CBi Digital Series: The Role of Private Sector in Accountability to Affected Populations and Protection against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

Date and time: 

Option 1: 6 April 2021 at 4:00 – 5:15PM Geneva time – Register here

Option 2: 7 April 2021 at 7:00 – 8:15AM Geneva time – Register here

Target audience:  

• CBi Member Networks (MN);
• Members and private sector partners of the CBi networks

Session Description:   

The Need for Accountability to Affected Population (AAP) and Protection against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) in Private Sector Humanitarian Actions

As the private sector continues to play a significant role in disaster risk management and humanitarian action, the need to ensure that there are mechanisms to promote accountability and inclusive participation of community stakeholders becomes even more significant. Accountability and inclusion mean that those who are the most vulnerable and at-risk are placed at the centre of disaster resilience and humanitarian programming. This needs to be continuously advocated and demonstrated in programs, activities and business practices where the private sector engages in disaster risk reduction, preparedness, response and recovery interventions.

Sexual exploitation and abuse by humanitarian workers, including the private sector, constitute acts of gross misconduct and are grave violations of the responsibility to do no harm and to protect people affected by crises. It is also serious reputational damage to the entity whose staff is involved in such acts, including for its partners. It is important that the private sector is firmly committed to the global fight to eradicate any incidents. This can be done by including Protection against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) as part of the private sector own disaster management operations, raise awareness and train their staff from management to the field level to prevent any incidents.

The CBi Orientation-Consultative Session on Accountability to Affected Population (AAP) and Protection against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) aims to provide practical application of the concepts and methodologies of APP and PSEA in order to enable participants to gain awareness and appreciation on how to promote AAP and PSEA in their own disaster risk management and humanitarian programs and activities. Practical guidelines and checklists on AAP and PSEA, applied to the private sector, will be provided to easily facilitate the adoption of AAP and PSEA practices. The sessions will also include a consultation with CBi member networks and other private sector representatives to customize the CBi AAP and PSEA checklists for the private sector.

Session Objectives: 

• To facilitate awareness of how the private sector can promote accountability and inclusion at an operational level in disaster risk management and humanitarian actions;
• To introduce the importance and core principles of PSEA in disaster management, and to discuss how the private sector can best adopt these practices in their operations; and,

• To consult on the AAP and PSEA guidance notes and check-lists, particularly on what is needed to finalize the tools for the practical use of the private sector entities.