Report a concern

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is committed to promoting safe, respectful relationships with and between all those who come into contact with our work, including staff, associates, programme participants and the wider communities we serve.

We take all reasonable measures to prevent harm, including all forms of exploitation, abuse, bullying, harassment and abuse of power that may arise through our staff, programmes or operations. This is essential to maintaining trust and ensuring that our programmes are safe and inclusive for all.

Safeguarding is a core responsibility across AKF. It means preventing harm and responding appropriately when concerns arise, ensuring that everyone who comes into contact with our organisation – including those who work for or with us – is protected.

All individuals must be treated with dignity and respect. AKF has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH), as well as neglect and other forms of misconduct by staff, representatives or partners.

If you have any concerns about misconduct at AKF, or if you have witnessed or experienced wrongdoing, we encourage you to speak up.

Don’t ignore it – Speak Up!

If you have a concern about misconduct at AKF, we encourage you to raise it. You can do so through the following internal channels:

• Your line manager

• Human Resources

• A Safeguarding Manager or Safeguarding Focal Point

• AKF Global Safeguarding Lead

AKF reviews all safeguarding concerns, regardless of when they occurred; there is no time limit for reporting.

If you do not feel safe using internal channels, or if you have already raised a concern and it has not been addressed, you can report it through Safecall.

Safecall is an independent service that provides a confidential reporting channel for organisations worldwide. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is staffed by trained professionals. The service is operated from the United Kingdom and can be accessed at any time via the hotline or online platform listed below.

Safecall is an additional, external channel to AKF’s internal reporting mechanisms and can be used to raise various concerns, including sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH), bullying and harassment, corruption, bribery, fraud, discrimination, retaliation, environmental and social sustainability (E&SS) issues and other grievances.

How to use Safecall

You can contact Safecall in two main ways:

By telephone

When you contact Safecall by phone, you can choose the language you are most comfortable using. A trained call handler will listen to your concern, ask relevant questions if needed, and record the information you provide in as much detail as possible.

Once your report is complete, Safecall will prepare a written summary and share it with AKF’s Head Office in Geneva. Depending on the nature of the concern, it will be addressed through the appropriate process (safeguarding, human resources, or finance).

• To find the hotline number for your country, visit this page.

• If you have a mobile phone with internet access (4G, 5G or WiFi), you can also request a free callback from Safecall here.

Online

You can also submit a report through Safecall’s website.

Select “Make a Report” in the top right-hand corner of the page. You will be able to choose your preferred language and then select one of the following options:

• Report an incident

• Update a previous report

Once submitted, your report will be shared with AKF’s Head Office in Geneva and handled through the appropriate process, either locally or at Head Office level, depending on the nature of the concern.

AKF’s Global Safeguarding Manual

AKF is committed to safeguarding the dignity, safety and well-being of all individuals who come into contact with our work. The Global Safeguarding Manual sets out the standards, responsibilities and expectations that underpin this commitment, including the consequences of non-compliance.

The Manual brings together the following core policies:

• AKF Code of Conduct Sets out the standards of behaviour expected of all staff and associated personnel.

• AKF Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) Policy: Protects people who come into contact with AKF, including staff, from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment by AKF staff and associated personnel.

• AKF Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy: Protects children and young people from harm caused by AKF staff, associated personnel and programme design and delivery.

• AKF Safeguarding Adults at Risk Policy: Protects adults who may be at risk of harm, including programme participants and members of the communities where AKF works.

• AKF Anti-Discrimination, Bullying and Harassment Policy: Protects staff and others working with AKF from discrimination, bullying and non-sexual harassment in the workplace.

• AKF Communications and Content Gathering Ethics Policy: Ensures that communications and content gathering are carried out ethically and safely, with respect for the dignity and rights of those involved.

Explore our Global Safeguarding Manual below or download the PDF here.