Strengthening Security Risk Management for Local Actors in the Sahel

Impact and reach

4.176

Staff members of national NGOs supported

Civil Society Organisations supported

105.620

Users accessing resources through the project’s dedicated web microsite

PARTAGE Project: The Challenges

The Central Sahel region—Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—has been experiencing one of the most severe and prolonged humanitarian crises of the past decade. Risks for local responders are increasing, due to the number of attacks on humanitarian workers and the use of social media as a means to spread misinformation about the role of NGOs. Insecurity, violence, and displacement have created immense challenges for humanitarian operations, making it increasingly difficult to reach vulnerable populations in need of life-saving assistance.

Local and national NGOs are at the forefront of humanitarian action in these regions. However, many of them face significant barriers in managing security risks effectively. According to our assessment, only 9% of local NGOs working in high-risk areas have a reliable security management system in place. Challenges include limited access to training and mentoring, gaps in security protocols, lack of tailored tools and resources, but the overarching concern is the necessity for quality funding to improve security risks management sustainably.

To address these challenges, INTERSOS and its partners have launched PARTAGE, a project that aims at promoting and strengthening access to technologies and best practices for equitable risk management for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the Central Sahel. The project fosters an inclusive approach to humanitarian response, ensuring that local actors can safely and effectively deliver aid to those in need.

According to the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC), over 90% of attacks reported in the region have affected national actors. This situation reveals the significant gaps in capacity and resources between international and local/national humanitarian NGOs when it comes to managing security risks.

Our Goal: Enhancing Safe Humanitarian Access

The PARTAGE project aims to improve humanitarian access and support the safe delivery of aid in the Central Sahel by strengthening security risk management among local and national responders. The project is structured around three key strategic pillars:

Access to Resources and Guidance:

Providing national and local NGOs with tailored tools, guidelines, and best practices to improve security risk management.

Capacity Sharing and Peer Learning:

Strengthening the ability of local organisations to internalise and implement security strategies through training, coaching, peer exchanges, and micro-funding opportunities.

Advocacy for Equitable Partnerships:

Promoting best practices in responsibility-sharing and advocating for quality funding to support security management within humanitarian partnerships.

The project conducts thorough mapping and assessment of existing security risk management resources, identifying gaps and areas for improvement. National and local workshops take place in Mali and Burkina Faso to gather insights, refine tools, and ensure the inclusion of local perspectives in security strategies.

A dedicated online information platform has been created to provide security risk management resources for local organisations and sector experts, fostering knowledge sharing and accessibility. In addition, specialised empowerment programmes, including Training of Trainers (ToT) and mentorship initiatives, equip local humanitarian professionals with essential security management skills and encourage peer learning. Local NGOs coordination platforms play a key role in PARTAGE strategy planning and implementation while facilitating the dissemination of resources and best practices among their members.

To support the practical application of security best practices, the project offers micro-grants to local Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), enabling them to implement effective security measures. Furthermore, advocacy and awareness campaigns promote responsibility-sharing, encourage best practices, and drive discussions on security risk management strategies at both national and international levels.