KENYA COMMUNITY SUPPORT CENTRE (KECOSCE)

SAFEGUARDING AND CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

1. Our Commitment

KECOSCE is dedicated to protecting children, young people, and vulnerable adults from abuse, exploitation, neglect, and discrimination. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility — staff, volunteers, partners, and visitors. We apply a zero‑tolerance approach to abuse and commit to proactive prevention, risk identification, and appropriate response.

2. What We Seek to Prevent

KECOSCE recognises multiple forms of abuse:

• Physical abuse – hitting, burning, suffocating, or harmful restraint.
• Psychological abuse – threats, humiliation, bullying, cyberbullying.
• Sexual abuse – coercion, grooming, exposure to sexual material.
• Neglect – persistent failure to meet basic needs.
• Financial abuse – theft, fraud, exploitation of property or benefits.
• Discriminatory abuse – harm motivated by age, sex, disability, nationality, or other characteristics.

KECOSCE’s position is clear: abuse, exploitation, discrimination, and unsafe behaviour are unacceptable.

3. Safeguarding Principles

Our safeguarding approach is guided by ten principles:

• Equal rights – safety and dignity for all.
• Everyone’s responsibility – shared accountability.
• Mandatory reporting – concerns must be reported confidentially.
• Zero tolerance – no abuse tolerated.
• Best interests – prioritising welfare of children and vulnerable people.
• Do no harm – minimise risks in programmes.
• Risk management – integrate safeguards from planning to implementation.
• Transparency – clear rights and reporting channels.
• Participation – voices of children and vulnerable adults matter.
• Dignity – respect in all interactions.

4. Who Must Follow the Policy

Applies to:

• Employees, management, board members, volunteers, interns
• Consultants, contractors, vendors, partners, visitors
• Implementing partners funded by KECOSCE

5. Expectations of All Representatives

     Must do:

• Read and comply with the policy and Code of Conduct
• Promote zero tolerance for abuse and discrimination
• Put safety and welfare first
• Report concerns promptly

     Must not:

• Harass, assault, or abuse others
• Engage in exploitative or unsafe behaviour
• Develop sexual or abusive relationships with children or vulnerable people
• Ask children to keep unsafe secrets

Breaches may result in disciplinary action, contract termination, or referral to authorities.

6. Preventing and Managing Risks

• Safe recruitment – vetting, background checks, signed compliance.
• Training – staff and volunteers trained on disclosure, signs of abuse, reporting.
• Risk assessment – safeguards integrated into programme design.
• Partner accountability – subcontractors and partners must comply with standards.

7. Reporting Concerns

Everyone must report suspicions or incidents.

• Report to your Line Manager or Safeguarding Officer.
• Do not investigate yourself.
• Maintain confidentiality and share only on a need‑to‑know basis.
• Cases may be referred to statutory or law‑enforcement authorities.

8. Confidentiality and Digital Safety

• Sensitive information handled confidentially.
• Disclosure only with consent or when necessary for protection.
• Staff and partners must not use technology to access or distribute harmful material.

9. Responsible Use of Images and Stories

• Obtain informed consent from guardians or individuals.
• Respect dignity; no degrading or sexualised portrayals.
• Participation is never conditional on providing images or personal stories.

10. Accountability and Oversight

• Everyone – responsible for preventing harm and reporting concerns.
• Managers – ensure staff and partners understand and apply the policy.
• Safeguarding Officer – monitors cases, ensures referrals, supports training.
• Board – provides oversight and ensures effective implementation.

11. Our Message

KECOSCE believes every child, young person, and vulnerable adult has the right to safety, dignity, and respect. We encourage all to:

• Speak up when something feels unsafe.
• Report concerns promptly.
• Protect survivors’ privacy.
• Respect rights and views.
• Do no harm in programmes and relationships.

12. Accountability Commitment

KECOSCE monitors implementation, learns from incidents, and strengthens future practice through:

• Clear policies
• Defined responsibilities and training
• Integrated procedures
• Ongoing accountability and review

Contact

Kenya Community Support Centre (KECOSCE) Pembeni Road, Nyali, P.O. Box 42944–80100, Mombasa, Kenya Tel: 0716 777230 / 020 2435408 Email: [email protected] Website: www.kecosce.org

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