A Partnership Built on Trust and Commitment

Since 2022, Development Links Consult (DLC) has been proud to partner with the Segal Family Foundation a collaboration rooted in a shared belief: that safeguarding is not a bureaucratic hurdle, but the very foundation of ethical, effective development work.

Together, we have worked to strengthen safeguarding practices across a wide and diverse network of organizations serving communities throughout Africa.

This work spans both Anglophone and Francophone countries from Kenya and Uganda to Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire recognizing that safety and dignity are universal rights, regardless of language or location.

From Training to Transformation

Many organizations treat safeguarding as a one time event: a three hour training, a signed policy, a checkbox marked “complete.”

DLC knows better.

Real safeguarding cannot be learned in a single session. It must be woven into the fabric of an organization over time. That is why our approach goes far beyond one off training. We support partners through a comprehensive, multi layered framework:

• Interactive safeguarding workshops   Not lectures, but practical, scenario based learning that sticks.

• Organizational audits and risk assessments   Identifying gaps before they become incidents.

• Policy development and improvement   Tailored, legally sound, and contextually relevant policies that staff actually understand and use.

• Ongoing advisory support   A dedicated partner to call when questions arise, not just when crisis hits.

Creating a Culture of Safety

The most significant shift we have witnessed and the one we are most proud of is the move from compliance to culture.

Compliance says: “We have a policy on the shelf.”

Culture says: “Every staff member knows what to do, feels empowered to act, and believes leadership has their back.”

Under this partnership, safeguarding is becoming:

• Everyone’s responsibility From the newest intern to the executive director.

• Part of daily operations   Discussed in team meetings, reflected in budgets, and included in job descriptions.

• Embedded in leadership decisions   Not an afterthought, but a lens through which strategy is shaped.

Continuous Learning, Not a Finish Line

Safeguarding is not static. New risks emerge. Teams change. Contexts shift.

That is why DLC and the Segal Family Foundation have built in quarterly sessions and ongoing engagement ensuring that safeguarding remains active, relevant, and continuously improving.

These are not repetitive trainings. They are living conversations: reviewing incident learnings, updating risk registers, sharing wins and challenges across the network, and adapting to what the ground is telling us.

The result? Organizations that don’t just do safeguarding they live it.

Conclusion

Ready to move your organization from compliance to a true culture of safety? Whether you’re a single NGO or a multipartner network, DLC can help you build systems that protect and empower.

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