Safeguarding
Safeguarding Statement and Whistleblowing Reporting Protocol
Building Markets works in fragile and conflict-affected markets to connect small businesses to opportunity, strengthen local supply chains, and help communities build lasting economic resilience. In doing this, we are committed to ensuring that everyone who comes into contact with our organization is safe.
Safeguarding is Building Markets' responsibility to prevent, identify, and respond to all forms of harassment, exploitation, and abuse of clients, staff, partners, and associates by those who work for or are associated with the Building Markets Network. This includes physical, verbal, emotional, psychological, economic, and sexualized violence, and any other abuse of power.
If you have a safeguarding concern, you can report it at safeguarding@buildingmarkets.org.
How Building Markets upholds its safeguarding commitments:
Require all directors, officers, employees, volunteers, and consultants to agree to and uphold our Code of Conduct.
Undertake safe recruitment practices and provide thorough onboarding for all incoming staff.
Conduct regular safeguarding training and refreshers across the organization.
Consider and address safeguarding risks when designing programs and engaging partners.
Maintain safe, accessible, and confidential reporting mechanisms.
Respond to all reported concerns in a timely, sensitive, and survivor-centered way.
Strictly prohibit retaliation against anyone who reports a concern in good faith.
Learn from feedback, incidents, and trends, and course correct as needed.
Our safeguarding commitments are grounded in our Code of Conduct and align with the UN Inter-Agency Standing Committee Core Principles on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. Building Markets is committed to creating a safe and respectful environment for every person we serve and work with.