Commitment to Safeguarding Nisa Global Foundation (NGF) is committed ensuring that those who work for or volunteer for us or those who benefit from or work with the charity are not harmed in any way (e.g. exploited emotionally, physically, sexually or financially etc) with particular care being taken when beneficiaries are vulnerable adults or children.
Type of Harm The types of harm that could occur include:
Emotional abuse such as bullying and verbal threats
Harassment / stalking
Physical abuse
Sexual abuse
Exploitation – sexual and non-sexual
Financial abuse
Extremism
Loss of respect and dignity e.g. use of images / videos and testimonies
Legal Responsibilities
NGF will observe local legal responsibilities within the UK and also those of the countries where they work. However, we recognise that there will be additional safeguarding challenges associated with working overseas.
Preventative Measure
NGF will put measures in place to prevent abuse, exploitation, harassment or any harm occurring. However, it recognises that it will not be immune to being targeted by perpetrators and cannot completely eliminate risk of harm occurring and therefore will put measures in place to mitigate risk and manage risk effectively.
Grantee Assessment
The application process for grantee-partners will include questions about safeguarding, which will be used to carry out a safeguarding risk assessment of applicants using our 'Due Diligence Policy.'
Zero Tolerance Approach
NGF has a zero-tolerance approach to abuse, exploitation, harassment and harm and will also work with partners to improve safeguarding and implement good practice, review processes and learn from others including externally from others working in the same sector and similar contexts.
Reporting Mechanisms
Mechanisms will be provided to ensure that anyone can report safeguarding concerns.
Investigation
To encourage reporting reassurances will also be provided through the above mechanisms that any concerns will be taken seriously and investigated. This will be done by settings out the steps that will be taken after concerns have been raised with approximate and estimated time scales.
Recording and Updates
When concerns, suspicions and complaints are received, they will be recorded and a response will be sent to the complainant acknowledging concerns have been received and what steps will be taken with approximate timelines including contact details for further correspondence.
Serious Incidents
The Safeguarding Lead and the Trustees will decide whether the report or concerns amount to a 'serious incident' and if it does then the 'Serious Incident Policy' will also need to be followed, which would include informing the Charity Commission and releasing a public statement, which would also appear on the website.
Actions and Recommendations
The 'Safeguarding Lead' will investigate the matter and with any immediate risks of further harm reported to the police or local authorities of the country of operation where the safeguarding issue has occurred. Once the investigation has concluded, actions recommended will be taken and also learning will be used to strengthen safeguarding procedures further.
Feedback
Anonymous staff and volunteer feedback surveys will be used as an opportunity to raise safeguarding concerns anonymously. The NGF 'Safeguarding Policy' will be reviewed annually by the 'Board of Trustees.' The policy will be strengthened using any organisational learning and from external learning from others in the international charitable sector.
