Safeguarding
The importance of safeguarding in development and humanitarian contexts can never be understated. As a sector, we must never become part of the problem again – and this starts with safeguarding practices.
What we work on
We are working to ensure organisations are equipped to prevent sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment across the international development and humanitarian sector.
We recognise that, in some cases, the international development sector has fallen short on safeguarding and let down the people we work with.
Bond is committed to supporting our members to improve their safeguarding policies and practices.
The impact of our work
As part of our commitment to change in safeguarding, we work with organisations across the international development and humanitarian sectors to drive forward better practice and standards.
We collaborate with sector experts and our working groups on projects and resources to improve safeguarding practices, some of which you can find below.
A discussion-based tool on organisational culture change
Get the toolA set of definitions to support members with reporting and complaints
Find out moreA good governance guide for trustees
Get the guideWe also undertake an annual safeguarding survey to ensure our safeguarding services and resources are relevant, address recurring issues, and measure progress in the sector.
If you have any questions about our work on safeguarding, please get in touch.
Get involved
Join the Safeguarding Working Group
A space for Bond members to learn and share practical aspects of safeguarding with colleagues in the sector. This is our main safeguarding hub and resource producer.
Join now
Join the Practice for Locally Led Working Group
Learn, discuss challenges and share best practice to support INGOs to enable locally led development, including safeguarding.
Join nowNot a member? Join us now.
Find out more about membershipBlogs and resources
We have a wealth of blogs and resources on safeguarding and regularly host events and webinars on the subject.
Related content
A partnership in action: addressing child labour with a private company
How a unique collaboration between a palm oil business and two NGOs, one in the UK, the other in Sierra Leone, has seen child labour plummet.
Keeping people safe in international development: the progress of NGOs
In this blog, using Bond’s 2024 Safeguarding Survey data, we explore the progress made in sector safeguarding practices, the challenges that remain and how safeguarding continues to evolve.
Empowering small NGOs to improve their safeguarding processes through skills mapping exercises
Our lead on safeguarding, Graham Thursby, presents tips and outcomes from our five safeguarding skills mapping sessions, which were hosted for small NGOs over the last year.