Become a member

Our members

From Save the Children to Greenpeace International, see all of our diverse members improving lives and reducing suffering around the world.

Benefits of membership

Our members enjoy access to a growing network of security-conscious humanitarian organisations. With over 140 members, we provide ample opportunities to get involved and engage with others.

Our forums and workshops allow members to meet, network, and share with their peers. The GISF chat, website, and virtual events create a year-round flow of information-sharing.

Services offered to GISF members include:

• Online Members’ Area: We provide up to three logins per organisation for the members’ area of our website, which enables access to: 
  • browse exclusive resources in our expansive e-library,
  • register for training and events run either by us or by our affiliated providers,
  • advertise their own vacancies, courses and events,
  • access member news and updates, and much more.
• Bi-annual forums: Each year, we organise three members forums. Usually taking place in spring and autumn, we hold at least one forum in each of our bases (Europe and North America). At these events, members and invited experts explore some of the prevailing issues in humanitarian security. They are also an excellent opportunity to network with counterparts from other organisations.
• Workshops: At GISF, we organise at least 4 workshops each year – though, in recent years, we’ve run as many as ten. Our workshops target a range of staff, offering organisations development opportunities beyond security. For ‘The Investigation Process’, for example, we invite legal and human resources representatives.
• Virtual events: With a growing, cross-continental membership, we also provide learning opportunities online. These may include webinars, online briefings, event recordings or live-streams.
• Research: Our research aims to challenge stagnant thinking in our membership and beyond. As well as having access to our entire catalogue, GISF members are able to contribute to our upcoming projects. This might be by:
  • identifying new topics to explore,
  • completing a research questionnaire,
  • joining a peer-review team,
  • translating existing resources.
• GISF Chat: The GISF chat facility allows members to communicate directly with each other and the GISF Secretariat. It provides a space for members to:
  • Communicate directly with members 1:1 and with the wider GISF community,
  • Coordinate during rapid onset crisis,
  • Share useful documents,
  • Contribute feedback,
  • Arrange visits and meetings,
  • Exchange updates on key contexts,
  • Share knowledge on thematic topics and channels,
  • Ask questions to the network that are tailored to your needs. 

When it comes to humanitarian SRM, we’re a leading source for peer-to-peer support. With our growing pool of expertise and experience, we’re also a go-to centre of excellence.

Membership types

GISF’s membership comprises a range of humanitarian organisations. By this, we mean that they are all non-profit organisations that seek to improve lives and reduce suffering. We categorise our members as either ‘full’ or ‘associate’. While the joining criteria differ, both types have equal access to all aspects of GISF membership.

Full membership eligibility

Full membership is open to organisations that meet each of the following criteria:

Not for-profit non-governmental organisations, which:

• manage, and are responsible for, staff and significant relief or development programme activities in several countries,
• are committed to the Code of Conduct of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief, including humanitarian principles,
• have a security focal point with global security risk management responsibilities who can represent them within GISF,
• can demonstrate an inclusive approach to security risk management,
• can obtain sponsorship (references) from two existing members of GISF.

Associate membership eligibility

Associate membership is open to organisations that meet each of the following criteria:

Not-for-profit organisations, which:

• have similar interests to full members regarding staff safety and security in multiple countries,
• are committed to the Code of Conduct of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief, including humanitarian principles,
• have a security focal point with global security risk management responsibilities who can represent them within GISF,
• can demonstrate an inclusive approach to security risk management,
• can obtain sponsorship (references) from two existing members of GISF.

On being accepted as a Full or Associate Member

All organisations accepted for full or associate membership will:

• agree to comply with the GISF information-sharing policy,
• actively engage and collaborate with GISF Secretariat and other members,
• promote good practice for security risk management within their organisation and across the broader relief and development sector.

Membership fees

To ensure the forum’s sustainability, we ask our members to pay an annual subscription fee. Our fee structure has 5 tiers based on organisations’ average annual incomes.

Organisations with 4 or more ‘sister organisations’ as members of GISF are eligible for a 15% discount on their membership fee.

Any organisation joining after the first bi-annual forum will be charged 50% of the total fee.

At GISF, inclusivity is one of our core values. If you feel your organisation will be unable to pay the required fee, please email us to discuss options.

How to join

1. Read through all the information provided below before applying.
2. Contact a GISF Projects and Membership Officer if you have any questions before applying. You can contact either our UK-based or US-based officer.
3. Complete the online application form. Remember to have contact details available for your two sponsoring organisations – who must be current GISF members.
4. We’ll email you to let you know that we’ve received your application, and our Steering Group will review it.
5. We aim to make a decision on your application within 8 to 12 weeks – you’ll receive this via email.
6. If your application is successful, we’ll be in touch with all the necessary information to set you up.
7. Welcome to the GISF network! You can now enjoy all the benefits of membership.

Download a PDF version of this page here: PDF Become a Member.

Useful documents

GISF Prospective Member Information Packet

GISF Terms of Reference

GISF Information Sharing Policy & Protocol

ICRC Code of Conduct