Safeguarding against sexual exploitation and abuse and harassment (SEAH) in the aid sector

Safeguarding broadly means avoiding harm to people or the environment. Since early 2018, the FCDO has been focused on safeguarding against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment (SEAH) in the international aid sector.

Our goal is to ensure all those involved in poverty reduction take all reasonable steps to prevent harm, particularly SEAH, from occurring; listen to those who are affected; respond sensitively but robustly when harm or allegations of harm occur; and learn from every case.

The FCDO’s work on SEAH looks at both the FCDO and the partners we fund with Official Development Assistance (ODA) to deliver development and humanitarian programmes around the world, often with vulnerable people.

In September 2020 the FCDO launched a UK Strategy on safeguarding against sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment in the aid sector that applies to all UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) spend. This strategy explains what UK government departments that engage in ODA will do to improve safeguarding standards internally, in partner organisations, and across the whole international aid sector. All UK government ODA spending departments signed up to the strategy.

This site provides an overview of the FCDO’s work and points to guidance for those working in the aid sector on how to safeguard their people and programmes.

Sources:

• UN Glossary on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse 2nd Edition
• UN General Assembly Resolution “Intensification of efforts to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls: sexual harassment” (A/RES/73/148)

FCDO’s safeguarding standards

The FCDO expects all partners we work with to take all reasonable steps to safeguard the people they come into contact with (including staff and the communities in which programmes are delivered) from SEAH. The FCDO holds ourselves to at least the same high standards we expect of our partners.

Along with other OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) donors, we adhere to 2 sets of international minimum standards on tackling SEAH:

• the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Minimum Operating Standards on Preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
• the relevant elements of The Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability

For partners under an accountable grant or MoU, these standards are reflected in our Safeguarding against SEAH Due Diligence guidance. All FCDO partners delivering a programme via an accountable grant or MoU will have their capability on safeguarding against sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment (SEAH) examined as part of the overall FCDO Due Diligence process.

For partners under a contract, the standards are reflected in our Supply Partner Code of Conduct and Terms and Conditions. The Supply Partner Code of Conduct willhas also applyapplied to partners with whom the FCDO has had an accountable grant from late 2019.

Overview of the 6 key SEAH safeguarding areas in the FCDO’s due diligence guidance.

The principles that FCDO is committed to applying in relation to safeguarding against SEAH and that we expect our partners to apply in their work and through their delivery chains are:

• everyone has responsibility for safeguarding
• do no harm
• organisations have a safeguarding duty of care to beneficiaries and other stakeholders, staff and volunteers, as well as to children and adults-at-risk who may be directly or indirectly delivering or impacted by the programme and may be vulnerable to abuse
• act with integrity, be transparent and accountable
• all activity is done in the best interests of the child/at risk person in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Children Act 1989, FCDO defines a child as any individual under the age of 18 regardless of the age of majority/consent in a given country
• all children and adults shall be treated equally, irrespective of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression and sex characteristics (SOGIESC); religion/or none; race; ethnicity; disability; or any other protected characteristic as listed in the Equality Act (2010)
• organisations that work with children and adults at risk should apply a safeguarding lens to their promotional communications and fundraising activities

How to report a safeguarding concern to the FCDO

If you are in immediate danger, call the police if safe to do so or your relevant security team.

Any concerns about sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment (SEAH) relating to FCDO staff or programmes should be reported to the FCDO’s dedicated Safeguarding Investigations Team via:

• reportingconcerns@fcdo.gov.uk
• telephone +44 1355 843747.843747

If you are unsure whether to report a concern, then please contact us via the email address above for advice.

It is possible to report concerns anonymously and the FCDO will treat all reported concerns in confidence. We will consider whether onward referral is appropriate. In some cases this could be to the National Crime Agency (NCA), Charity Commission, police or other relevant authority.

The FCDO expects its programme partners to have mechanisms in place to prevent SEAH, to facilitate reporting and also to respond sensitively but robustly when cases are reported.

The FCDO’s commitments on safeguarding

The FCDO is holding ourselves to at least the same high standards we expect of our partners on safeguarding against SEAH.

UK SEAH Safeguarding Strategy

In September 2020 the FCDO launched a UK Strategy on safeguarding against sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment in the aid sector that applies to all UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) spend. This strategy explains what UK government departments that engage in ODA will do to improve safeguarding standards internally, in partner organisations, and across the whole international aid sector. All UK government ODA spending departments signed up to the strategy.

Donor commitments from the Safeguarding Summit

Twenty-two donors, including all UK government departments who spend Official Development Assistance, signed up to commitments at the 18 October 2018 Safeguarding Summit. Donors agreed to report back on progress.

Cross-sector progress report

The FCDO has also worked with the other 8 key groups who made commitments at the 18 October 2018 Safeguarding Summit donors, UN, IFIs, UK NGOs, UK private sector, UK research funders, CDCBII and Gavi and the Global Fund, and also the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement who made related commitments in 2019 – to drive sector change. The FCDO continues to chair the Safeguarding Cross Sector Steering Group (CSSG) every 3 months. Read the reports:

• 1-year-on (2018 to 2019) cross-sector progress report
• 2-years-on (2019 to 2020) cross-sector progress report
• 3-years-on (2020 to 2021) cross-sector progress report
• 4-years-on (2021 to 2022) cross-sector progress report

FCDO progress report

The FCDO has published reports with further detail on the action that has been taken within the department to take forward the commitments made at the Safeguarding Summit:

• 1-year-on (2018 to 2019) FCDO progress report
• 2-year-on (2019 to 2020) FCDO progress report
• 3-year-on (2020 to 2021) FCDO progress report
• 4-years-on (2021 to 2022) FCDO progress report

DAC Recommendation on Ending Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Assistance

In July 2019, The Development Assistance Committee (DAC) Recommendation on Ending Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Assistance was adopted. It provides a coherent framework for aid agencies and their implementing partners to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment (SEAH) and respond better if it does occur.

The Recommendation is a strong signal that SEAH in the aid sector will not be tolerated. The recommendation was developed by a small team co-chaired by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Ireland and Austria and working with the DAC Secretariat. It has been endorsed by all 30 DAC members and willis be monitored through the DAC peer review mechanism.

InternationalThird Developmentparty Committee’sscrutiny inquiryof intoFCDO’s sexualwork exploitationon andtackling abuseSEAH in the aid sector

The IDCUK Parliament’s International Development Committee (IDC) published a report following their 2018 inquiry into SEA in the aid sector and a subsequent follow-up report in Oct 2019. A third IDC inquiry into ‘SEA in the aid sector – next steps’ concluded in January 2021 and the UK government’s response was published by the IDC in April 2021. The Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) conducted a review in 2021 to 2022.

FCDO annual report

FCDO reports to Parliament annually, including on safeguarding. You can read the latest report from SeptemberJuly 20212022.

G7 declarations

The UK was part of the 2018 G7 Whistler Declaration on protection from sexual exploitation and abuse in international assistance. During the 2021 UK Presidency G7 countries reaffirmed their commitment to tackling SEAH.

FCDO safeguarding news

• HMG aid funding open to Oxfam - November 2022
• HMG response to the IDC report on safeguarding
• launch of new programme of support to victims and survivors of sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment in the aid sector
• Save the Children UK can bid for Government funding again after improving safeguarding standards
• International Development Secretary calls on UK aid agencies to share data on staff misconduct
• response to Charity Commission report on Oxfam
• Charity Commission reports on inquiry into Oxfam GB: “No charity is more important than the people it serves or the mission it pursues”
• international summit to crack down on sexual predators in the aid sector
• International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt gives key-note speech at the Safeguarding Summit 2018
• Safeguarding Summit 2018: Global aid community to take action against sexual predators
• statement by International Development Secretary on Save the Children
• Written Ministerial Statement - Update on Safeguarding in the Aid Sector
• statement from the International Development Secretary on Oxfam

Safeguarding resources

Summary of findings from central assurance assessments of FCDO partners

A summary report from safeguarding-specific Central Assurance Assessments carried out on 31 civil-society organisations that the FCDO funds.

SEAH Safeguarding due diligence guidance

Detailed guidance and criteria when it comes to assessing partner capability on safeguarding against sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment (SEAH).

Sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment in the aid sector: victims and survivor voices listening exercise

Findings from an FCDO listening exercise with a diverse range of both southern and international representatives of victims and survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment. See section on strengthening support to survivors.

Safeguarding Summit 2018: are you listening?

This audio-visual presentation contains anonymised accounts by victims and survivors of SEAH by aid workers. The quotes are drawn from existing published sources and the voices in the recording are those of volunteers (mainly FCDO staff) whose identities are not disclosed. We did not interview or record victims / survivors directly in order to avoid retraumatizing individuals and ensure all accounts are anonymous. The voices do not necessarily match the characteristics of the victim / survivor.

Watch the introductory video: Are you listening?

Charity Commission: safeguarding

Guidance on safeguarding from the charity regulator for England and Wales.

Safeguarding resourceResource and supportSupport hubHub

TheFunding FCDOfor fundedthe Safeguarding Resource and Support Hub was announced at the October 2018 London Safeguarding Summit. It provides resources and guidance on SEAH safeguarding to support smaller, underless-resourced resourced organisations in the Global South who deliver international aid toprogrammes. strengthenResources theircan safeguardingbe policyaccessed andon practicea againstglobal SEAH. The online platform is(available livein alongside4 6languages) countryand 7 national hubs in Ethiopia, South Sudan, Nigeria, Jordan, SyriaSyria, andYemen, Yemen.Pakistan Furtherand nationalBangladesh. National hubs willprovide betranslated launchedguidance inspecific Asiato inthe 2022local context as well as direct support to organisations through mentorship, training and consultancy. Resources include e-learning, webinars and a directory of consultants.

The programme is led by Options who oversee a diverse consortium consisting of Social Development Direct, Terres des hommes,Hommes, SightsaversSightsavers, and GCPSthe Consulting.International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA).

External guidance

Safeguarding online course

Introduction to Safeguarding in the International Aid Sector online course

This free online course -was developed by the Open UniversityUniversity, with funding from the FCDO, is a free online course to help those working on safeguarding within aid organisations to lead, develop and implement strong safeguarding policies and practices. The first3 modulemodules launchedare indesigned Aprilfor 2021those andleading on safeguarding within organisations, with the secondthird latertargeting insenior 2021.leaders and trustees. It has been designed to be applicable to organisations from the Global South.

Disability inclusive child safeguarding guidelines

People with disabilities are often at an increased risk of SEAH and we need to ensure that they are not forgotten or left behind when safeguarding programmes. Able Child Africa have produced Disability Inclusive Child Safeguarding Guidelines with FCDO support that can be used by staff and our partners.

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)

The NCVO have safeguarding guidance for those working overseas on their website.

SEAH infrastructure tool (PDF, 1.12 MB, 41 pages)

Infrastructure & Cities for Economic Development (ICED) have developed a tool, commissioned by the FCDO, to help organisations identify and mitigate SEAH risks.

Bond: safeguarding guidance resources and tools

Guidance on safeguarding from Bond, the UK network for organisations working in international development.

Bond: report-handling toolkit

FCDO-funded toolkit providing principles and core elements of a safeguarding report-handling mechanism. Includes:

• case studies
• definitions

Bond: online safeguarding culture and leadership tool

FCDO funded discussion-based tool to support leaders of organisations to understand what a positive safeguarding culture looks like.

Scottish Alliance: safeguarding resources

Guidance on safeguarding from the Scottish Alliance, the network for international development organisations based or represented in Scotland

Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability

• Oneone of 2 sets of minimum standards adhered to by members of the OECD DAC
• Guidanceguidance Notesnotes and Indicatorsindicators, verification Framework, PSEA index and Quick Reference Handbook are also available providing information on how to apply these standards in practice
• a 3-tier Investigator Qualification Training Scheme. Each level progressively supports advanced levels of professional training. Their SEAH investigation guide is available and online training in progress for levels 1 and 2, whilst the pilot of tier 3 has recently concluded

Inter-Agency Standing Committee Minimum Operating Standards on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

One of 2 sets of minimum standards adhered to by members of the OECD DAC. Their website includes tools and guidance for organisations. The IASC have a multi-year PSEA strategy (2022-2026) (PDF, 204 KB) and a global PSEA dashboard. In 2022 it developed and introduced a Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Risk Overview index, to help understand and assess SEA risk globally. IASC have also published a relatedrelated Best Best Practice Guide on Inter-Agency Community-Based Complaints Mechanisms.

UN: preventing sexual exploitation and abuse

The WebsiteUN has a website outlining UN action and guidance on progress against the UN Secretary General’s 2003 Special Measures Report on protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. IncludesIt Factincludes sheetsfactsheets on UN initiatives and quarterly reports on allegations in UN Field Missions and System-widesystem-wide.

UKCDR guidance on safeguarding in international research

UK Collaborative on Development Research (UKCDR) has published guidance on how to ensure the highest safeguarding standards in the context of international development research and how to implement it during the current Covid-19COVID-19 pandemic. They have also published their report on the international consultation process.process.

Humanitarian Quality Assurance Initiative (HQAI)

HQAI is an independent auditor for the humanitarian and development sector that verifies adherence to the Core Humanitarian Standard. Organisations can apply to their Facilitation Fund for support.

Safeguarding Summit 2018

On 18 October 2018, the UK government hosted an international summit in London - Putting People First: Tackling Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment in the Aid Sector - to drive collective action to better prevent and respond to SEAH.

Representatives from across the sector attended and 8 sets of commitment documents were presented from different groups of organisations (donors, UN, IFIs, UK NGOs, UK private sector, UK research funders, CDC and Gavi and the Global Fund).

Watch the live recording of the event.

Read the speech made at the summit by the then International Development Secretary

The FCDO chairs a Cross-Sector Safeguarding Steering Group with representatives of those that made commitments at the summit.

UK NGO Safeguarding Summit March 2018

The 18 October 2018 international summit was preceded by a summit for UK NGOs held on 5 March 2018. Read the joint statement from that summit.

Employment cycle initiatives

The FCDO is supporting 3 initiatives focused on the employment cycle which aim to prevent perpetrators moving around the aid sector undetected and improve information sharing between organisations and with law enforcement.

Project Soteria

FCDO, in partnership with INTERPOL established Project SOTERIA, focused on the criminal aspects of sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment in the international aid sector. The project seeks to establish an advanced level of collaboration between law enforcement agencies and aid sector organizationsorganisations in order to prevent sexual offenders from using their positions to access and offend against children and vulnerable adults. It aimsseeks to workdevelop initiallyand inenhance Indonesia,mechanisms Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Nepal, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia .The project includes:

• capacity building for lawdetection, enforcement:reporting, enhancinginvestigation the capacity of law enforcement to use more effectively criminal record keeping to manage sex offenders as well as increase their awareness and understandingdeterrence on the issue of sexualsuch abusecases inboth thewhen context of aid work
• information sharing and notices:before promotingthey theoccur use of INTERPOL Green and Purple Notices to disseminatekeep intelligencepeople internationallysafe andfrom reinforceharm. borderProject managementSOTERIA capacityis toglobal assess and useavailable this information to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse
• criminal analysis and investigative support: developing a central understanding of the nature,195 location and patterns of sexual abuse and exploitation by aid sector staff with the ultimate goal to inform prevention and response measures
• assistance to the aid sector: building bridges for cross-sector collaboration between the aid sector and law enforcement communities to jointly address the threat
• threat identification scheme (TIS) pilot: offering the possibility to selected pilot aid sector organizations to send INTERPOL informationmember onstates. theirIt newly-hiredis candidatesbeing topiloted identifyin individuals6 thatcountries: couldKenya, poseTanzania, aUganda, riskThe toPhilippines, vulnerableNepal adults and children
• digital solutions: using a Global Knowledge Hub platform to provide a space to share non-operational, non-personal data; distributing the INTERPOL Baseline (list of hashes of Child Abuse images) to the aid sector and supporting its usage

Bangladesh.

Misconduct Disclosure Scheme

The Inter-Agency Scheme for the Disclosure of Safeguarding-related Misconduct in Recruitment Process within the Humanitarian and Development Sector provides a framework for organisations working in the aid sector to share information about someone’s sexual misconduct during employment via a disclosure form. Signatories to the scheme are able to do this while respecting relevant legal and regulatory requirements. The sharing of this information has the potential to prevent perpetrators of SEAH from moving around the aid sector.

sector as shown by Implementationimplementation data on the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.scheme.

Aid Worker Registration Scheme

The aim of the Aid Worker Registration Scheme is to close the loop on individuals who work in the sector but abuse others, whilst equipping those who conduct themselves appropriately with a trusted source of evidence that details their positive work history.

The steering committee for this project commissioned a legal review to guide progress, which was published in July 2020. Thinking continues about how the scheme could complement other initiatives.

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Safeguarding during COVID-19

The FCDO has developed guidance notes on COVID-19 for FCDO staff and implementing partners on how to prevent and address SEAH in programmes during COVID-19 (PDF, 187 KB, 4 pages) (PDF, 187 KB, 4 pages) and how to ensure that safeguarding is embedded in programmes providing COVID-19 assistance (PDF, 224 KB, 5 pages). (PDF, 224 KB, 5 pages). It describes who is at increased risk of SEAH and provides practical suggestions for programme managers on what concrete actions they can take when working with partners to address SEAH inthe situations such as lockdown or rapid expansion of humanitarian action. There is further guidance signposted via the Resource and Support Hub.