Community-based approaches to tackling ecological breakdown and the climate crisis are increasingly under threat from repressive governments, corrupt corporations, and organised crime groups. Violence and repression silence Indigenous voices, endanger local communities, and undermine grassroots responses to environmental destruction.
This escalating danger is evident in Open Briefing’s work supporting community leaders, grassroots organisations, and environmental movements with holistic security solutions. In 2024, 30% of the calls for our assistance came from individuals and groups facing risks because of their efforts to protect the environment and demand climate action.
A grassroots organisation under threat
Caminos de Agua is leading efforts to improve human health and community wellbeing in Mexico by ensuring access to clean water. Its participatory approach empowers communities across the country to take ownership of their water future.
In the Upper Rio Laja Watershed, more than 740,000 people face an escalating water crisis. Groundwater levels are depleting by up to seven feet per year, and remaining water sources are increasingly contaminated with harmful chemicals. Caminos actively monitors water quality, exposes chemical contaminants, and develops low-cost water technologies – benefiting over 50,000 people in the region and across Mexico.
Operating in areas affected by territorial disputes between drug cartels and other non-state actors exposed the Caminos team to severe security threats, including harassment, physical assault, extortion, and death threats – especially when travelling through territories controlled by criminal groups. They also faced a heightened risk of excessive force by police, along with patterns of attacks and reprisals in the local area against organisations advocating for environmental and human rights issues. Additionally, water scarcity and natural resource disputes remain particularly sensitive within the local community.
Recognising these dangers, Caminos partnered with Open Briefing to strengthen its security and resilience. The organisation’s founder and executive director, Dylan Terrell, shared that “After dealing with several security incidents over the past two years, and not knowing how to properly respond, we turned to Open Briefing for security and protection support.”
Renata Oliveira, one of Open Briefing’s safety and security coordinators, emphasised the complexity of their situation. “Caminos faced a variety of security risks that endangered their team and their mission,” she explained. “The nature of their work also meant we had to consider the possibility of risks being transferred between Caminos, its local partners, and the communities they work with.”
Strengthening security through tailored solutions
Open Briefing’s safety and security team worked closely with Caminos to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment and deliver risk-awareness workshops. Together, we then designed and implemented strategies to improve personal safety and organisational security, including in the office, during travel, and in community meetings, as well as in response to security incidents.
A key priority was ensuring these measures were practical and tailored to Caminos’s unique circumstances. Dylan explained that “When certain measures would be too difficult or unrealistic to implement, Open Briefing found ways to adapt them to our needs without sacrificing organisational security. This incredibly collaborative process was led by clear experts with years of relevant experience.”
Renata added that “We spent time rolling out the frameworks through workshops that engaged the entire team. This ensured the solutions we co-developed were not only effective but also embedded and sustainable.”
Beyond this, we helped Caminos formalise a security focal point role and establish new incident reporting processes.
The impact of this tailored, co-developed support was clear in Dylan’s reflections:
“Open Briefing’s expertise has been revolutionary for our organisation. All of this was done in a way specifically designed for our organisation and considering our own limitations. Thanks to this incredibly in-depth and thorough experience with Open Briefing, we are now implementing a comprehensive security plan that will protect not only our staff but also our community partners.”
Holistic security must be a priority
Caminos’s story reflects a global challenge. Organisations working alongside local communities to drive participatory and grassroots environmental solutions face increasingly complex risks. These threats come from powerful adversaries – both state and non-state actors – who view these movements as threats to their financial and political interests.
An open civic space is fundamental to tackling ecological breakdown and the climate crisis effectively. Holistic security is not a luxury; it is an essential foundation for impactful and sustainable action. Dylan underscored this need:
“Thanks to Open Briefing, we received incredible, world-class security consulting, fully funded. Doing this kind of security work should be inherent to any organisation like ours that works in vulnerable communities and sensitive areas; however, it’s not always within reach.”
Open Briefing partners with foundations and philanthropists to ensure that fully-funded holistic security support is available to grassroots activists and organisations at risk – particularly across the global majority – regardless of their access to funding and international networks. This is more than an investment in security; it is an investment in the future of our communities and our planet.
If you would like to join our incredible community of donors, please contact the Open Briefing development team at info@openbriefing.org.