Safeguarding at APOPO – Dignity and respect for all

How to Report a Safeguarding Concern

At APOPO, safeguarding means protecting people, animals, and the environment from harm and treating everyone with dignity and respect.

How to report a safeguarding concern?

 

At APOPO, we are committed to ensuring that everyone we work with, staff, partners, and community members, feels safe, respected, and protected from harm
If you have seen or experienced behavior that goes against APOPO’s values or Safeguarding Policy, please speak up. You can choose the way that feels safest and most comfortable for you.

If you work with APOPO, you can talk directly to your line manager, HR Manager, or local Safeguarding Focal Point. They will listen confidentially, help you feel supported, and take the next steps if needed.

If you would rather make a formal report, you can do so confidentially in one of the following ways:

All safeguarding reports submitted by email or through the form are received by APOPO’s Complaints Manager, Mr Gerrit Ruitinga, a member of our Board of Directors. He ensures that each report is handled promptly, impartially, and in line with APOPO’s Safeguarding Policy.

You may choose to remain anonymous if sharing your name feels unsafe. However, we strongly encourage you to include your contact details so we can follow up, clarify information, and take effective action to protect those involved.

Providing your name does not put you at risk. APOPO treats all reports with strict confidentiality and protects anyone who raises a concern in good faith from retaliation. Your voice helps us keep APOPO a safe, respectful, and accountable organisation for everyone.

For any safeguarding-related questions, please contact Safeguarding Lead and HR Manager, Esther Haalboom, at safeguarding@apopo.org.