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This collection and reporting of comparable data is the first of its kind, analysing trends and patterns, to help us better understand the extent of SEAH and prioritise corrective actions and resources.

What is the scheme already telling us?

Even in its early stages, aggregated HRS data is helping to reveal who is affected and how incidents are being reported. Initial data shows us:

• Children – mostly girls – remain disproportionately affected, making up 40% of all victims/survivors.
• Most incidents are still disclosed face-to-face, underscoring the vital role frontline staff play in receiving and referring reports in a victim/survivor centered way.
• Two in five alleged perpetrators are outsourced personnel or providers, such as volunteers, contractors or partner staff, highlighting the need for consistent safeguarding standards across all roles.
• Nearly half of workplace SEAH cases involve managers – yet senior staff are the least likely to face consequences.
• Only 30% of incidents were substantiated – pointing to the need for stronger, better-resourced investigations.

Financially supported by the FCDO and recently endorsed by ECHO and Irish Aid, the Scheme represents a streamlined, collective and robust evidence base from which we can address sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH) and strengthen accountability across the humanitarian and development sector.

Who has joined so far?

The strength of the HRS is in its diversity. Organisations from across the humanitarian and development sector are now part of the scheme, including

• 60 national and local NGOs
• 33 international NGOs
• 6 private sector organisations

This collective commitment shows that safeguarding is not the responsibility of one part of the sector, but of all of us.

Where are organisations joining from?

HRS now spans 90 countries including several global organisations with presence in multiple countries and many based directly in country : 14 national organisations in Bangladesh, 20 in Ethiopia, 9 in Nigeria and 5 in the DRC.  This global footprint shows a growing momentum towards harmonised safeguarding data that is both locally grounded and globally relevant.

What is the value of the HRS?

Coline Rapneau, PSEAH manager, comments, “As more organisations sign up, the scheme can provide solid country-level snapshots to any organisations – local, national or international and PSEAH networks –  to mitigate risks and adjust policies, strategies or actions plans in order to better prevent or respond to SEAH.

“Participating organisations can easily identify where they have gaps, compare with other organisations in the same context and take appropriate measures. The evidence and trends also help to strengthen advocacy and influence at the global level,  track progress and highlight persistent challenges.

“These findings lead to approaches informed by lived realities, not assumptions.”

Reaching 100 sign-ups is only the start. We know barriers remain – from resource constraints to system requirements, to cultural factors. Together, with the HRS, organisations learn from SEAH incidents and can take tailored targeted actions to strengthen prevention and better respond, reducing future risks and  ensuring safer, higher-quality programmes.

Where do we want to go from here?
The HRS is a core pillar of our work at the CHS Alliance. A whole sector response is need to tackle SEAH, the importance of collective action is critical. We need to see:

• A continuous movement for change, with no rollback on momentum that has been built and data used as evidence to drive this forward
• Increased engagement from diverse organisations, with hundreds more participating, to share their PSEAH data
• The HRS officially endorsed as an effective data collection and reporting tool from major donors, aligned with donor strategies and resourcing

We thank every organisation, network, and community leader who has joined the HRS and committed to stronger safeguarding. And thanks again to UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for their support in making this work possible.

Get involved

Explore the Harmonised Reporting Scheme and join us, you can also read our latest report, hear an account of how we are reducing barriers to joining, or contact the PSEAH team directly: seah.hrs@chsalliance.org