Keeping people safe in international development: the progress of NGOs

Although safeguarding may not currently be considered a “trending” topic within the sector, it remains a critical and ongoing priority.

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, even if it doesn’t always make the headlines.

Increased reporting: a marker of progress

The rise in safeguarding reports since 2018 reflects positive progress, as improved processes and survivor empowerment signal a shift towards an embedded culture of safety and zero tolerance for abuse within the sector.

We continue to see from those responding to the survey that reports are increasing:

• 34% of respondents stated that their reported incidents had increased (in comparison to 32.5% from last years’ survey).
• 57% of respondents reported that the number of incidents that they had remained the same (57.5% in 2023)
• and 9% stated that their reported incidents had decreased (7.5% in 2023).

However, organisations believe they are still seeing underreporting. 57% of respondents suggested underreporting and only 17% stated that they are receiving an accurate number of reports.

This is down to a variety of reasons, including local concerns that, if they report, INGO operations may be shut down if governments deem them unsafe. Further endorsement of CAPSEAH in local contexts will go a long way in building an understanding that reports should be seen as a culture of safety.

Improved safeguarding practices: a sector-wide shift

91% of Bond’s 2024 safeguarding survey responses showed that members have seen progress towards better safeguarding practice in their organisation over the last year.

83% of responding organisations shared that they have engaged with Bond’s Safeguarding work, with 93% of those able to apply their learning back to their organisation.

Changes included:

• Improved policy and processes.
• Progress in embedding a safeguarding culture.
• Utilising Bond’s discount on the Intrac ‘Decolonising Safeguarding’ Training.
• A focus on building country programme capacity and systems for safeguarding.

Click here to find out more on how to become a Bond Member.

Respondents shared that they continue to access support from not only Bond, but the Resource and Support Hub, InterAction, SIDA, Kaya and CHS. More action is required to encourage peer support. NGOs need to feel confident to come forward and share their good practice, as well as the challenges they have uncovered, that will support others in the sector. The international development sector should not be a competitive environment, we need to support one another in the goals we set out to achieve.

How safeguarding is benefitting communities

With communities at the heart of international development work, Bond members continue to ensure that their improved safeguarding practices directly benefit the communities, victims and survivors. In 2024, 74% of reporting organisations shared that their improvements to safeguarding practice has directly benefitted communities. By creating safer spaces, we ensure that our efforts are more inclusive, responsive, and respectful of the rights and dignity of all individuals.

Bond’s Safeguarding Steering Groups current focus is bringing InterAction’s Core Standards for Survivor-Centred Support of SEAH to life – demonstrating, through a case study, an example of good practice, challenges of supporting survivors and showcasing key resources. The group hope that this will avoid replication of mistakes across the sector.

Resourcing: progress is determined by investment

57% of responses shared that they have less than one full time safeguarding professional in their organisation.

When asked ‘if their organisation’s safeguarding budget was doubled, what is the first thing that they would do?’ responses included:

• Investing in more training (including local training facilitators)
• Recruit more full-time safeguarding professionals, including local professionals in programme.
• Improving investigations with a specialised team or by using local investigators.

Safeguarding professionals have the knowledge, skills, confidence and ideas of how to improve safeguarding. But, with some respondents for this question suggesting that they don’t currently have a safeguarding budget, and others knowing that they need significantly more, how can we expect to see progress in this area of work?

Looking ahead: the path for continued progress

Over the coming months, Bond plans to continue to support organisations in their pursuit of becoming safer in the work that they do by:

• Translating resources to ensure global accessibility. Bonds Due Diligence Case Studies for organisations completing FCDOs SEAH Due Diligence has been a success, with well over 1000 downloads in the first 12 months since launch. Bond has seen the usefulness of translating its policy templates and we hope that this work will encourage the use of these case studies even further.
• Bond heard from its steering group, specifically those working in country, that there is still a distinct lack of advertisement of local investigators – there is power in the Resource & Support Hubs Supplier Directory but there are still significant gaps. Bond has teamed up with the RSH to ask members to recommend commendable local investigators for RSH to consider for the directory.
• Bond’s Safeguarding Tools continue to be widely used by the sector. We plan to hold recurring sessions to draw attention to our resources and refresh the sectors memory, which will encourage consistency across the sector.

The progress we’ve achieved so far, along with our commitment to continuous improvement in investment and consistency across the sector, points to a future where safeguarding becomes a fundamental aspect of development, rather than merely a compliance obligation.