Safeguarding
Protecting the well-being of our community members and staff
Our Commitment to Safeguarding
BRAC has for almost fifty years made the safety of the participants of its programmes as well as the safety of its employees of paramount importance in the way it has conducted its anti-poverty work.
Our effort in safeguarding has been sustained because the fight against sexual harassment, child and adolescent abuse, intimidation, violence, bullying and discrimination, neglect and exploitation is part of BRAC's mission. The leadership team of BRAC, for almost fifty years, consistently reinforced the importance of safeguarding and has led by example. Its Boards have been vigilant, its Management persistent.
Our Safeguarding Policies
As part of its commitment to building a safeguarding culture and aligned with BRAC's vision of a world free from discrimination and exploitation, BRAC adheres to six safeguarding standards around Safe Programming; Partnering, People Practices, Reporting, Risk Management and Governance.
BRAC's Safeguarding Framework
Prevention
BRAC's priority is to prevent harassment and abuse from taking place and uphold a safe working environment. Preventive measures include:
- Safe programme design considering risks of abuse and harassment connected with programme activities and high-risk groups
- Safeguarding in recruitment ensuring thorough background checks
- Safeguarding training and awareness building
- Safeguarding risk management
- Audit and monitoring of safeguarding indicators
- Multiple reporting channels available for programme participants, staff and related personnel to report incidents, displayed in visible locations
- Safeguarding Focal Points
- Safe partnerships and service agreements ensuring commitment to safeguarding
Protection
To ensure access to justice is available to those who have been subjected to harm or abuse, protection measures are in place as follows:
- Human Resource Compliance Committee (HRCC) in place to receive complaints and initiate investigations into reported incidents
- Case management and investigations are done in a survivor-centred approach, ensuring risk assessment and mitigation plans
- Support to survivors (including Psychosocial, Medical, Legal and Rehabilitation support)
- Disciplinary actions taken against proven violations
- Learning from cases to strengthen systems and processes
Responsibilities of BRAC Staff and Personnel
At BRAC, we believe that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. There are specific duties that staff and associated personnel must abide by in their day to day lives.
Employee's Responsibility:
- Know Safeguarding and related policies and the Code of Conduct.
- Inform a trusted colleague or supervisor immediately after any safeguarding incident takes place.
- Save important and necessary information, evidence and documents in case of any safeguarding incidence.
- Disseminate the reporting procedure and help-line numbers to colleagues and programme participants.
- Say 'no' to any kind of abuse and harassment and report it.
Co-worker's Responsibility:
- Be committed to stand against any safeguarding incidence.
- Assist in finding information, protect confidentiality of individuals, and be neutral as a witness.
- Do not engage in unnecessary discussions regarding any incident of abuse or harassment.
- Be sensitive towards the victim/survivors, and provide him/her with useful counselling.
Supervisor's Responsibility:
- Ensure all Policies are available to all employees.
- Resolve an issue between colleagues before it turns into a big problem.
- Discuss BRAC's culture, values, codes of conduct and policies in monthly meetings.
- Maintain neutrality and take immediate steps in case of a safeguarding incident.
- Help the investigation team, maintain confidentiality and provide them with accurate information.
- Ensure an environment where everyone can speak openly, without any reservation.
- Treat everyone equally and respectfully.
Monitoring and Evaluation
We monitor the extent to which safeguarding measures are in place, evaluating their effectiveness and undertaking safeguarding reviews through audits. In addition, we undertake safeguarding quizzes to test awareness of safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Reporting and Response
All complaints are looked into with equal importance and are investigated thoroughly with a victim centered approach.
BRAC Rwanda Microfinance Company PLC has three reporting channels for safeguarding incidents:
- Through 1st Channel: (respective programme management) to the first supervisor, second supervisor or Head of Human Resource Manager or Safeguarding Manager or to the Chief Executive Officer
- Through 2nd Channel (Helpline): You can mail directly to brmcp@brac.net or bi.safeguarding@brac.net, or call via toll-free number: 5001
- Through 3rd Channel (Whistleblowing): you can email directly to any of the BI Directors, including the Executive Director of BRAC International.
