Today CDC participated in a summit, hosted by the International Development Secretary Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP, to drive international collective action to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment in the aid sector.
As the UK’s development finance institution, CDC invests in private sector companies in Africa and South Asia with the aim of supporting the economic development and prosperity that will help countries leave poverty behind.
The summit was an opportunity for the wider development and humanitarian sector to come together to support survivors and victims, enhance accountability, incentivise cultural change, drive up standards, and strengthen organisations’ capacity and capability. CDC was represented by its Chairman, Graham Wrigley, who spoke about CDC’s commitment to safeguarding measures within the development finance sector.
We have a zero tolerance to sexual exploitation, abuse or harassment within our operations and within our direct or intermediated investments. In support of the summit, we have published our own commitments to strengthen safeguarding measures within the development finance sector. These commitments cover four core areas:
- Ensuring support for victims and whistle-blowers, enhancing accountability and transparency, strengthening reporting and tackling impunity.
- Incentivising cultural change through strong leadership, organisational accountability and better human resource processes.
- Strong adherence to international standards and best practice
- Strengthening organisational capacity and capability across the international aid sector, including building the capability of implementing partners to meet the minimum standard.
As well as implementing and promoting these commitments, CDC will regularly engage with other development finance institutions to strengthen and implement safeguarding measures across the sector.
You can read our commitments in full here.
Find out more about the summit here.
