Resource Library

Sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH) occur as a result of deeply entrenched power imbalances which also present themselves in the workplace. A healthy organizational culture is an important way to address these power imbalances and is integral in the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (PSEAH) by and of NGO staff. 

CEOs and other Senior Leaders play a crucial role in setting the tone at the top by prioritizing and dedicating adequate resources to safeguarding. This tool is designed for safeguarding/PSEAH leads to use with CEOs and other senior leaders to stimulate conversations and promote sustained attention and action to improve your organizations safeguarding culture.

This session is designed to be used in conjunction with InterActions Getting Real About Your Organizations Safeguarding Culture video.

Safeguarding, defined as exploitation and abuse committed by humanitarian aid workers on beneficiaries, is a complex and sensitive topic, which can be challenging to communicate. PSEA, or protection from sexual exploitation and abuse, is a type of safeguarding and is often referred to in humanitarian aid settings. Communicating rights and reporting to children carries additional significant challenges. Children are more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse than adults, due to their lower levels of agency and language to describe the types of behaviours that they are experiencing. Children are less able to speak against those in positions of power, and may be persuaded to keep inappropriate actions a secret or be more easily subjected to threats and intimidation against their loved ones. Traditional approaches to reporting mechanisms within the sector – hotlines, online platforms, and complaint boxes – may not work for children who are less likely to have access to the technology, locations, and writing skills to voice their experiences. Ensuring that we prevent and create safe spaces for children to report takes additional steps, tailored approaches, and innovation. This project aims to be the start of building a library of materials that are specifically directed to safeguarding of children.

The contents of this facilitation guide are to be used in coordination with the Community Based Safeguarding Visual Toolkit developed by Habitat for Humanity International, Oxfam International, and WaterAid.

Food for the Hungry (FH) wishes to thank Safer Edge for their work to write and design this facilitation guide and to InterAction for their generosity in helping to fund this project.

This guide is provided by InterAction for general distribution and use.

This document contains the French translation of the IMC and Concern Safeguarding Focal Point Training.

This is the Spanish translation of CARE’s Workplace Culture Toolkit.

InterAction is committed to supporting NGO fora across the globe in expanding their capacities to foster collective accountability and undertake collective action. Specifically, InterAction works to maintain and strengthen a global community of practice, providing governance advice and expertise, supporting advocacy, and promoting the pivotal role fora play in the broader humanitarian community.