Hi {{ first_name | there }},
"We have a safeguarding policy."
That's what every organization tells us;until we ask: How do you know it's working?
Accountability isn't about having documents. It's about measuring impact, learning from failures, and demonstrating to stakeholders that protection is real, not performative.
This week, we explore how to move from safeguarding as compliance to safeguarding as continuous improvement.
Safeguarding Metrics That Matter
Not all metrics are created equal. Some organizations track training attendance and policy acknowledgment forms while incidents continue unreported.
Vanity metrics (what looks good on paper):
Number of staff trained
Policies developed
Codes of conduct signed
Impact metrics (what actually indicates safety):
Incident reporting rates (Are people coming forward?)
Response time to reports (How quickly do we act?)
Survivor satisfaction with response (Did we help or harm?)
Staff confidence in reporting (Do they trust the system?)
Repeat incident rates (Are we preventing recurrence?)
A word of caution: Increased reporting isn't necessarily bad news. Often, it means your systems are finally accessible and trusted. The goal isn't zero reports;it's zero tolerance and effective response.
Accountability Builds Trust
Organizations that demonstrate accountability:
Retain donor funding through crises
Attract and keep high-quality staff
Maintain community trust even when incidents occur
Recover faster from safeguarding failures
Organizations that hide incidents or respond defensively:
Face reputational collapse when information eventually surfaces
Lose the trust needed to operate effectively
Create cultures where abuse can flourish
The paradox: Organizations most transparent about addressing safeguarding concerns are often seen as safer than those claiming to have no issues.
SPI's Approach: Audits & Compliance
Our audit methodology examines three dimensions:
1. Documentation Review
We analyze policies, procedures, training materials, and reporting mechanisms against international standards (CHS, IASC, CPMS, Sphere).
2. Systems Assessment
We test how systems work in practice;Can staff actually report? Do investigations follow protocols? Are survivors supported?
3. Culture Evaluation
Through confidential staff interviews and focus groups, we assess whether safeguarding is lived or just written.
Our clients receive:
Comprehensive findings report with risk ratings
Prioritized recommendations with implementation timelines
Gap analysis against donor requirements
Support for corrective action planning
New capability: We're now integrating analytics to help organizations identify patterns in incident data and predict emerging risks;enabling proactive rather than reactive safeguarding.
Risk & Vulnerability Assessments
Before incidents occur, assess where your risks lie.
Organizational risk factors:
High staff turnover (reduces institutional knowledge)
Weak vetting processes
Isolated field locations without oversight
Power imbalances (expats managing nationals, men supervising women, etc.)
Direct cash/benefit distribution to vulnerable populations
Programs in conflict-affected or lawless areas
Individual vulnerability factors:
Disability
Age (very young or elderly)
Displacement status
Economic desperation
Social isolation
Previous trauma
Where these intersect is where your safeguarding systems must be strongest.
Data Storytelling: Making the Case for Safeguarding
When advocating for resources, use data that speaks to your audience:
For Executives:
Cost of safeguarding failures vs. prevention investment
Reputational risk quantification
Donor compliance requirements
For Program Teams:
How safeguarding improves program quality and access
Community trust metrics
Staff retention data
For Donors:
Alignment with their safeguarding standards
Incident response track record
Investment in prevention infrastructure
The research is clear: Organizations that invest in comprehensive safeguarding systems;including proper staffing, training, and reporting mechanisms;save significantly more in avoided incident costs than they spend on prevention. Recent high-profile cases show single safeguarding failures resulting in multi-million dollar judgments, complete loss of donor funding, and organizational closure.
Lessons Learned from SPI Projects
Lesson 1: Cultural Context is Everything
A whistleblowing system designed in Geneva may not work in rural Kenya. Reporting mechanisms must respect cultural norms while maintaining protection standards.
Lesson 2: Leadership Buy-In Can't Be Faked
Organizations where the CEO and Board actively champion safeguarding succeed. Those where it's delegated to mid-level staff struggle.
Lesson 3: Invest in People, Not Just Policies
The best policies mean nothing without trained, empowered staff who believe in safeguarding and have time to do it properly.
Lesson 4: Small Organizations Need Different Approaches
Not everyone can afford full-time safeguarding staff. Smaller organizations need scalable solutions;shared focal points, consortia approaches, or outsourced support.
Lesson 5: Prevention Pays
Investment in prevention systems consistently delivers better outcomes and lower costs than reactive incident response.
Lesson 6: Technology Enables Scale
Automated systems for training, reporting, and case management allow small teams to maintain high standards even under resource constraints.
The Audit Cycle: Continuous Improvement
Safeguarding isn't a one-time project. Effective organizations operate on a continuous cycle:
Year 1: Comprehensive external audit → Corrective action plan
Year 2: Internal self-assessment → Address new gaps
Year 3: External audit → Validate improvements
Ongoing: Incident reviews → System refinements
Quote of the Week
"Accountability isn't about being perfect. It's about being honest when you're not, and committed to getting better."
How to Measure What Matters
Start tracking:
Time to first response after incident report
Percentage of staff who know how to report concerns
Survivor feedback on response quality (anonymous survey)
Incident patterns by type, location, and staff involved
Corrective action completion rates
Tech tip: Modern reporting platforms can automate much of this tracking, providing real-time dashboards for leadership oversight. SPI can help you evaluate which solutions fit your needs and budget.
SPI's Accountability Services
We support organizations through:
Comprehensive audits: Full organizational safeguarding assessment
Rapid assessments: Focused reviews of specific systems or incidents
Compliance verification: Mapping against donor requirements
Learning reviews: Post-incident analysis that improves systems
Ongoing advisory: Quarterly check-ins to sustain progress
Digital transformation: Policy digitalization and integrated management systems
Data analytics: Pattern recognition and predictive risk modeling
Your Action This Week
Answer these three questions:
What safeguarding metrics do we currently track?
How do we know our safeguarding systems are working?
When was our last external audit?
Ready for an Honest Assessment?
SPI conducts confidential, professional audits that identify risks and build stronger systems.
Contact us: email us directly at [email protected]
Do you have questions, ideas, or resources on this topic? Reply to this email or share your thoughts; we'd love to hear from you.
Next Week:
Leadership for Safe Organizations: Changing Culture from the Top
Our final newsletter in this series explores how leadership drives safeguarding transformation.
Stay accountable,
The Safe Path International Team
Safe Path International | Professional Safeguarding Consultancy
Serving the Middle East, Africa, and Eastern Europe
Website | LinkedIn | Contact Us: [email protected]