Policy

Safeguarding Policy

The IJIDI Foundation exists to serve communities. People who take part in our work must be safer because of us, never less safe. This policy sets out how we prevent harm, how anyone can report a concern, and how we respond.

1. Scope

This policy applies to trustees, the Executive Director, staff, volunteers, interns, consultants, contractors, partner organisations and anyone visiting our programmes on our behalf. It covers conduct at work and outside work where it affects the people we serve.

2. Our commitments

• Zero tolerance of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH), and of any form of child abuse.
• No sexual activity with anyone under 18, whatever the local age of consent. Mistaken belief about a child's age is not a defence.
• No exchange of money, employment, goods, services or assistance for sex or sexual favours.
• No sexual relationships with people receiving support from our programmes; such relationships are based on unequal power.
• The best interests of the child come first in every decision that affects a child.
• We design programmes to do no harm, and assess safeguarding risks before activities start.

3. Working with children and vulnerable adults

• Wherever possible, two adults are present when working with children; no one is alone with a child out of sight of others.
• Photographs, video and stories are used only with informed consent — from a parent or guardian and the child for anyone under 18 — and never in a way that identifies a child's location or puts them at risk.
• We do not contact children privately online or by phone outside agreed programme channels.
• Personal data about children and vulnerable adults is collected only when necessary and stored securely (see our Privacy Policy).

4. Safe recruitment and partners

• Everyone who works with us is checked before starting: references, identity, and background checks where the law allows.
• Everyone reads and signs this policy and our Code of Conduct, and receives safeguarding induction.
• Partner organisations must have, or adopt, safeguarding standards at least equal to ours. This is written into every partnership agreement.

5. Responding to a concern

• Anyone who sees, suspects or is told of abuse must report it. Staff and volunteers must not investigate on their own.
• Reports are handled confidentially, on a need-to-know basis, and in a survivor-centred way: the safety, wishes and dignity of the person affected come first.
• Every report is acknowledged, assessed and, where needed, investigated by people independent of the matter. A concern about the Executive Director goes to the Trustee.
• Where a crime may have been committed or a child is at risk, we refer the matter to the Nigeria Police Force and the relevant authorities, in line with the Child Rights Act 2003, the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015 and other applicable Nigerian law.
• We support the person affected to access medical, psychosocial and legal help.
• Anyone found to have breached this policy faces disciplinary action up to dismissal or termination of the relationship, and referral to the authorities.

6. No retaliation

No one who raises a concern in good faith will suffer any negative consequence, even if the concern is not upheld. Retaliation against a reporter is itself a serious breach of this policy.

7. Responsibilities

• Executive Director: accountable for putting this policy into practice and for the response to every report.
• Board of Trustees: oversight; receives an anonymised summary of safeguarding reports at least once a year.
• Safeguarding Lead: to be appointed before field programmes begin. Until then, reports are received by the Executive Director and the Trustee.
• Everyone: follows this policy and reports concerns.

8. Review

This policy is reviewed at least once a year, and whenever the law, our programmes or lessons learned require it.

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