Safeguarding

BBFD is committed to working across the humanitarian and development sector to strengthen organisational safeguarding measures that guarantee the safety and protection of programme participants from sexual abuse and exploitation and the protection of staff from bullying and harassment.

Whilst there are important sector standards and compliance elements of safeguarding, complex organisational change is also required to create a safer organisations. BBFD works to ensure adherence to global standards through safeguarding policies and procedures is balanced with an attention to culture, leadership and how the voices of dominant and subordinate groups are heard and attended to. Complex safeguarding issues are often best discussed and understood using methods that provide opportunities for everyone to engage with real workplace challenges. BBFD provides a sensitive, thorough approach which facilitates discussions across the organisation and with programme participants helps create practical safeguarding solutions.

Safeguarding can be defined as preventing harm to people in the delivery of development and humanitarian assistance. It requires organisations to prevent sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH); to protect programme participants from that harm; and to respond appropriately when harm does occur. It also seeks to prevent, protect and respond to bullying and harassment of workers.

The present

In 2018 the sector was rocked by media reports of sexual exploitation in Haiti, and again in 2021 in Democratic Republic of Congo.

Bullying and harassment, including, sexual harassment, of workers within toxic workplace cultures has also been exposed.

Safeguarding services 

BBFD provides a number of safeguarding services:

• Culture and leadership: Work with leaders to address the challenges and make decisions on the many complex issues associated with leading a safe organisation including addressing where power lies, promoting dialogues with subordinate groups and being survivor-focussed. Effective leaders create safer cultures, programmes and donor compliance.
• Capacity strengthening: Workshop, training, mentoring and coaching to designated safeguarding staff so they are better equipped to lead and implement safeguarding initiatives in their organisations.
• Policy and procedures: Develop or enhance safeguarding policies and procedures to ensure compliance with donor and sector standards and integration to the wider organisational policies and practices.

BBFD will inform your safeguarding approaches based on current trends and developments on policy and practice in the sector, including practical safeguarding implementation in remote locations with limited access to formal services.

Angie, your consultant

I work extensively to safeguard against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. I have worked with organisations to design and update organisational policies and procedures, conducted organisational safeguarding reviews, built capacity of practitioners, leaders and boards through designing and facilitating training and workshops. I mentor safeguarding leads.

I also coach workers who have experienced workplace bullying and harassment.

Examples of projects

• BookAid International, UK- Developed safeguarding and associated policies
• CAFOD- Reviewed safeguarding approaches with partners
• ChildFund, US- Developed the child safeguarding policy and procedures and hosted a series of regional webinars to support dissemination
• GCPS Consulting- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK- Developed e-learning and face-to-face safeguarding training modules; Plan International Safeguarding and Workplace Culture Survey
• Keeping Children Safe- Facilitated child safeguarding workshops and provided follow up support on policy development for USAID funded programmes and Hope4Children partners in Uganda, Nigeria and Tanzania; Designed and facilitated Case Management training for 18 Child Protection Networks in partnership with UNICEF Nigeria; Conducted child safeguarding audits of Save the Children members; Developed and delivered child protection focal point workshops and provided ongoing mentoring to Australian Sports Outreach Programme partners in Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea
• Mines Advisory Group- Reviewed safeguarding culture and facilitated training. Mentored safeguarding lead and staff
• Orbis- Reviewed safeguarding policies and procedures
• Plan International- Facilitated the Core Top-Level Safeguarding Group Meeting
• Safeguarding Resource and Support Hub- Capacity Development Lead responsible for e-learning and mentoring
  

Learn more about how BBFD can provide you with safeguarding services 

Confidentiality

BBFD maintains client confidentiality and will work within your Safeguarding Policy. Where BBFD have safeguarding concerns that have not been addressed through formal organisational channels reports may been made to local authorities or regulatory bodies.