December 2020

USAID is committed to achieving our mission of promoting and demonstrating democratic values abroad, and advancing a free, peaceful, and prosperous world through partnerships and investments that save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance, and help people emerge from humanitarian crises and progress beyond assistance. Achieving this mission requires USAID and its implementing partners to first and foremost “do no harm,” and moving beyond that, integrate thorough and effective safeguarding regimes throughout our operations and programming to protect the very people we intend to help from any harm. Effective safeguarding is a necessary enabling factor for our mission—it is not just what we do, but about how we do it. USAID is committed to working with stakeholders across the aid sector to fulfill our collective responsibility for preventing and responding to critical safeguarding issues.

USAID’s Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), Counter-Trafficking in Persons (C-TIP), Child Safeguarding policies, and related requirements exemplify our commitment to safeguarding. Taken together and applied effectively, these frameworks can strengthen safeguarding and protections across our programs for vulnerable populations.

The Partner Toolkit provides additional guidance and tools to our implementing partners around specific safeguarding issues. The Toolkit does not supplant USAID’s Automated Directives System (ADS) requirements or the terms and conditions in implementing partner contracts and grants. Implementing partners should make sure to regularly consult their safeguarding-specific award requirements to ensure compliance.

The Partner Toolkit is composed of three sections, each devoted to a specific safeguarding area: (1) PSEA, (2) Child Safeguarding, and (3) C-TIP. In addition to USAID-specific guidance, the Partner Toolkit includes references to external safeguarding resources that may be of assistance to our implementing partners as they seek to implement effective safeguarding regimes.

The Partner Toolkit is intended to be a living tool, which will be updated periodically in response to conversations with our implementing partners and the broader international community, in line with best practices around collaboration, learning, and adapting (CLA). Please contact aapsm@usaid.gov with questions, comments, or suggestions.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part 1: Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse 

Section 1: Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Prevention

1. USAID: Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Policy
2. USAID: Fact Sheet: Preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
3. PSEA Implementation Considerations One-Pager
4. USAID PSEA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
5. Interaction: No Excuse for Abuse Video on IASC Six Core Principles (available in multiple languages)

Section 2: Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Response

1. Flowchart: USAID Staff and Implementing Partner Reporting of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
2. CHS Alliance: Guidelines for Investigations

Section 3: Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Coordination

1. OECD-Development Assistance Committee Recommendation on Ending Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Assistance: Key Pillars of Prevention and Response
2. Safeguarding Summit: Commitments
3. Joint USAID-Department of State Report to Congress on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (October 2019)
4. Safeguarding Resource and Support Hub

Section 4: Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Best Practices and Learning

1. InterAction Online Trainings: SEA 101 and Management of SEA Investigations
2. InterAction SEA Course Materials: PSEA Basics [PDF]; Reporting Systems [PDF]; Community Based Complaints [PDF]
3. IASC Six Core Principles on SEA (2019)
4. IASC: Minimum Operating Standards on PSEA
5. Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability [PDF]
6. CHS Alliance: PSEA Implementation Quick Reference Handbook
7. Translators Without Borders: Six Core SEA Principles Translations
8. UNICEF: PSEA Assessment & PSEA Toolkit for CSO Partners [PDF]

Part 2: Child Safeguarding

1. USAID Child Safeguarding FAQs
2. USAID Child Safeguarding Best Practices
3. USAID Child Safeguarding External Resources
4. Advancing Protection and Care for Children in Adversity: A U.S. Government Strategy for International Assistance
5. ADS 200mbt: Policy/Guidance on the Implementation of USAID Child Safeguarding Standards
6. USAID Child Safeguarding Clauses (Contracts)
7. USAID Child Safeguarding Provisions (Grants): U.S. NGOs and Non-U.S. NGOs

Part 3: Counter-Trafficking in Persons (C-TIP)

1. USAID Counter-Trafficking in Persons Policy
2. USAID One Pager on C-TIP Policy
3. USAID C-TIP Standard Operating Procedures
4. USAID Guidance on Implementation of the C-TIP Code of Conduct
5. USAID C-TIP Field Guide
6. USAID C-TIP Provisions (Grants): U.S. NGOs and Non-U.S. NGOs
7. USAID C-TIP Clause (Contracts)
8. Integration of C-TIP into other Sectors
9. USAID's Global Efforts on C-TIP
10. OMB Anti-Trafficking Risk Management Best Practices & Mitigation Considerations