On August 1st 2025, HDFF participated in the 4^th International Conference on Governance and Development, organized by the College of Public Affairs and Development of the University of the Philippines, Los Baños and Kasetsart University, hosted by at Kasetsart University.

Other lessons of the conference can be found in our last conference reports.

Within the scope of the “Organized Panel 7 – CIFAL BKK/Asian Institute of Technology (AIT): Bridging Knowledge and Practice: Empowering Communities, Governance and Climate Action for Sustainable Futures through Lifelong Learning”, Board Director Dr. Herrmann Wilfried raised awareness on the importance of specific security training and made the case for further integration of security training and education for vulnerable communities and workers.

In a presentation entitled “Knowledge Improves Life – Reflections on a Lifelong Learning Process. How To Protect Vulnerable People and Humanitarian Workers”, he highlighted the need to complement research with field training, in order to protect the people who implement policies and turn academic findings into practice. In fact, security is today a key component in the nexus between governance, global citizenship and community empowerment. Yet, despite its centrality, it is often not taken into consideration.

In this regard, HDFF was founded in 2007 with a key vision, that of addressing the needs of communities in the framework of Human Security to create new opportunities to empower and strengthen the capacities of people. Aimed at reaching all levels of society from grassroots movements to top leaders, we believe sharing knowledge and improving skills of government and civil society organizations fosters efficiency and thus contributes to an overall improvement of performance and to the reducing of human suffering.

Recalling HDFF’s moto “Knowledge improves life”, Dr. Wilfried underscored the importance not only of learning about safety and security in a world marked by VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) but of relearning often enough to ensure knowledge is up-to-date and matches current threats. This regards not only First Aid Training but also specific courses such as Hostile Environment Awareness Trainings.

While the hope is naturally that such skills never come in hand, training for these situations is crucial in many regards. First, because when they happen, there is no time to look for information. Second, since preparation helps not to freeze or run away. Third, because preparation protects the entire team given every unprepared individual may put the team at risk.

In this context, safety culture is not merely an option, but a crucial tool to implement sustainable development projects in VUCA environment knowing personal risks are reduced. Dr Wilfried nonetheless denounced a lack of consideration for such trainings in many proposals, a hidden cost which in reality only shows once it is too late.

He thus ended with a strong message: General knowledge builds life but specific knowledge saves lives. BE AWARE – PREPARE – SURVIVE. Training is a silent form of respect, dignity and responsibility.

The HDFF team is grateful to Kasetsart University and to the University of the Philippines, Los Baños for the invitation and the chance to raise awareness on the need for security trainings. HDFF is looking forward to future opportunities and exchanges.

Additional resources can be found in the ICGD 4 Book of Abstracts.