Eight principles for building trust through feedback

This paper sets out best practice principles for developing an accountable feedback mechanism capable of building a safe environment in which safeguarding concerns, within the context of programme work, can be raised.

Within the development and humanitarian section, issues of abuse, exploitation and sexual harassment have been identified as a major issue. Action is urgently needed to better safeguard community members and staff from abuse, exploitation and sexual harassment of any kind. For safeguarding to be successful it must take place on multiple levels and be built on the foundations of accountability, transparency and respect – organisational culture and norm change is also necessary to address the root causes of abuse.

The paper is not intended as a “how-to guide”, as we recognise that the way in which these principles are put into practice will depend on each agency’s mode of operating, procedures, context and resourcing. Instead it aims to put forward a set of universal principles to ensure accountability mechanisms are accessible, meaningful and effective and can be applied across the full range of our organisations, operations and programmes.