SDDirect and our partners support smaller, local civil society organisations (CSOs) in developing countries who deliver international aid to strengthen their safeguarding policy and practice against sexual exploitation and abuse, and sexual harassment (SEAH). The RSH ensures that CSOs delivering aid have access to the tools, guidance, support and training they need to ensure that they do no harm. The programme has a free online platform, user friendly and accessible to all.
SDDirect is the technical lead on the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) safeguarding flagship programme – RSH.
The programme delivers three separate but interlinked pillars:
- A ‘one-stop shop’ for guidance and support for organisations,
- Facilitating access to support services and specialists, and
- Building evidence and boosting innovation for best practice
The SDDirect team, together with partners, developed and manages the free online safeguarding Hub. The Hub’s core offer is an online open-access platform bringing together quality assured guidance, tools, support and research on safeguarding, serving any organisation working in the international aid sector. However, smaller, local organisations in developing countries are the focus of the Hub’s offer as they tend to have less access to safeguarding resources than international organisations. The Online Hub was launched on 1st June 2020. The Hub also signposts users towards quality assured safeguarding service providers and creates opportunities for meaningful engagement through discussion forums and live events.
The Hub is also a repository for the increasing volume of SEAH safeguarding materials, much of which has been developed in recent years in response to high profile SEAH cases within the sector. There are also important contributions dating back further over the last two decades, a reflection of the dedicated and determined work of activists, leaders, survivors, researchers and others working in this area.
