Safeguarding & PSEA Policy
Standards to prevent sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment and other forms of harm, particularly where work may affect children or vulnerable people.
View all policies↗What this policy is designed to do.
To create a clear duty of care for personnel and partners, with safe reporting, appropriate screening and a survivor-centered response to serious safeguarding concerns.
Who it applies to: Employees, contractors, drivers, field teams, suppliers and partners whose work may bring them into contact with beneficiaries, communities, children or other vulnerable people.
The standards we expect in practice.
These principles guide decisions, conduct and day-to-day execution across the relevant parts of our business.
Zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, harassment or exchange of assistance for sexual activity or other improper benefit.
Take safeguarding allegations seriously and respond without retaliation against good-faith reporters.
Use appropriate background and reference checks for roles where safeguarding risk is elevated.
Protect confidentiality and the safety, dignity and choices of affected persons as far as reasonably possible.
Cooperate with client, donor or competent-authority reporting obligations where required.
Controls that turn policy into evidence.
Controls are scaled to the nature, value and risk of the activity rather than treated as a one-size-fits-all checklist.
Safeguarding and PSEA orientation for relevant personnel.
Background, identity and reference checks proportionate to role and legal constraints.
Clear prohibited-conduct standards in codes and contracts.
Accessible confidential reporting channels.
Case escalation and investigation procedures designed to minimize further harm.
Clear ownership matters.
Managers must immediately escalate serious safeguarding allegations.
HR and Compliance coordinate employment and investigation processes.
All personnel must avoid conduct that exploits unequal power relationships.
Contract owners communicate safeguarding expectations to relevant third parties.
How to raise a concern.
Urgent safeguarding concerns should be reported promptly to the Compliance Officer, a trusted manager or compliance@lionleo.net. Where there is immediate danger, local emergency or protection channels should be used as appropriate.
Reports made honestly and in good faith should be protected from retaliation. Confidentiality is maintained as far as possible while still allowing a fair assessment or investigation.
Policies that work together.
Governance controls overlap by design. These related policies provide additional context for this topic.