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Global Interagency Security Forum

Formerly EISF
Member login Member chat

Making the most of your membership or associate status

On this page, you can learn more about the services that you have access to as a GISF member or associate.

How to create a member account

  1. Once you become a GISF member or associate, you will receive a welcome message with information on how to access your benefits, including the member-only area of the website.
  2. A GISF staff member will create an account for you.
  3. Please check your junk folder for a WordPress email if you have not received your login details. You can contact members@gisf.ngo for assistance.

Please note that access to the members’ area is limited to up to three primary points of contact from within your organisation. Your name, organisation, and email address will be made visible to other GISF members and associates.

How to log in

  1. In the top right-hand corner of the website, you will find a ‘Member login’ link.
  2. Click the link and enter your login details

What to do if you forget your website login details

  1. On the login page, under the details form, there is a link for ‘Password recovery’. Select this link to receive an email allowing you to update your password.
  2. If this does not work, please contact the Membership team at members@gisf.ngo.

GISF Chat

The GISF Chat is built on top of a tool called Mattermost. 

About the GISF Chat Facility

  • Please note that access to the GISF chat is automatically granted for your three primary SFP contacts for members. In addition, you may request to add regional colleagues. For associates, the scope of access may vary on a case-by-case basis. Technical specialists are also permitted in select channels on request (i.e. country director or SFP for a specific context, or an IT colleague in the digital channel, etc.). Please contact the Membership team at members@gisf.ngo to request access. 
  • GISF Chat is deployed on a server using best practice security in an EU data centre. The server is backed up once every 24 hours.
  • The platform is designed to help teams and communities communicate quickly and in an efficient manner. 
  • The GISF chat on Mattermost is open-source and self-hosted. This means that it would be very difficult for someone to hide deliberately malicious malware. It also means that GISF controls the usage and location of the data. 

Creating a Chat Account

Via the GISF website

  • In the top right corner of the GISF homepage, you will find a link to the GISF chat.
  • The link will open our chat and you will see the login page. Enter your details there.

Via the desktop app

  • Download software from https://mattermost.com
  • The first time you use the software, you must add the GISF server
  • In “Server Display Name” type “GISF”
  • In “Server URL” type “https://chat.gisf.ngo”
  • Then click”Add”.

Joining Channels on GISF Chat

  • To allow the best and most secure communications, we have several channels on our GISF Chat platform. 
  • Currently, there are 19 channels, including Afghanistan, Haiti, Pakistan, Ukraine, West Africa, and Digital Security. 
  • The channels are sorted by contexts and themes, allowing individuals based or interested in specific regions to ask questions and share information with others. 
  • Use the “@channel” function to draw the attention of everyone in the channel! 

Request Security Focal Point (SFP) Change Form

Each member organisation appoints a primary, secondary, and tertiary SFP to represent them at GISF. Members may also include regional SFP contacts. If your organisation has recently undergone a change in employees, and there is a new SFP, please complete this form so we can keep up-to-date with GISF members. SFPs enjoy invitations to our roundtables, webinars, workshops, forums and more.

Factal Access

Factal is a breaking news technology company that helps the world’s largest organisations protect people, avoid disruptions and expedite disaster relief when global events put them at immediate risk. Teams of all sizes at over 230 NGOs use Factal’s fast, verified updates. You’ll be able to move faster to help protect staff, direct emergency resources, and keep tabs on fast-moving developments. Chat with their 24/7 newsroom and other security pros to get the situational intelligence you need. Receive alerts anywhere you need them, including via the popular Factal mobile app.

GISF members can access Factal’s unlimited real-time risk intelligence platform for free and bypass the additional Factal vetting process. GISF associates will also receive access. However, full unlimited access to the platform may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis in accordance with Factal’s internal definitions. If you are interested in accessing Factal services, please fill in this form, and we can process your request.

GISF Exercise Platform

The GISF Exercise Platform (GEP) is an exciting addition to the services GISF offers to its members, delivering innovative and realistic crisis management training to support improved practices across the sector.

The GEP allows members to access a range of engaging play-on-demand crisis scenarios, free of charge, that are relevant to the humanitarian and development sector. The simulations take place in a self-contained, high-fidelity space, enabling the exercising of crisis management skills and plans in a constantly evolving and dynamic environment. Members can run scenarios at their own pace, adjusting the length and intensity of the exercise to suit their needs.

You can find out more here. Any member interested in accessing the GEP should complete this form.

Event Types

Members and associates are invited to a range of GISF events throughout the year. There are also opportunities for you to get involved as a speaker or co-host.

Roundtables 

These events provide a safe space for peer-to-peer engagement and information exchange. Occasionally an external speaker will provide a technical update or members will be asked to start the conversation with their own observations to share their insights and experiences. All contributions are helpful.

Webinars

Webinars facilitate information dissemination and discussion around a particular topic or context of interest. Technical experts, academics, and members present their knowledge and experience followed by an opportunity to ask questions and discuss the points raised.

Workshops

At GISF, we organise at least four workshops each year – though, in recent years, we’ve run as many as 10. Our workshops offer organisations development opportunities beyond security, for example, for staff from different backgrounds and departments.

Bi-annual forum

Each year we host two forums for our members and associates in the spring and autumn. These forums usually take place in person, but may include a virtual component to allow for greater accessibility. They are an excellent opportunity for NGOs to come together with experts to network and explore cutting-edge issues affecting humanitarian security risk management.

Our tips for getting the most out of your GISF membership

 

Useful links