Due to the nature of work that Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) undertake, they will often operate in high-risk environments where security incidents are very likely to occur. 

Women are particularly well-represented in the field of humanitarian aid and constitute roughly 70-75% of the NGO workforce internationally. They are uniquely positioned to achieve a greater socio-cultural understanding of the operating environment through interpersonal skills and shared experiences and awareness. Female workers are also considered less threatening than their male counterparts, which can provide them the ability to operate with more freedom in some conflict zones. The combination of these factors indicates that an assessment of gender-specific security management should not only be considered, but should become an integral component of holistic risk management.