ACT Alliance is committed to ‘principles of human rights, gender justice, do no harm, conflict resolution, participation and putting people first’ (Strategy, page. 9), which demands a robust Safeguarding policy, guidance, and capacity strengthening within the alliance.
The Quality and Accountability Reference Group, Safeguarding Community of Practice (CoP) and Gender Programme aimed to strengthen the Safeguarding policy position and guidance for members, including a mainstreaming of gender. While the ACT Alliance had a Child Safeguarding Policy, which was approved in May 2015, there was a need identified where a more holistic policy would benefit the alliance, which responds to the emerging contexts where we work, and create greater coherence with other policies. The process included a working group, led by ACT Secretariat and representation from national, regional and global membership with expertise in Safeguarding. Members also financially resourced to support the process, which they noted was the most participatory process for developing a policy that they had been involved in. This included focus groups with members on specialist areas, a survey, and regular guidance from the working group, including reviews of different draft versions.
The ACT Quality and Accountability Reference Group unanimously endorsed the Safeguarding Policy Framework and it was approved by the Governing Board in May 2024.
ACT Safeguarding Policy Framework 2024
ACT Cadre de politique de protection 2024
ACT Marco Político de Salvaguardia 2024