At Open Briefing, we build resistance and resilience among the people and movements challenging unaccountable power. This vital work often carries real risks: digital attacks, physical threats, harassment, and burnout. No one should face these challenges alone. This is why we offer holistic security support across: protection and security, digital risk and resilience, and wellbeing and collective care.
Here are five ways you can work with us – from immediate crisis support to longer-term partnerships.
1. Access our resources and learning tools
We regularly publish free resources, tools, and guides on how to stay safe and healthy in the face of attacks and reprisals. These materials are designed to help you strengthen everyday practices and take practical steps to reduce risks. They are a useful starting point if you are not yet working with us directly and can be shared easily within your networks. Last year, we trained more than 1,000 activists in 112 holistic security workshops around the world; many of the tools we shared there are freely available to you too. This includes our Holistic Security Protocol for Human Rights Defenders, which is now available in 27 languages.
2. Request support through our fully-funded rapid response mechanism
Working for rights and justice can carry real risks, and we recognise that seeking support can sometimes be difficult. Open Briefing provides fully-funded holistic security support to a wide range of people and organisations. Our rapid response mechanism delivers expert help without bureaucracy or delay. Last year, our team responded to 575 calls for assistance from grassroots activists, community groups, and social movements. You can request support directly, or ask one of our trusted referral partners to do so on your behalf. We can provide targeted advice, remote accompaniment, and counselling, as well as contingency planning and other forms of tailored support.
3. Become a network referral partner
If you work with activists and organisations exposed to risk, you can join us as a referral partner for our rapid response mechanism. This provides a safe, trusted route to connect peers and partners with our support. Today, we work with more than 50 referral partners worldwide, including Reporters Without Borders, the World Organisation Against Torture, and the EU’s human rights defenders mechanism. By strengthening this ecosystem, we can reach more people in need faster and reduce barriers to access.
4. Commission bespoke support
Every movement or organisation is different, and so are the risks. As a social impact consultancy, we can work with you to design tailored support, such as risk assessments, security audits, training programmes, pop-up clinics, or wellbeing initiatives. Your organisation can commission this work directly. In some cases, one of your funders may be able to resource it through Nonprofit Builder or Nonprofit Secure. Last year, we delivered over 6,000 hours of holistic security support to organisations in 100 countries – experience that helps us respond effectively to your unique challenges. You can also contract us to directly support your grassroots partners or prize winners, as we do each year with the Goldman Environmental Prize, the Right Livelihood Award, and the Iris Prize.
5. Engage us on retainer
If your organisation faces complex or constant exposure to risk, a retainer offers the most comprehensive way to embed holistic security into your work. We’re honoured to serve as the retained provider for Global Witness, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, and many other leading nonprofits and foundations. Retainers secure priority access to our team and proactive reviews to help you stay ahead of emerging threats. They ensure that trusted support is already in place and ready to respond when issues arise. Retainers also allow us to work strategically with you, building resilience over time rather than only reacting to crises. For many organisations, this is the most effective way to safeguard people and missions in volatile environments and shrinking civic spaces.
Our commitment
Our team members are both experienced professionals and passionate advocates. We are protection specialists, risk advisers, technologists, and psychologists. But above all, we are activists, campaigners, and humanitarians – shaped by many of the same challenges we now help you navigate.
Our commitment is simple: we will work alongside you in times of crisis and in moments of calm, so that your people and organisation can continue to pursue the social, political, and environmental change the world needs. Get in touch to explore how we can best help your organisation achieve its mission.