Creating the secure conditions for humanitarian partners to operate with confidence in complex environments.
Across Africa, humanitarian access has become one of the most critical challenges for NGOs, UN agencies, and aid organisations. Conflict, political instability, and weak infrastructure often prevent life-saving assistance from reaching those who need it most. Over the past year, Castor Vali has supported clients operating in regions where aid delivery is especially difficult, including:
- In northern Mozambique, supporting international clients operating in Cabo Delgado, where armed group attacks displaced tens of thousands in July, cutting off supply lines.
- In the DRC, where our teams provided intelligence and operational support when M23 advances around Goma severed key humanitarian routes in early 2025, forcing evacuations.
- In Somalia, we continue to work with international partners where aid access requires secure transportation, effective stakeholder engagement, and coordinated risk management.
Our role in these environments has focused on enabling clients to operate safely. Yet the risks highlighted in these cases, from insurgent activity to disrupted logistics and fragile local acceptance, can make it difficult for humanitarian organisations to reach vulnerable populations. The central question, therefore, is ‘how agencies can sustain safe and reliable access to those who need it most?’.
Why Humanitarian Access Matters
Ensuring aid delivery is not just about permission. It requires:
- Real-time intelligence and risk management.
- Security and protection for staff and convoys.
- Reliable logistics and infrastructure.
- Local acceptance and stakeholder support.
How Castor Vali Supports Humanitarian Access
Castor Vali’s core role in hostile environments is to assess, mitigate, and manage risks that prevent agencies from achieving their aims and reaching populations in need. We do this through:
Information and Intelligence
- Country risk reporting and atmospherics monitoring.
- Early warning on conflict dynamics, unrest, or regulatory restrictions.
- Context on stakeholders, armed actors, and community attitudes to support access negotiations
Community and Stakeholder Engagement
- Liaison with elders, local leaders, and security actors.
- Advising NGOs on “do no harm” and conflict sensitivity approaches.
- Advising and supporting negotiations to facilitate secure passage.
Operational Support and Risk Management
- Security risk assessments for NGO/UN field operations.
- Journey management, protective services, and secure transport.
- Tracking and communications for mobile teams.
- Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT), medical response training, and safe travel preparation.
- Crisis management planning, including evacuation support.
Creating the Conditions for Aid to Succeed
For many organisations, ‘humanitarian access’ describes the same security and risk management functions that underpin our corporate security services. Castor Vali’s ability to operate at this intersection ensures our clients, whether NGOs, UN agencies, or corporates, can continue their missions with confidence.
Castor Vali’s experience across Africa positions us as a trusted, neutral enabler between international organisations and local stakeholders. Our services create the conditions for aid to be delivered safely, ethically, and effectively.
More Information
Regardless of your industry or location in Africa, Castor Vali can provide tailored security solutions to the highest standards. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your projects and ensure their success in challenging African environments.
