Baseline evaluation on UNICEF's HR Safeguarding against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse : UNICEF Evaluation Office

 Safeguarding and PSEA in UNICEF: Baseline Assessment and 2025 Update

UNICEF Evaluation Office & Executive Board Report E/ICEF/2025/16
Click here for the baseline assessment | Click here for the PSEA update

Note that the final report is not yet available online.

Summary
In March 2024 UNICEF adopted a Policy on Safeguarding, reinforcing its commitment to protect all who engage with the organization. To guide rollout, a baseline HR assessment was carried out across global offices, while the Executive Board requested annual updates on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA). Together, these reviews provide a first stock-take of progress and gaps.

The findings point to systemic weaknesses: uneven awareness of the policy, partial alignment of HR systems, weak accountability, and limited leadership engagement. Safeguarding measures are inconsistently applied—especially in emergencies—while resource shortages and slow investigations further undermine credibility. Although reporting mechanisms and staff training have expanded, survivors still face uneven access to legal, medical, and socioeconomic support, and confidence in managers’ preventive action remains low.

Next steps include clarifying safeguarding procedures, embedding standards across HR and partner systems, scaling survivor-centred assistance, speeding investigations, and strengthening leadership accountability. Guidance, tools, and training linked to the 2024 Policy are being developed to ensure safeguarding becomes a consistent, organization-wide practice.

Quotes
“Existing HR systems are not yet fully aligned with [the Policy’s] provisions.” – Baseline Assessment

“A perceived lack of leadership commitment and weak enforcement further threaten sustained implementation.” – Baseline Assessment

“Reported SEA allegations rose to 111 in 2024, underscoring both improved reporting and persistent risks.” – PSEA Update