Opinion | Chinomso Okoro, National Safeguarding Coordinator, Save the Children International, Nigeria
Are safeguarding activities life-saving and essential, especially in emergencies? Recent discussions within the humanitarian sector have raised this important question. Regardless of how specific policies or classifications might define our work, one thing remains clear: we must always do no harm.
Safeguarding is not just another policy—it is about making sure that everyone—from the very first contact with SCI until the end of a project—is treated with respect and care. Safeguarding is not an extra task, it must be embedded in every decision, action, and program, whether it is during an emergency or otherwise. Safeguarding is a key part of all our activities, ensuring that both program participants and local communities are always safe and respected.
SCI is determined to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives. SCI’s theory of change strategically guides SCI’s implementation for lasting changes in the lives of children. SCI’s theory of change combines the following elements such as “be the voice” which is our mandate to advocate for effective policies affecting children’s survival and their wellbeing; “be the innovator” which enables SCI to develop creative and evidence-based solutions to problems surrounding children’s survival and wellbeing; “achieve results at scale” which ensures SCI can implement and upscale best practices and standards across board; “building partnerships” which ensures that SCI’s vision and breakthrough shared in all partnerships.
Safeguarding is a driving force and supportive approach for implementing SCI’s theory of change, and in light of the recent changes across the movement resulting from the USG orders or from SCI’s Fit-for-future model, it is imperative that safeguarding should not be relegated to the sidelines but must remain at the heart of program delivery and operations — mainstreaming safeguarding within the theory of change can help address and answer concerns around the place of safeguarding as part of life-saving activities.
SCI’s safeguarding approach does not just protect individuals—it also helps shape better policies, improve service delivery, and drive innovation. Here is how:
Although safeguarding is internal, safeguarding models in SCI can be used as a template to guide and advocate for the adoption of necessary social safeguards and models within the local community and context. SCI’s safeguarding models have influenced national policies, such as Nigeria’s National Policy on Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Schools (2021), which was developed through the Education-in-Emergency cluster co-led by SCI. The policy ensures that there are school-based safeguarding models and ensures that children receive the protection they deserve.
SCI has provided safeguarding training to local and national partners in Nigeria, improving the quality of services and ensuring the safety of program participants. These actions have also increased the chances for children to be protected from harm across the country, within and outside of SCI.
To drive evidence-based innovations, quality benchmarks have been developed for gathering data driven insights on safeguarding actions and implementation per project. Through this approach, SCI has fostered innovation and accountability in safeguarding. This approach has also led to long-term improvements in how programs are designed and delivered.
Safeguarding reach and best practices should be upscaled for greater impact for ethical and safe programming across the organisation. To sustain and expand safeguarding efforts, more resources, collaboration, and support are needed. Investing in safeguarding is not just about maintaining past gains—it is about ensuring every project is safe, ethical, and effective.
While uncertainties remain about how recent policy changes will affect safeguarding, our responsibility does not change. SCI remains accountable to the people we serve, our partners, and ourselves. No matter the circumstances, we must uphold our commitment to do no harm and ensure safeguarding stays at the core of our work. Safeguarding is not just a function—it is a lifeline for the communities we serve. Let us keep it at the center of everything we do.
