Whistleblowing on sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH) involving grant recipients – adjusted guidelines

In a letter of 16 February 2018, the then Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of International Development conveyed clear expectations to all partner organisations that receive funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Norad. These organisations are expected to have ethical guidelines and good systems in place for preventing, reporting and dealing with SEAH-related matters.

Grant recipients must notify the Ministry via the Foreign Service Control Unit (FSCU) immediately of any suspected cases of SEAH in projects allocated funding from the Ministry. This applies primarily to claims of abuse etc. towards the project’s target group committed by the actors receiving funding. Reports of SEAH in connection with Norwegian development cooperation should be sent to sentral.kontrollenhet@mfa.no.

Reports may also be sent anonymously via the Ministry’s external whistleblowing channel. Norad are in the process of adjusting corresponding guidelines.

When the Ministry receives a report of suspected SEAH, the matter will be processed in accordance with detailed guidelines that are now in place. The Ministry considers it important to ensure that Norwegian funding is used in accordance with grant agreements and to prevent it from contributing to irresponsible, unethical and criminal behaviour, including towards members of the local community/target group. The Ministry will assess whether the grant recipient has satisfactory routines in place for preventing, detecting and responding to SEAH cases in general, and whether the case in question has been properly followed up.

The way in which the grant recipient has dealt with the case will form the basis for determining whether the FSCU imposes any sanctions under the agreement. The FSCU is the point of contact for reports of sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse in projects granted funding from the Ministry, and it expects partner organisations to notify it about such cases. This applies primarily to claims of abuse etc. towards the project’s target group committed by the actors receiving funding. Reports of SEAH in connection with Norwegian development cooperation should be sent to sentral.kontrollenhet@mfa.no.

In spring 2021, an internal working group submitted a report on how the principle of zero tolerance has been implemented in practice. The report recommends various measures and changes, including the need to revise the grant agreement templates so that requirements for preventing, reporting and responding to SEAH cases are clearly regulated. The grant agreement templates are in the process of being amended.