Risk Management in Humanitarian Contexts
Expert-defined terms from the Advanced Certificate in Compliance in Humanitarian Organizations course at London School of Business and Administration. Free to read, free to share, paired with a globally recognised certification pathway.
Accountability refers to the responsibility of humanitarian organizations… #
In the context of risk management, accountability involves being answerable for the effective management of risks and the impact of their decisions on beneficiaries, staff, and other stakeholders. Related terms include transparency, answerability, and stewardship.
Advanced Certificate in Compliance in Humanitarian Organizations is a profess… #
The program covers a range of topics, including risk management, compliance, and governance, and is tailored to the needs of humanitarian organizations operating in complex and dynamic environments.
Beneficiary refers to the individuals or groups that receive assis… #
In the context of risk management, beneficiaries are often the most vulnerable to risks and hazards, and humanitarian organizations have a moral and legal obligation to ensure their safety, dignity, and well-being. Related terms include affected population, target population, and stakeholders.
Capacity building refers to the process of strengthening the skills, know… #
In the context of humanitarian risk management, capacity building involves investing in the development of staff, partners, and communities to enhance their resilience and adaptability in the face of uncertainty and change.
Compliance refers to the adherence of humanitarian organizations to laws,… #
In the context of risk management, compliance involves ensuring that risk management practices are aligned with international humanitarian law, human rights law, and other relevant frameworks. Related terms include regulatory compliance, accountability, and transparency.
Contingency planning refers to the process of identifying, assessing, and… #
In the context of risk management, contingency planning involves developing strategies and plans to respond to crises, emergencies, and disasters, and to ensure the continuity of humanitarian services. Related terms include emergency planning, business continuity planning, and crisis management.
Due diligence refers to the careful and thorough assessment of ris… #
In the context of humanitarian risk management, due diligence involves conducting research, analyzing data, and evaluating options to ensure that humanitarian organizations make informed decisions that minimize risks and maximize benefits. Related terms include risk assessment, feasibility study, and impact analysis.
Emergency refers to a sudden and unexpected event or situation tha… #
In the context of humanitarian risk management, emergencies can include natural disasters, conflicts, epidemics, and other crises that require a rapid and effective response. Related terms include crisis, disaster, and calamity.
Environmental risk refers to the potential harm or damage to the n… #
In the context of risk management, environmental risk involves assessing and mitigating the impact of humanitarian operations on the environment, including the use of resources, generation of waste, and pollution. Related terms include environmental impact assessment, sustainability, and conservation.
Fraud refers to the intentional and deliberate act of deceiving or… #
In the context of humanitarian risk management, fraud involves the misuse or misappropriation of funds, resources, or assets intended for humanitarian purposes. Related terms include corruption, theft, and embezzlement.
Governance refers to the system of rules , practices , and <i… #
In the context of risk management, governance involves ensuring that humanitarian organizations have a clear and transparent governance structure, with well-defined roles and responsibilities, and that they operate in accordance with international humanitarian law and other relevant frameworks. Related terms include leadership, management, and oversight.
Human rights refer to the fundamental and inherent rights and f… #
In the context of humanitarian risk management, human rights involve ensuring that humanitarian organizations respect, protect, and promote the human rights of beneficiaries, staff, and other stakeholders. Related terms include human dignity, justice, and equality.
Humanitarian law refers to the body of international law that regu… #
In the context of risk management, humanitarian law involves ensuring that humanitarian organizations operate in accordance with international humanitarian law and other relevant frameworks. Related terms include international humanitarian law, Geneva Conventions, and customary international law.
Incident refers to an unplanned and unexpected event or situation… #
In the context of risk management, incident involves reporting, investigating, and analyzing incidents to identify causes and lessons learned, and to implement corrective actions to prevent future incidents. Related terms include accident, near-miss, and close call.
Insurance refers to the contract between a humanitarian organization and… #
In the context of risk management, insurance involves assessing the need for insurance, selecting the appropriate insurance products, and managing insurance claims. Related terms include risk transfer, hedging, and mitigation.
Internal control refers to the policies , procedures , and practi… #
In the context of risk management, internal control involves implementing controls to prevent, detect, and correct errors, fraud, and other irregularities. Related terms include internal audit, compliance, and governance.
Investigation refers to the systematic and thorough examination of… #
In the context of risk management, investigation involves gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and analyzing data to identify causes and lessons learned, and to implement corrective actions to prevent future incidents. Related terms include inquiry, inquest, and review.
Liability refers to the legal and financial responsibility of huma… #
In the context of risk management, liability involves assessing and mitigating the risk of liability, and ensuring that humanitarian organizations have adequate insurance coverage and reserves to meet their liability obligations. Related terms include legal responsibility, tort liability, and contractual liability.
Monitoring refers to the ongoing and systematic observation and <b… #
In the context of risk management, monitoring involves tracking and analyzing risk indicators, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing corrective actions to mitigate risks and enhance performance. Related terms include supervision, oversight, and evaluation.
Operational risk refers to the potential for loss or damage … #
In the context of risk management, operational risk involves assessing and mitigating the risks associated with humanitarian operations, including logistics, procurement, and finance. Related terms include management risk, process risk, and system risk.
Partnership refers to the collaborative relationship between humanitarian… #
In the context of risk management, partnership involves assessing and mitigating the risks associated with partnerships, including reputational risk, financial risk, and operational risk. Related terms include collaboration, coordination, and cooperation.
Policy refers to the statement of principles , goals , and <i… #
In the context of risk management, policy involves developing and implementing policies and procedures to manage risks, including risk management policy, compliance policy, and governance policy. Related terms include procedure, guideline, and protocol.
Program refers to a series of projects and activities desig… #
In the context of risk management, program involves assessing and mitigating the risks associated with programs, including strategic risk, operational risk, and financial risk. Related terms include project, initiative, and intervention.
Reputation refers to the perception and image of a humanitarian or… #
In the context of risk management, reputation involves assessing and mitigating the risks to an organization's reputation, including crisis management, media relations, and stakeholder engagement. Related terms include brand, image, and credibility.
Resilience refers to the ability of humanitarian organizations to abso… #
In the context of risk management, resilience involves building the capacity of humanitarian organizations to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to risks and crises, and to adapt to changing circumstances. Related terms include adaptability, agility, and robustness.
Risk refers to the possibility of an event or circumstance … #
In the context of humanitarian risk management, risk involves assessing and mitigating the risks associated with humanitarian operations, including strategic risk, operational risk, financial risk, and compliance risk. Related terms include hazard, threat, and vulnerability.
Risk assessment refers to the process of identifying , analyzing… #
In the context of humanitarian risk management, risk assessment involves using tools and techniques to assess risks, including risk matrices, bow-tie analysis, and decision trees. Related terms include risk analysis, evaluation, and prioritization.
Risk management refers to the coordinated and systematic approach… #
In the context of humanitarian risk management, risk management involves implementing strategies and controls to manage risks, including risk avoidance, transfer, mitigation, and acceptance. Related terms include risk governance, compliance, and assurance.
Security refers to the protection of humanitarian organizations, their <i… #
In the context of risk management, security involves assessing and mitigating the risks to security, including threat assessment, risk analysis, and vulnerability assessment. Related terms include safety, protection, and defense.
Stakeholder refers to the individuals or groups that have an in… #
In the context of risk management, stakeholder involves engaging and communicating with stakeholders to understand their needs and concerns, and to ensure that their interests are taken into account in risk management decisions. Related terms include partner, collaborator, and constituent.
Supply chain refers to the network of organizations , people … #
In the context of risk management, supply chain involves assessing and mitigating the risks associated with supply chains, including logistics risk, procurement risk, and inventory risk. Related terms include procurement, logistics, and distribution.
Sustainability refers to the ability of humanitarian organizations to … #
In the context of risk management, sustainability involves assessing and mitigating the risks to sustainability, including strategic risk, operational risk, and financial risk. Related terms include resilience, adaptability, and robustness.
Training refers to the process of equipping humanitarian staff and… #
In the context of risk management, training involves providing instruction and guidance on risk management principles and practices, including risk assessment, analysis, and mitigation. Related terms include capacity building, development, and learning.
Vulnerability refers to the weakness or exposure of humanitarian o… #
In the context of risk management, vulnerability involves assessing and mitigating the risks to vulnerability, including threat assessment, risk analysis, and capacity building. Related terms include exposure, susceptibility, and fragility.