring 9 hyperrealistic simulations delivered in groups of maximum 7 participants. Priced at €695, with quick reference cards for travel and free e-learning access after 1 year.
• Safety for Female Travellers Course 1-day specialized training designed for female employees who travel and work abroad, focusing on de-escalation techniques and maintaining control in threatening situations. Delivered as a women-only course with a female trainer. Priced at €695.
• Grip op Agressie Dutch-language aggression management training to prevent, regulate, and effectively limit aggression in a pleasant environment, developed in partnership with Grip5. Targeted at professionals in client-facing roles who need de-escalation skills.
• Student Travel Safety Workshop Practical workshop for students traveling to green and yellow risk areas, teaching personal safety skills and awareness. Developed for academic institutions to support students on international mobility programs.
• Express HEAT Intense HEAT training delivered at client locations for frontline staff, tailored to specific security contexts and drawing on participants' own experiences as primary training material.
• Crisis Management & Simulation Training Crisis Team Training and Crisis Simulation exercises for organizations, designed to prepare management for crisis situations, test existing crisis plans, and improve organizational response capabilities.
• Family Support Masterclass Masterclass taught by Sue Williams QPM, focused on building trust and maintaining relationships with family members of crisis victims, using role-playing and real-life scenario simulations to build family support capabilities.
• Safety & Security Advisory Services Security advisors help organizations develop and implement compact, practical safety policies, available as three advisory packages (A, B, C) for organizations with existing or no security policies, plus internal security expert placement services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9.8/10 CEDEO rating for quality and customer satisfaction
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• European Security and Defence College (ESDC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 March 2024Joint organization of Advanced HEAT courses based on the European Union's ESDC HEAT curriculum for CSDP missions. Isak Enstrom from ESDC serves as Training Manager and opening speaker for courses. Regular curriculum updates through HEAT Expert Group.
• HEAT Expert GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSD facilitates this group of leading HEAT training institutions including Red Cross, Norwegian Church Aid, FBA, Belgium Defence, School for Peace Operations, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, ZIF, and Arma dei Carabinieri. Discusses best practices, stress and learning research, certification, and new technologies including robotic dogs and VR systems.
• International NGO Safety & Security Association (INSSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-creators of INSSA-CSD Excellence Awards to recognize NGO Security Risk Management excellence. CSD actively promotes INSSA and supports the security risk management community.
• CHS AlliancecoreOthersCSD is a member of CHS Alliance, participating in the NGO community focused on safety and security standards.
• PHAPcoreOthersCSD is a member of PHAP (Professionals in Humanitarian Assistance), participating in professional development and standards.
• GISF (Global Interagency Security Forum)coreOthersCSD is a member of GISF, the global forum for security risk management in the humanitarian sector. Has booth presence at GISF events.
• PartoscoreOthersCSD is a member of Partos, the Dutch membership organization for development cooperation. Co-organizes workshops including Strategic Crisis Management workshops for NGO CEOs.
• NRTOminorOthersMember of NRTO (Nederlandse Raad voor Training en Opleiding)
• IAPTCminorOthersMember of IAPTC (International Association of Peacekeeping Training Centers)
• EAPTCminorOthersMember of EAPTC (European Association of Peacekeeping Training Centers)
• Antares FoundationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaboration partner for trainer support and psychosocial aspects during training courses
• Grip5minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner for aggression management training components and methodologies
• OOV SupportminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCreates commemorative materials and supports training operations
• Body Language AcademyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDenise Dechamps from Body Language Academy conducted Train the Trainer workshop on body language for CSD staff
• Harvard Humanitarian InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic participant in CSD training programs with testimonial: participant stated training 'saved my life' during field deployment
• Humanitarian Peace Support School (HPSS) KenyacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining venue partner in Nairobi, Kenya - approximately 5km from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, enabling regional HEAT training delivery in East Africa
• KASOTC (King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Center) JordancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining venue partner in Amman, Jordan - approximately 50km from Queen Alia International Airport, enabling regional HEAT training in Middle East
• Graves Mountain Farm & Lodges VirginiacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining venue partner in Montrose, VA, USA - approximately 80 miles from Washington Dulles International Airport, supporting the new HEAT Hub in the USA

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Norwegian Church Aid: Norwegian humanitarian organization that runs HEAT/security training for NGO staff; fellow HEAT Expert Group member alongside CSD. Directly comparable course offering and customer base.
• High Risk International: Specialist provider of hostile environment and first aid training for aid workers, journalists, and security professionals. Comparable methodology and target customers to CSD's HEAT courses.
• International Location Safety (ILS): UK HEAT/security training provider serving humanitarian and media professionals. Directly comparable course portfolio and customer segments to CSD.
• Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA): Swedish government agency that delivers HEAT and security training for humanitarian personnel and peace operations. Directly comparable to CSD's HEAT curriculum and target audience.
• Centurion Risk: UK-based security risk management and training firm offering HEAT and protective services training to NGOs and corporate clients. Comparable offering to CSD's training and advisory services.
• Red Cross / IFRC: The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies operates its own HEAT/security training programs and is a fellow HEAT Expert Group member alongside CSD. Directly comparable as a humanitarian-sector safety training provider.
• Crisis Response Skills (CRS): UK-based provider of hostile environment and security training to NGOs, journalists, and aid workers. Directly competes with CSD in HEAT training across Europe.

Others

• ESDC (European Security and Defence College): EU institution that co-delivers CSD's Advanced HEAT curriculum. An ecosystem/standards partner rather than a competing commercial provider.
• GISF (Global Interagency Security Forum): Industry association of which CSD is a member; sets standards for NGO security risk management. Comparable as an ecosystem player rather than a direct training competitor.
• INSSA (International NGO Safety & Security Association): Industry association co-developing the INSSA-CSD Excellence Awards with CSD. An ecosystem/standards body adjacent to CSD rather than a competing training provider.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centre-for-safety-and-development

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stichting Centre For Safety And Development