We know. We are there.
If the pledge to meet the critical global vision of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals is to be met by 2030, organisations and companies need access to frontline states and to frontier markets.
Climate change, pollution, over-exploitation, lack of vital resources, urbanization, social inequality, unrest and mass migration in a polarized and foggy geopolitical landscape, places increasing demands on finding and delivering sustainable solutions where they are most needed. Solutions for tomorrow.
The needs – and opportunities – are often greatest in settings of adversity. Where risks and uncertainty are unfamiliar, unknown and uncomfortable. Where climate, culture and customs differ from our norms. Where the demands on management to make real-time decisions based on shaky information, combine with an increasing need for safe and balanced solutions.
We enable projects
At Bischoff Advisory we have an extensive track-record in seeing complex projects through, finding the critical path to securing access to markets, resources or those in need. We specialize in advising companies and organizations to achieve success in complex operational environments.
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Our mission is to minimise operational risk in uncertain, complex or even hazardous environments.
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Our mission is to minimise operational risk in uncertain, complex or even hazardous environments. Our first goal is to keep your employees safe. Secondly, we strive to ensure an adequate and sustainable fit with the local environment, providing you with a social license to operate. Thirdly, we safeguard your assets and reputation with the overall purpose of making your project or business successful.
Our advice is always based on in-depth analysis of the underlying structures, patterns and dynamics wherever your operations take place. Whether in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Northern Nigeria, South Sudan, Angola, Iraq, Brazil, Caucasus, Somalia, along the India-Pakistan border or anywhere else, we ensure in-depth understanding of the local setting.
This encompasses analysing the context, ensuring foresight, planning and risk mitigation, enhancing organisational resilience, implementing Duty-of-Care, business continuity programmes and protecting assets and reputation.
SERVICES
Analysis
We provide you with foresight
Our approach as business and project enablers is analytical. We employ state-of-the-art analytical techniques, which have been developed and implemented by leading Western intelligence agencies over the last 15 years. Through our international network we have substantial data which keep us at the front foot of current events. We supply strategic insights, threat assessments, human terrain mapping and analytical training.
Risk Profile
We determine your risks and exposure
All risks are a function of threats, vulnerability and degree of exposure. After analysing and ranking the relevant threats, we do a vulnerability and exposure assessment of the organisation. This involves evaluating staff, structures, systems and their interaction. We advise on documentation including policies, procedures and plans. Finally, we examine patterns of movement and exposure both historically and expected.
Resilience
We strengthen your resilience
Ultimately, resilience is a measure of how well the organisation handles uncertainty. Based on the organisational risk profile we advise on implementation of Duty of Care. We suggest improvements to structures, policies, plans and procedures to enhance situational awareness, agility and preparedness – building your resilience to adversity. No matter how well we analyse, how carefully we plan, train and equip staff, things go wrong. There will be incidents with a varying degree of seriousness. Most projects and organisations are statistically bound to face a major crisis every 5 years – even in more stable settings.
Crisis Management
We make you emerge stronger from crises
Ideally organizations emerge stronger from a crisis. The quality of your intervention is a function of your preparedness. Odds are better, if resources have been allocated, and a response plan has been developed prior to a crisis. When a crisis hits, taking ownership is critical. Gathering appropriate information, timely analysis, deliberate decisions, identifying and mapping key stakeholders and communicating clearly are bedrock elements in crisis management. Then, acting as a team and holding to your values is equally important. We train you in all aspects and put your crisis management team to the test, in fast-paced realistic scenarios.
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CASES
Three typical customer experiences
To some, what we do is abstract. It depends on who you are, your previous exposure to risk, your set-up risk management-wise and naturally where you operate. Below you will find three typical customer experiences; an NGO, realizing that exposure to risk demanded active measures. An SME who suddenly found themselves supplying customers in hazardous areas. A multinational corporation with activities which demanded other insights and another skillset.
NGO
Most Scandinavian NGOs employ subject matter experts, often with extensive travel experience. They also send many visitors, volunteers and ambassadors with less experience to projects abroad. Sometimes they have a safety and security policy, some procedures, take out travel insurance including medical coverage and may have staff on duty 24/7. They will nearly always require threat assessments, advice on mitigation, training and a better incident and crisis management set-up.
SME
Unless they partner with larger companies or have partners abroad, most SME’s are ill prepared for adversity. They often lack a strategic perspective on risk, are ill informed about risks, trends and dynamics and have low resilience. They often lack dedicated staff, and safety & security will often fall on either the COO or the HR director. Outsourcing is a distinct possibility.
Large company
Larger companies often have Safety and Security policies, HSE(Q) is tight in known settings, situational awareness is good on most levels. HSE(Q) staff do compliance checks and audits and know most soft spots. Preparedness is generally sound, and the organization often intervene on behalf of unfortunate travellers. Larger companies may require assistance in unfamiliar areas or with larger events.
A FEW WORDS FROM OUR CLIENTS
“Danish Red Cross has been cooperating with Bischoff Advisory over the last 3 years. They always met our requirements thanks to their professionalism and down to earth approach. They provided us with a wide range of services – and developed a comprehensive security system for us. All despite challenges of limited information in a highly politicized environment and a fragile security situation in Myanmar. I would definitely recommend Bischoff Advisory to any other organisation looking for professionals who can take a task of any level of difficulty and deliver great results.”
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Mariana Liptuga,
Country Director, Danish Red Cross, Myanmar
“I have had extensive co-operation with Bischoff Advisory for many years in Somalia and Afghanistan. Bo is an excellent manager and networker with a very well developed ability to organise complex operations during difficult and challenging conditions.When it comes to organising safety and security for organisations they have proved – on several occasions – that they are second to none with regard to creating effective and safe working conditions. I am pleased to recommend Bischoff Advisory as a partner in complex security situations.”
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Arne Vågen,
Head of International Department, Danish Refugee Council
“The International Federation of the Red Cross sought the advice of Bischoff Advisory during a crisis in Cambodia. Bo has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the security field, with operational experience in conflict situations from Bosnia to Somalia. Bo is composed, collected, though decisive under pressure, and his ability to provide sound analysis, guidance and support in complex security environments is exceptional, setting him aside as a leading security advisor.”
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John Entwistle,
Head of Delegation, IFRC Cambodia
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