Humanitarian tracking solutions for NGOs have become a critical operational requirement as aid organisations operate in increasingly complex and high-risk environments. NGOs deliver essential services such as shelter, food, medical care, and education across regions affected by natural disasters, conflict, and climate-related displacement.
Over the past two decades, humanitarian needs have grown significantly in both scale and complexity. According to UN estimates, the number of people requiring humanitarian assistance worldwide has increased from approximately 70-80 million in the early 2000s to more than 300 million today. As operations expand into remote and unstable regions, ensuring staff safety and operational visibility has become a growing priority.
At the same time, NGO field teams face rising security risks, including:
• Armed conflict and civil unrest
• Criminal activity
• Environmental and climate-related hazards
Dedicated Safety and Security Teams monitor these risks and advise humanitarian managers on how to deploy personnel safely. However, security conditions can change rapidly and with little warning, making real-time visibility and reliable communication essential.
Technology now plays a central role in enabling humanitarian tracking solutions for NGOs. While traditional tools such as VHF radios and mobile phones remain widely used, they can become unreliable when:
• Infrastructure is damaged
• Mobile networks fail
• Access is restricted during crises
Combined with ongoing funding constraints and reduced staffing levels, NGOs increasingly rely on automated tracking systems to maintain situational awareness and protect field teams.
In an operational landscape shaped by rising security risks, expanding humanitarian needs, and tighter budgets, humanitarian tracking solutions for NGOs help maintain staff safety while reducing operational burden.
Modern tracking solutions allow NGOs to:
By automating routine tracking tasks, safety and security teams can focus on threat assessment and decision-making rather than constant supervision.
These solutions are designed for:
A humanitarian tracking solution typically consists of two core components.
Tracking devices are carried by field staff or installed in vehicles and assets. Devices such as the Garmin inReach range include built-in GPS and satellite connectivity, enabling reliable location reporting even in areas without mobile coverage. In addition to tracking, these devices support two-way satellite messaging, providing a dependable communication channel during emergencies or network outages.
The monitoring platform is the operational backbone of humanitarian tracking solutions for NGOs. Platforms such as Traksat allow safety and security teams to visualise movements, manage alerts, and communicate with deployed users from a single interface.
Security managers can configure geofences, receive automated alerts when predefined boundaries are crossed, and update risk zones dynamically as security conditions evolve. Integrated messaging tools allow urgent instructions, such as areas to avoid or orders to return to base, to be sent instantly to individuals or groups.
Since releasing its first GPS-based product in 1990, Garmin has grown into a global leader in navigation and positioning technologies. Over the past 35 years, the company has expanded its portfolio from high-precision surveying equipment to consumer and professional solutions used worldwide.
Garmin devices integrate multiple global navigation satellite systems, including GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou, and pair this capability with Iridium satellite communication through the inReach product line. This combination enables truly global tracking and messaging coverage.
Because Garmin manufactures at scale for the retail market, its devices are widely available, durable, and produced to high reliability standards. Humanitarian organisations can often source Garmin equipment locally, which simplifies procurement and deployment.
Garmin also offers its own consumer-oriented tracking interface, MapShare. Designed for recreational users, MapShare enables basic location sharing, messaging, and SOS routing to public emergency services. While effective for personal outdoor activities, it lacks the operational control, scalability, and governance required for humanitarian missions.
Garmin MapShare is well suited to individual users, but humanitarian operations require a more comprehensive and centrally managed solution.
Traksat is fully compatible with all Garmin inReach devices and can also monitor a wider range of technologies, including mobile phones, selected satellite phones, and other tracking systems. This enables organisations to manage mixed-technology fleets through a single operational interface.
In regions where public emergency services are limited or unavailable, Traksat allows SOS alerts to be routed directly to:
This ensures appropriate escalation pathways without relying solely on external responders.
Traksat also offers institutional billing flexibility. Credit-card payments are not required, and services can be consolidated alongside other connectivity solutions, reducing administrative and financial complexity for humanitarian organisations operating at scale.
A side-by-side comparison table follows here to highlight the differences between consumer-oriented and operational tracking platforms.
| Feature | Garmin MapShare | Traksat |
|---|---|---|
| Satellite positioning & navigation | Built into Garmin inReach devices | Uses the same device capability |
| Two-way satellite messaging & SOS | Available on inReach devices | Managed centrally across teams |
| Tracking interface | Simple web sharing page | Centralised operational platform |
Garmin MapShare
Built into Garmin inReach devices
Traksat
Uses the same device capability
Garmin MapShare
Available on inReach devices
Traksat
Managed centrally across teams
Garmin MapShare
Simple web sharing page
Traksat
Centralised operational platform
The Traksat platform supports monitoring across the full range of Garmin inReach devices, as well as satellite phones, digital VHF systems, and other compatible technologies. Its technology-agnostic design allows security teams to oversee multiple tracking solutions through a single interface.
Many organisations already own Traksat-compatible equipment, enabling rapid deployment without significant additional investment. Direct, secure connections to satellite networks ensure that location data and personal information are protected and do not pass through public networks.
Live tracking of personnel, vehicles, and assets supports proactive safety management in remote and high-risk locations.
Automated alerts notify teams when predefined boundaries are crossed, helping organisations prevent exposure to known risks.
Security teams can communicate directly with field users, enabling check-ins, instructions, and situational updates.
SOS alerts can be routed to internal responders or designated partners, ensuring appropriate response pathways in areas without public emergency services.
Reporting and analytics tools support mission review, resource optimisation, and compliance with operational standards.
Demand for tracking solutions within the humanitarian sector continues to grow and is expected to increase further in 2026. Garmin is likely to remain a preferred hardware provider due to its reliability, competitive pricing, and global availability.
Garmin is expected to introduce the new inReach Mini 3, offering extended battery life and the ability to send photos via satellite, an important enhancement for situational awareness.
On the software side, Traksat’s dedicated mobile app, launching mid-2026, will address the deployment limitations of consumer apps and provide a streamlined, purpose-built experience for humanitarian organisations.
Summary: Garmin and Traksat for Humanitarian Operations
Garmin inReach devices provide reliable satellite tracking and messaging at the field level, while Traksat transforms this data into a centralised, operational tracking solution designed specifically for NGOs. Together, they enable safer deployments, faster incident response, and reduced operational burden in complex humanitarian environments.
