As Aid Workers Face Increasing Danger, Clements Worldwide Briefs NGOs on Safety and Risk Management at Annual Bond Conference
London, UK (PRWEB) November 26, 2014 -- With kidnappings and violent attacks against relief workers on the rise, Clements Worldwide, the leading provider of international insurance solutions, advised representatives of non-governmental aid organizations on minimizing risk at the recent Bond Conference and Exhibition.
Recognized as the leading conference for non-governmental organizations in the United Kingdom, the event drew 900 delegates from at least 340 different organizations. The theme of this year’s conference was “Redefining development: the future beyond 2015.”
Smita Malik, assistant vice president for programs and special risks at Clements, presented statistics showing the rate of kidnappings more than doubling between 2006 and 2013. Violent attacks against aid workers rose 57 percent, from 107 to 251 during that period, resulting in 460 casualties, and showing an increasingly perilous landscape for those seeking to improve life in dangerous areas abroad.
“Contingency planning is the key element of crisis management,” said Malik. “Those plans must be incident-specific and highly detailed, including where to turn for assistance and including contact information for everyone from HQ staff to field operators and human resources personnel.”
The presentation was part of a free half-day roundtable training course on risk management for high-level senior managers and above. Relevant international insurance issues were discussed, including the need to cover staff overseas from personal accidents, establishing evacuation procedures, as well as incorporating War & Terrorism clauses into group policies.
Malik instructed participants about learning valuable lessons from past incidents and identifying challenges. The group shared crisis situations encountered by their respective organizations and analyzed the effectiveness of each response.
The Nov. 10-13 Bond Conference consisted of 20 events incorporating 5 structural themes: Organizational effectiveness, policy, programs, funding and campaigns.
Clements was the principal sponsor of the conference after joining with Bond last May to sponsor the First Annual International Development Awards.
“The roundtable training is part of our larger commitment to Bond and the NGO community as a whole to provide the solutions they need to fulfill their missions,” said Simon Townsend, Clements’ managing director in London.
Clements Worldwide expects to follow the panel with an in-depth training session incorporating feedback in the coming year.
About Clements Worldwide
Clements Worldwide is a leading insurance provider for expatriates and international organizations. Founded in 1947, Clements offers international car, property, term life, health, specialty and high-risk insurance in over 170 countries. With offices in Washington, D.C., London, and Dubai, Clements delivers comprehensive coverage, superior customer service, and unparalleled claims response. To learn more and quote online, visit http://www.clements.com.
About Bond
With members ranging from the largest household names to the smallest community-based organisations, the Bond network is a dynamic community representing the diversity of the UK’s international development sector. Bond is part of an alliance of networks in the four countries of the UK. To learn more, go to http://www.bond.org.uk.
Nicole Payne, Clements Worldwide, http://www.clements.com, +1 (202) 741-1555, [email protected]
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