Seventh Report - Progress on tackling the sexual exploitation and abuse of aid beneficiaries

The government states it has adopted DFID's practices for investigations and will continue to build on them, requiring partners to report cases and improving investigator skills, indicating current efforts address the need for robust reporting mechanisms.

The government describes its current activities, including funding an SEAH investigator training course, supporting employment cycle schemes, and continuing consultation with stakeholders to improve investigations and culture.

The government response outlines existing programme review processes and employment cycle schemes aimed at safer recruitment, and notes an upcoming ICAI review, but does not commit to adopting DFID's specific investigative practices or incorporating reporting requirements into funding agreements as recommended.

The government details its existing due diligence processes, monitoring of partners' whistleblowing practices, and engagement with whistleblowers to ensure support and prevent retaliation, arguing that its current approach is effective.

The government's response focuses entirely on Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), agreeing they must not be misused and exploring clearer language in funding templates, without directly addressing the recommendation to prioritise improving reporting and investigation capacity or ensuring fair employment cycle schemes.

The government states it has regularly made clear its position since 2018 and will continue to encourage partners to publish annual case number data, but this response does not address the recommendation for a review of employment cycle schemes to prevent re-employment of perpetrators.

The government partially agrees but the response focuses on providing survivor support in fragile areas and considering funding requests for such support on a case-by-case basis, rather than addressing the specific call for a full audit of whistleblowing practices.

The government acknowledges the recommendation, stating that ongoing conversations between the Safeguarding Unit and Consular Assistance Department will factor it in as their work continues.

The government's response discusses the Domestic Abuse Bill extending UK court jurisdiction for sexual offences committed overseas, which is entirely unrelated to the recommendation about requiring FCDO partners to report on non-disclosure agreements.

The government states it has adopted a new criterion for social benefits in tender evaluations and partially agrees with the recommendation, but the response does not address the specific points about assuring partners they won't be penalised for reporting or requiring annual reporting of safeguarding allegations.

The government highlights its existing guidance during the Covid-19 period, which advises that gender-based violence and child protection support services should be considered a core part of humanitarian responses and that programme staff should consider supporting improved service provision for survivors.

The government states it already takes an internal approach to safeguarding, emphasizing its integration into partner organisations and taking quick action when needed, and supports organisations to drive internal culture change.

The government's response details its funding for an update to the CHS PSEAH Index and its future formal update, which does not address the recommendation to provide an update on victim support or use embassy staff experience to help victims contact UK systems.

The government asserts that the FCDO has been joining up diplomatic and aid functions from day one and will continue to do so, highlighting the establishment of a Due Diligence Hub to build staff capability, though this does not directly address embassy capacity for victim support.

The government's response details its monitoring of partners' safeguarding due diligence and adherence to the Supply Partner Code of Conduct, but does not address the recommendation regarding the application of the Domestic Abuse Bill or existing legislation to prosecute aid workers for sexual offences.

The government acknowledges the importance of informing beneficiaries and empowering women, detailing how Community-Based Complaints Mechanisms (CBCMs) provide training and awareness-raising. It also notes engagement with Dutch colleagues on a project to identify robust accountability systems.

The government response discusses existing provisions for criminal record checks for aid workers and the establishment of a working group to explore related issues, which is entirely unrelated to the committee's recommendation regarding COVID-19 impact on women and local, community-based gender support services.

The government response addresses UN immunity for staff committing crimes, which is unrelated to the committee's recommendation regarding diversity and inclusion in aid organisations' senior leadership.

The government highlights its existing due diligence assessments, funding agreement expectations, and consistent engagement with multilateral partners to ensure safeguarding procedures are met. It also notes securing an agreement for MOPAN to include SEAH indicators in assessments from 2021, asserting its current leverage and accountability mechanisms.

The government responds by stating it will continue to support whistleblower protections, citing its work in the UN General Assembly to implement recommendations from a 2018 review of whistleblower policies, without directly addressing the committee's concern about transforming power dynamics and culture.

The government states it will continue to advocate for the issue within the UN and highlights its existing work with UN mechanisms to prevent and tackle SEAH, but does not commit to amending the CHS itself.

The government states that it has recently agreed to enforce enhanced due diligence procedures, including their consistent application to private sector partners, to strengthen safeguarding standards across all aspects of aid delivery.

The government's response discusses the importance of commitment to tackling SEA and lists existing projects related to peacekeeping missions, but does not address the recommendation for FCDO to undertake further in-country monitoring of implementation partners.

The government response details actions taken within UN fora related to peacekeeping operations and uniformed contingents, but does not address the recommendation to explore utilising NHRIs for oversight and appeals functions for victims in the aid sector.

The government states that the existing Supply Partner Code of Conduct already provides an independent avenue for survivors to seek justice. It also indicates that it will look to strengthen the language on expectations in future updates.

The government response outlines its commitment to gender equality through the Strategic Vision and the UK International Development Act, but does not address the recommendation to amend regulations for Enhanced DBS checks for aid workers.

The government accepts the recommendation and states it is happy to work with the UN to ensure immunity is not used to protect perpetrators and to call out entities misusing immunity provisions.

The government states it intends to replicate DFID's approach to annual reports, but does not address the specific request to seek assurances from WHO or set out how it holds multilateral organizations accountable for safeguarding failures.

The government response focuses on the Prime Minister’s Special Representative for PSVI, the integration of FCDO functions, and the development of a new three-year strategy for tackling conflict-related sexual violence, but does not address the specific recommendations regarding whistleblower protection or advocacy to the UN.

The government response discusses FCDO's general approach to encouraging partners to include SEAH costs and its risk management, but does not address the recommendation that the UN Special Coordinator role should be a full-time position.

The government accepts the recommendation, stating it has recently agreed to provide funding for the UN trust fund for victims.

The government rejects the characterisation of apathy but agrees on the importance of leadership commitment to tackling SEA, and states it is already funding projects that provide technical guidance and workshops for peacekeeping leadership to build a strong safeguarding culture.

The government states it already actively works with the UN to strengthen monitoring and oversight, citing actions in the Security Council, mandates for repatriation, and efforts since 2016 to improve resourcing and consider conduct history in deployment decisions.

The government states that the current Supply Partner Code of Conduct already incorporates stringent measures, but commits to strengthening the language on expectations in future updates to the code.

The government states the Strategic Vision for Gender Equality will continue to guide future work and will focus on implementation, but does not explicitly commit to ensuring projects are not sidelined due to a lack of clear performance indicators.

The government explicitly agrees to include updates on each aspect of commitments, even nil returns, in future progress reports for transparency.

The government accepts the recommendation, stating the FCDO intends to replicate DFID's approach of including a specific safeguarding section with data in its annual reports and accounts, subject to finalising the structure.

The government states PSVI remains a top priority and that FCDO plans to develop a three-year strategy, including an evidence-based Theory of Change with embedded monitoring, evaluation, and learning, with consultations beginning in early 2021.

The FCDO states it already actively encourages partners to budget for safeguarding and integrate it into tender processes, viewing it as integral to risk management and value for money. It also confirms it continues to convene and support other UK ODA spending departments on this issue.