Our Work

Through ISOA’s 4 Pillars: Member Company Growth; Partnerships & Outreach; Government Advocacy; and Research &, Analysis, members receive unique benefits that are valuable and measurable.

MEMBER COMPANY GROWTH

ISOA delivers diverse and innovative events and communications promoting effective use of private sector and nongovernmental capabilities, such as:

• Summits and conferences with keynote speakers, informational sessions, and networking opportunities;
• Industry-relevant forums and panels;
• Business match-making events;
• Networking social events.

PARTNERSHIPS & OUTREACH

ISOA fosters partnerships across industry, government, NGO, and commercial sectors and provides a vital voice in the foreign assistance conversation. Some of our partners include:

• Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute (PKSOI) at the Army War College in Carlisle, PA;
• American Business Council in Dubai, UAE;
• American Chamber of Commerce in Abu Dhabi, UAE;
• Afghan-American Chamber of Commerce in Kabul, Afghanistan;
• Virginia Values Veterans, Department of Veterans Services in Richmond, VA.

GOVERNMENT ADVOCACY

ISOA promotes appropriate regulation alongside industry standards to ensure the delivery of the highest quality services in fragile environments worldwide. Some of our recent activities include:

Advocating to Congress on behalf of ISOA member companies who are working
in Afghanistan, to resolve unfair fair taxation practices by the Afghan government.

Advocating to the Department of Defense to address issues that require changes to the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019; including removal of penalties for a failed bid protest; and removal of the source selection practice “Lowest Price, Technically Acceptable” and replacement with “Best Value.”

RESEARCH & ANALYSIS

ISOA leads studies in Stability Operations worldwide and on major issues identified by our members. ISOA produces white papers to impact decisions of key government policy makers on topics such as:

• Afghan Tax Issues;
• Combatting Trafficking In Persons (CTIPs);
• Private Security Companies and the International Code of Conduct Association (ICoCA);
• National Defense Authorization Act – Regarding Bid-Protests;
• Lowest Price, Technically Acceptable – Bid Selection Process;
• Women in Stability Operations;
• Operational Stress Impact on Stability Operations.

Advocacy

On behalf of our members, ISOA is engaged with policy-makers and key government agencies at all levels on issues that affect the industry every day. ISOA advocacy efforts include white papers, visits to U.S. policymakers on Capitol Hill and in key federal agencies, as well as engagement with government agencies of countries where our members operate and from which they receive funding.

Member Committees

ISOA’s Committees and Working Groups facilitate necessary dialogue among the association and those it represents, as well as among Member organizations internationally. ISOA acts as a forum and a clearing-house for rapidly-changing information, and assists members to develop proposals for action on a real-time basis.  These may be ad hoc task forces of members in locations abroad, coalitions of the willing to take issues to Embassies, the Pentagon, State or the Hill, or working groups of members trying to solve problems or source supplies. Having personnel serve on committees and lead working groups ensures that Members have a positive influence on association activities and have access to information on trends and issues related to the industry at large.

Annual Summit

ISOA’s flagship conference, the ISOA Annual Summit is the premier event of the stability community. Bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, implementers, and experts, the Summit is the must-attend event for organizations working in fragile environments across the globe.

Monthly Events

Through sponsored events, ISOA members gain access to the unique community that is the ISOA network—from industry leaders to policymakers to the leading thinkers on stability, peace and development. Networking receptions, invite-only breakfast and lunch sessions, and interactive panel events are just a few examples of ISOA’s innovative and engaging events, providing unparalleled business intelligence and networking.

Communications & Publications

ISOA is a powerful voice for the stability community, bringing your experience from the field to the global conversation in government, research and the news. The association’s flagship quarterly, Stability Operations magazine, is the world’s only publication exploring topics pertinent to public, private and nongovernmental sector actors partnering in peace and stability operations. ISOA also provides a members-only industry intelligence and business development e-communications, distributed monthly and via ad hoc alerts.