Working in partnership has many benefits but also entails some safeguarding risks. Donors will expect their standards to be met not only by your organisation, but by your partners, for example.

Assess prospective partners, including on their safeguarding arrangements, and be clear about the standards they must meet.

Clarify how the partnership arrangements will include safeguarding. Contractual commitments such as Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and partnership agreements, should address safeguarding in the partnership arrangements and the work the partnership is delivering. Often, the partnership arrangements will need to include how partners will support one another in strengthening their respective safeguarding capacity. Larger organisations may need to build the capacity of smaller partners.

Safeguarding should also become part of monitoring and reporting arrangements between partners.

This RSH Bitesize lists the key points learned from consultations with civil society organisations (CSOs) and international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) in Ethiopia. There is an accompanying report which outlines the findings and process…
This report was developed in Ethiopia and based on consultations with INGOs and local and national civil society organisations or NGOs. The report has three main objectives: (1) To identify how partnerships can contribute to strengthening and…
This tip sheet covers safeguarding considerations for partnerships with and between civil society organisations (CSOs) in South Sudan. It is relevant for implementing partners, those carrying out project management and service delivery on the ground…
This tip sheet shares some key messages and strategies on how civil society organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria can approach different donors and funding partners so that they can help them understand, prioritise and appropriately resource or support…
This toolkit was developed under the framework of the Strengthening Partners in Protection Against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse through Protection Mainstreaming (SPSEA) project, a three-year pilot project supported by USAID’s Bureau for…
Develop Terms of Reference for the work. Be clear what services you are looking for, the scope of work and the experience/expertise you require in the service provider, as well as stating your commitment to safeguarding and expectations of…
This report by the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) summarises the ‘Safeguarding with Partners’ learning event which was held in March 2020 in Melbourne. The event gathered individuals and organisations across ACFID’s…
This case study draws on ChildHope's approach to safeguarding and how they support and empower partners to safeguard children and adults at risk. It provides three key recommendations: 1) Start with the assumption that local partners are the experts…
This is a change statement produced by Bond, in collaboration with its members, which calls for a fundamental shift in mindset in the development and humanitarian sectors, with the goal of addressing immediate safeguarding challenges, by ensuring…

 
 

Safeguarding Essentials