Charter
ACTED is a non-governmental organisation created in 1993. Independent, private and not-for-profit, ACTED respects a strict political and religious impartiality and operates according to non-discrimination and transparency principles.
ACTED CHARTER & CODE OF CONDUCT
Our values
ACTED (Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development) is a non-governmental organisation created in 1993. Independent, private and not-for-profit, ACTED respects a strict political and religious impartiality and operates according to non-discrimination and transparency principles.
Our mission : to provide a response adapted to specific needs
ACTED’s vocation is to support vulnerable populations worldwide and to accompany them in the construction of a better future.
The programmes implemented by ACTED (around 260 per year), in Africa, Asia, Middle East and Central America/Caribbean, aim at addressing the needs of the populations affected by wars, natural catastrophes and/or economical and social crises.
Our interventions seek to cover the multiple aspects of humanitarian and development crises through a multidisciplinary approach which is both global and local, and adapted to each context.
Our vision : to guarantee the link between Emergency, Rehabilitation and Development
Once basic needs have been covered, the population’s living conditions remain critical given that our areas of intervention are among the poorest in the world. For this reason, ACTED’s axis of intervention lies in the link between Emergency, Rehabilitation and Development. In other words, in order to guarantee the sustainability of interventions carried out during crises, only a long-term support - through a continued presence in the field after the emergency and the involvement of communities - enables us to break the poverty cycle and accompany the populations on their way to development.
Code of conduct
ACTED employees must adhere to the following principles in regards to sexual exploitation and abuse:
Sexual exploitation and abuse by ACTED workers constitute a gross misconduct and are therefore a reason for termination of employment;
Sexual activity with children (persons under the age of 18) is prohibited regardless of the local age of majority or of consent. Mistaken belief in the age of a child is not a defence.
Exchange of money, employment, goods or services for sex, including sexual favours or other forms of humiliating, degrading or exploitative behaviour is prohibited. This includes the exchange of assistance that is due to the beneficiaries.
Sexual relationships between ACTED staff members and beneficiaries are strongly discouraged since they are based on inherently unequal power dynamics. Such relationships undermine the credibility and integrity of ACTED’s humanitarian aid work.
Where an ACTED staff member develops concerns or suspicions regarding sexual abuse or exploitation by a fellow worker, whether in the same agency or not, he/she must report such concerns via established agency reporting mechanisms.
ACTED staff members are obliged to create and maintain an environment which prevents sexual exploitation and abuses and promotes the implementation of this code of conduct. Managers at all levels have specific responsibilities to support and develop systems which maintain such an environment.
