Meet INSO

When did you start working for INSO, and what did you do before this?

I started working for INSO on 1 June 2016. Before, I worked for the Danish Refugee Council in Ndélé in Central African Republic (CAR). For two years, I was Protection Monitoring Assistant and Protection/Social Cohesion/Education Officer.

It was through this work that I came to know INSO and understand the importance of its work. Experiences related to protection were helpful in giving me an insight into what work would be like at INSO, which helped me feel more at ease when I first joined INSO’s team in CAR even though the security context was extremely difficult.

You’ve had several roles with INSO – tell us about them.

I was first locally recruited to INSO in CAR Assistant Safety Advisor, then was promoted to Deputy Advisor before becoming Mobile Safety Advisor. After some time, I started to look at jobs with INSO outside of CAR. I successfully applied for the role of Safety Advisor for the province of Tanganyika in the Democratic Republic of Congo in early 2023.

Tell us about a time when you felt you had an impact working for INSO?

INSO’s work helps NGOs gain better access to their operational areas through alerts, data collection, analysis and recommendations. I also feel that the INSO services provided not only have a positive impact on the ability of NGOs to provide assistance, but have also helped to save the lives of civilians.

NGOs can use INSO alerts to get information about attacks on civilians. This was the case for a medical NGO that was helping people injured during an incursion led by armed men in a village in Tanganyika in 2023. Using the information that the team and I provided allowed this NGO to move and help people safely.

What do you enjoy most about your role as Safety Advisor in Tanganyika?

Beside being able to share information that helps NGOs navigate access challenges, I really enjoy the coordination and analytical aspects of my work. I also appreciate the collaboration of partners working in the province of Tanganyika. The work environment is interesting, despite significant pressure and sometimes tight reporting deadlines. My experiences with INSO in CAR allowed me to quickly integrate and adapt to the context of Tanganyika and DRC.

What would you say to someone who wants to join INSO?

INSO’s work is very useful in facilitating NGO access to populations affected by crises. As such, you do need to have humanitarian experience, understand how humanitarian activities are carried out in difficult contexts, and understand the concepts of access and acceptance with strong writing skills. All of this will help you once you’re part of INSO.