Conflict, Humanitarian and Security Department (CHASE)

IRIN Association
[By email]

Our ref:

13 February 2018

You may be aware that the British press have recently shone a spotlight on a shocking
scandal of sexual exploitation and abuse in the aid sector in Haiti. Such abuse of trust
and power harms the very vulnerable people that we should be helping and it
undermines our legitimacy in all that we are trying to achieve.
The Secretary of State is determined that we do our utmost to prevent all forms of
exploitation and abuse and wants the UK and all those who receive funding from DFID
to set an example for others to follow.
UK-funded NGOs must step up and do more, so that we have absolute assurance that
the moral leadership, the systems, the culture and the transparency that are needed to
fully protect vulnerable people are in place, all of the time and wherever these
organisations work.
Your accountable grant agreement clearly states that as a partner, your organisation
will be accountable for the appropriate use of DFID funds, including any adverse effects
of aid expenditure that have an undesired or unexpected result upon recipients
including any adverse gender related impacts. As such, we expect you to:
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Provide a safe and trusted environment which safeguards anyone one who your
organisation has contact with, including beneficiaries, staff and volunteers;
Set an organisational culture that prioritises safeguarding, so that is safe for
those affected to come forward, and to report incidents and concerns with the
assurance they will be handled sensitively and properly;
Have adequate safeguarding policies, procedures and measures to protect
people and these are shared and understood;
Have absolute clarity as to how incidents and allegations will be handled should
they arise, including reporting to the relevant authorities, such the national
authorities and to funding partners such as my own Department.

In delivering your work for DFID, you may also work with a range of partners. Where
you are a funder of those organisations, you must also have similar assurances. You

DFID, 22 Whitehall, London SW1A 2EG   www.gov.uk/dfid   +44 (0)20 7023 0000

 also have a clear responsibility to meet the standards set by your own national
legislation and guidance.
Civil society is playing an essential role in building a positive future for Caribbean
countries affected by hurricanes Irma and Maria but our first principle must be to cause
no harm. That is why it is crucial that any organisation in receipt of DFID funds should
ensure not only that they have safeguards in place which prevent exploitation but also
the systems and the organisational culture needed to deal with and report incidents
when they do occur.
We understand that the issues raised by the recent media attention on sexual
exploitation in the aid delivery will be deeply distressing for many in the sector. We
encourage you to contact us for advice and support in ensuring that your organisation
is meeting the necessary safeguarding standards or if you wish to report concerns.
The Internal Audit Department’s Counter Fraud Section (CFS) is the central point for
raising concerns, suspicions and/or allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse as well
as fraud or any other corrupt practices. IAD’s Counter Fraud Section has a dedicated
secure email address for raising all concerns: fraud@dfid.gov.uk Alternatively, any
concerns can be reported by calling the confidential hotline on +44 (0)1355 843747 or
writing to the Head of Internal Audit, 22 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2EG, United
Kingdom.
Finally, I want to emphasise and re-affirm mine and the Secretary of State’s
appreciation of the valuable and enormous good work that your organisation, and
hundreds of others across the charitable sector do in the field of international
development. It is precisely because civil society organisations are so important to
achieving sustainable development that we cannot allow the behaviour of a minority
undermine confidence in the excellent work you do.
Thank you for your attention on this crucial matter.

Matthew Wyatt
Head of CHASE