International NGO Safety Organisation

What International NGO Safety Organisation does

International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO) is a Dutch-registered non-profit foundation (ANBI, registered 17 January 2019) headquartered in The Hague that provides free safety and security information services to humanitarian NGOs operating in high-risk and conflict-affected countries. Founded in 2011 from the original Afghanistan NGO Safety Office — the world's first NGO safety platform — INSO today operates across 24 countries and serves more than 1,350 NGO partners (including ~600 national/local NGOs), delivering 24/7 flash alerts, on-request security assessments, conflict and access analysis, coordination meetings, crisis-management support, and a portfolio of training courses (HEIST, Essentials, Crisis Management, Humanitarian Negotiations, Travel Safety).

The organisation's core technology stack centres on the Conflict and Humanitarian Data Centre (CHDC), a centralised standardised incident database with GIS/data-visualisation dashboards, accessible to registered NGO partners via web login (chdc.ngosafety.org) and a mobile app (app.ngosafety.org) for location-based incident reporting. A bespoke Small Private Online Course (SPOC) platform delivers interactive training in English and French, hosted on DisasterReady.org. Public dashboards (Conflict Data Dashboard, Humanitarian Data Dashboard) and periodic Safety & Access Reviews round out the analytics surface. In 2024, INSO issued 12,176 flash alerts, delivered 18,605 on-request assessments, trained 6,707 humanitarians, and hosted 4,560 coordination meetings.

INSO's business model is entirely institutional donor-funded: services are provided free of charge to registered NGO partners, with revenue sourced from government and multilateral grants (ECHO, USAID BHA, FCDO, German MFA, Dutch MFA, Swiss SDC, Global Affairs Canada, Norway, CDCS/France, Sida, Luxembourg, OCHA). Go-to-market is community-led: entry into new countries is triggered by formal invitations from coalitions of 10–20 NGOs following scoping missions, after which country offices are established and a country-level registration portal onboards local NGO partners. There are no paid tiers, no revenue from NGOs, and no equity owners.

Name

International NGO Safety Organisation

Legal name

Stichting International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO)

Website

https://ngosafety.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

INSO is a Dutch-registered non-profit foundation that provides free safety, security analysis, training, and crisis-management services to over 1,350 humanitarian NGOs operating across 24 conflict-affected countries, funded entirely by institutional government donors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Safety Services

NAICS

Investigation and Security Services (5616), Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621)

SIC

Communications Services, Nec (4899)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency Telecommunications & Connectivity (ETC) (BPADADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Emergency Notification, Communications & Public Warning Planning (EUAHALAG), Public Safety Operations & Command (Incident Command, Special Events) (BPAIAGAG), Emergency Communications, Alerting & Public Warning Systems (HLAJAGAF), Security Assistance & Executive Protection (THACANAF)

Keywords

• Humanitarian safety services
• NGO security coordination
• Conflict incident reporting
• Humanitarian access analysis
• Aid worker safety training

Headquarters

HQ city

The Hague

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices17 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donor Grants (Institutional Funding): INSO is entirely funded by institutional donors (governments and multilateral agencies). Services are provided free of charge to registered NGO partners. Revenue is not generated from NGOs; all operations are grant-funded.
2. Free NGO Partner Services (core offering): All services — alerts, analysis, training, crisis management, coordination — are provided free to registered NGO partners. No revenue is collected from NGOs; the organization operates as a donor-funded humanitarian NGO.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

INSO provides free safety and security information services to humanitarian NGOs operating in high-risk and conflict-affected countries. Core offerings include 24/7 operational flash alerts, evidence-based conflict and access analysis, a centralised incident database (CHDC) with GIS visualisation, country-level coordination meetings, crisis management support, in-person and online security training, and a mobile application for location-based incident reporting.

Product overview

INSO is a humanitarian safety organisation providing a unified platform of safety and security services to NGOs operating in conflict-affected countries. The core offering centres on the Conflict & Humanitarian Data Centre (CHDC), which provides standardised incident data and analytics, complemented by real-time Operational Alerts and in-depth Analysis & Advice services. INSO delivers these through multiple channels including a Mobile App, Conflict and Humanitarian Data Dashboards, and Safety & Access Reviews. Supporting services include Coordination Meetings, Crisis Management Support, Emergency Coordination, Policy & Site Reviews, and On-Request Assessments. Training capabilities span in-person courses (HEIST, Humanitarian Negotiations, Essential and Advanced Security Management) and the online SPOC platform hosted on DisasterReady.org. All services are provided free of charge to registered NGO partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Conflict & Humanitarian Data Centre (CHDC): Comprehensive database focused on humanitarian safety and security, providing standardised incident data, analysis tools, and visualisation for NGO partners.
• Stay and Deliver

Products and services

• Conflict & Humanitarian Data Centre (CHDC) A comprehensive, centralised incident database providing reliable standardised record of security incidents affecting NGOs, with in-built graphics application for charts and maps. Allows users to analyse incident data by location, date, actors, acts, and impacts. Accessible to registered NGO partners free of charge.
• INSO Mobile App Mobile application enabling location-based incident reporting and real-time alerts for humanitarian workers operating in high-risk environments.
• Operational Alerts (24/7 Flash Alerts) 24/7 incident alerts providing NGOs with timely information to inform their operations minute by minute, helping partners make informed day-to-day movement decisions and avoid imminent risks.
• Analysis & Advice Advanced, evidence-based analysis that helps NGOs anticipate, understand and prepare for the most likely scenarios in conflict and crisis environments.
• Coordination Services Bringing NGOs together to collaborate and share information for their collective benefit, strengthening interagency coordination and NGO/UN coordination.
• Training & Orientation (HEIST, SPOC, Essentials, Crisis Management) Courses including HEIST (Hostile Environment Individual Safety Training), Humanitarian Negotiations, Essential and Advanced NGO Security Management, Crisis Management, and the online SPOC training platform to prepare NGO staff to manage personal and organisational security.
• Crisis Management Support Expert staff support for NGOs through attacks, abductions and other emergencies, including expertise, contacts, and emergency coordination.
• Policy & Site Reviews Independent review of NGOs' security policies and site security plans to identify risks before they arise.
• Conflict Data Dashboard Dashboard providing key conflict metrics to support near to real-time situational awareness and remote monitoring of high-risk and insecure countries.
• Humanitarian Data Dashboard Dashboard providing consolidated data on security incidents affecting the humanitarian sector to identify trends, support response, and inform policy.
• Safety & Access Review Quarterly scheduled report using GIS and data visualisation to analyse key trends including conflict activity by location, time, perpetrator, and incident type.
• NGO Incidents Overview Monthly scheduled report reviewing main developments for the NGO community, including the number, location and type of incidents.
• On-Request Assessments Detailed assessments delivered on request to help partners navigate access challenges to enter a country, expand to a new province, remain present during a crisis, or return to an area.
• Abduction Reports Specialised reports analysing abduction incidents affecting NGO staff, including INSO's NGO Abductions Snapshot reports with data from across 16 high-risk countries.
• Safety Management for NGOs Online Course (SPOC) 4-hour fully free online course hosted on DisasterReady.org covering essential skills of NGO security management. Features interactive elements such as quizzes, group exercises, forums, and AI-powered personalized feedback. Available in English and French.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12,176 flash alerts sent in 2024, helping NGO partners avoid imminent risks and make informed day-to-day movement decisions
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered strategic and core.

• DisasterReady.orgstrategicTechnology or Integration · 1 September 2024INSO's Safety Management for NGOs online course (English launched September 2024, French launched May 2025) is hosted on DisasterReady.org, a learning platform offering 1,500+ courses for humanitarian professionals. This partnership extends INSO's training reach globally.
• INSO Palestine (standalone platform)coreOthers · 1 January 2024INSO launched a dedicated Palestine platform in early 2024 to provide tailored safety analysis, 1-1 briefings, warden system, and coordination amid unprecedented IHL violations and aid access restrictions.
• United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2022INSO works closely with OCHA in crisis response and coordination. INSO participates in OCHA-led coordination meetings and co-leads the Access Working Group with DRC in Colombia. OCHA data is referenced in INSO's analysis.
• European Union and United Nations Discussion SeriesstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021The CHDC was developed in direct response to the Outcome Document of the EU-UN Discussion Series on Protection, Safety and Security of Humanitarian and Medical Workers in Armed Conflicts (2021).

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Others

• International Crisis Group: International Crisis Group produces in-depth conflict analysis and policy recommendations for many of the same high-risk countries INSO covers. It is an analytical/research counterpart rather than a service provider to operational NGOs.
• Saferworld: Saferworld works on conflict prevention and peacebuilding in many of the same high-risk countries INSO covers. It is an adjacent actor focused on upstream conflict drivers rather than NGO field safety.
• CHS Alliance: CHS Alliance drives accountability and quality standards for humanitarian organizations. It intersects thematically with INSO's safety/quality training but is not a direct service competitor in NGO security operations.
• Centre for Humanitarian Data: Hosted by OCHA, the Centre for Humanitarian Data manages humanitarian datasets including some incident-related information. It is adjacent to INSO's CHDC rather than directly competing, with different scope and use cases.
• CIVIC (Center for Civilians in Conflict): CIVIC advocates for the protection of civilians in conflict and conducts analysis on humanitarian access and civilian harm. It shares INSO's focus on conflict impact but focuses on advocacy and policy rather than NGO operational safety services.

Emerging players

• RedR UK: RedR UK provides humanitarian training and capacity building for aid workers, overlapping directly with INSO's HEIST, SPOC, and Crisis Management training offerings. It serves similar humanitarian NGO audiences with a focus on training rather than ongoing safety operations.
• Humanitarian Outcomes: Humanitarian Outcomes produces research and analysis on humanitarian action, including aid worker safety topics that overlap with INSO's analytical mandate. It is a smaller, research-focused complement rather than a direct operational competitor.

Broad incumbents

• OCHA (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs): OCHA leads inter-agency humanitarian coordination globally and co-leads Access Working Groups with INSO. It is a partner more than a competitor, but its coordination mandate broadly overlaps with INSO's NGO coordination services in-country.
• UNDSS (UN Department of Safety and Security): UNDSS provides security services for UN staff and assets worldwide. It overlaps with INSO's mandate in conflict-zone security analysis and incident management but serves the UN system specifically rather than the broader NGO community.

Direct peers

• Global Interagency Security Forum (GISF): GISF is the leading NGO security coordination body, providing resources, research, and forums for humanitarian security practitioners. It serves the same NGO audience as INSO but focuses more on policy and guidance than field deployment of safety services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-ngo-safety-organisation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International NGO Safety Organisation