Addressing the risk of sexual exploitation, abuse and harrasment (SEAH) in projects and programs
For all development partners, with a focus on Asia and the Pacific
We are a boutique firm that supports capacity for project compliance with donor and lender requirements for Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH).
Our Approach
Client Centered
We listen to understand the needs of donors, governments, contractors and implementing agencies for SEAH safeguarding design and delivery.
Compliant and Good Practice
We ensure all support is fully aligned with donor and lender PSEAH policies and standards, and grounded in CAPSEAH and other international good‑practice PSEAH frameworks.
Collaborative and Contextually Relevant
We work closely and respectfully with SEAH stakeholders to ensure safeguard activities are relevant to the operational, cultural and regional contexts of each project.
Driving Positive Change
We build local capacity and leverage opportunities to address gender norms and other drivers of SEAH, creating the conditions for sustainable, long‑term change.
Services
We design, develop, carry out, review and/or provide professional advice on:
SEAH Risk Assessment and Management Planning
We develop SEAH risk assessments and SEAH risk management plans that are proportionate, aligned with GBV data collection and storage ethics, and tailored to national, local, and project‑specific risk factors and opportunities. We also provide guidance for PSEAH‑aligned stakeholder identification and delivery support with engagement.
SEAH Risk Monitoring and Reporting
We establish stand‑alone or integrated SEAH monitoring and reporting systems, setting achievable indicators, evidence requirements, and data collection processes. We provide monitoring‑related training and capacity building, support the development and implementation of PSEAH corrective action plans, and capture lessons and case studies to strengthen ongoing practice.
SEAH reporting mechanisms and case handling
We design accessible, multichannel SEAH reporting mechanisms for workers and community members, supported by victim-survivor‑centred case‑handling processes that include protection from reprisals and fair investigation procedures. Our work includes developing the systems and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) required for consistent, safe, and accountable case management.
GBV service mapping and capacity strengthening
We conduct GBV service mapping, quality assessment, and capacity building to strengthen national and local referral networks, including for victim-survivors under the age of 18. This includes identifying and addressing service gaps and equipping local providers with victim‑survivor‑centred skills, protocols, and monitoring tools.
Supporting Implementing Agencies (IAs)/ Project Management Units (PMUs)
We equip IAs and PMUs with the capacity to oversee contractor compliance with donor and lender PSEAH and Child Protection requirements and run a project GRM capable of handling SEAH complaints through targeted technical advice, mentoring and socialization activities.
Addressing SEAH drivers for social change
We identify the local drivers of SEAH and develop actionable approaches to strengthen the wider ecosystem that prevents, reduces, and addresses harm. This includes building the capacity of sexual and gender violence organizations and champions to lead norm‑shifting conversations and seeking opportunities to influence structural change across institutions, policies, and sector systems.
Communications, Disclosure, and Socialization
We develop and implement communication, disclosure, and socialisation strategies that build broad‑based support for PSEAH safeguards. This includes targeted awareness‑raising campaigns, clear and inclusive socialization of SEAH risks and reporting pathways for all project personnel and community members to promote compliance with all PSEAH policy and disclosure obligations.
Workforce Management for PSEAH compliance
We design SEAH‑aligned vetting techniques with HR teams, verify subcontractors and suppliers against PSEAH standards, and embed safeguarding requirements into the planning and monitoring of workforce accommodation, transport, and worksites. We also develop PSEAH‑compliant Codes of Conduct and deliver practical SEAH training to ensure all personnel understand expected behaviours and reporting responsibilities.
Our Team
PSEAH Consultants is led by Dr Sarah Richards and Dr Lucy Mitchell, senior GEDSI and social safeguarding specialists with professional experience across development banks, UN agencies, consulting firms, civil society, and universities. They collaborate with a trusted network of national consultants and organizations to build capacity and ensure donor and lender PSEAH requirements are fully integrated into project systems.
Drawing on their anthropological training and extensive field experience with communities across Asia and the Pacific, Lucy and Sarah combine a grounded local lens with a systems lens in their PSEAH work. This ensures every deliverable reflects local constraints, strengths and the lived realities of women and other groups at risk of SEAH, while identifying pathways for sustainable improvement beyond compliance.
