Considerable attention in the aid world and media is currently directed at the concept of safeguarding. Although the word has mostly been used in reference to the safeguarding of beneficiaries, in this article (2019), Megan Nobert explores the safeguarding of aid workers. The article briefly explores the history and meaning of the term ‘safeguarding’, before discussing current trends and initiatives.

Megan Nobert is a Canadian born legal professional, academic, and humanitarian. While in South Sudan in 2015, she was sexually assaulted by another humanitarian, and this led to her going public about her experience in July 2015. This experience also inspired her to start Report the Abuse, whose mandate was to break down the silence on sexual violence against humanitarian aid workers.

As part of GISF’s safeguarding campaign, this article complements the GISF guide Managing Sexual Violence against Aid Workers: prevention, preparedness, response and aftercare, which was published in March 2019. Additional thematic resources are available online.