A Guide for Integrating Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) into Programming and the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) in Somalia - 2026

Introduction

Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) is a term used to describe inappropriate sexual conduct perpetrated by aid workers - humanitarian, development and peacebuilding actors - against recipients of assistance and other members of the community. SEA is a form of gender-based violence (GBV), as victims of SEA are often abused because of their vulnerable status as women, girls, boys, or even men, especially in contexts where communities are faced with extreme desperation.
The term aid worker encompasses all persons involved in providing protection and/or assistance to communities, affected populations and who have a contractual relationship with the participating organization/partners, including staff, volunteers, contractors, incentive workers, vendors, interns, implementing partners and anyone performing a task on behalf of any humanitarian/development agency or organization, regardless of the type or duration of their contract.
When personnel of aid organizations commit acts of sexual exploitation and abuse against the affected population that is meant to be served and protected by the very same persons exploiting them, the values and principles of humanitarianism are betrayed, and the trust and the credibility of the entire system is undermined. It is one of the most basic failures of accountability to the people whom the aid system is supposed to protect.
Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) is a collective responsibility for all humanitarian and non-humanitarian actors. As a rule, integrating PSEA should be considered as part of “good programming” to achieve protection outcomes and follow the do no harm principle. Therefore, it is the responsibility for all agencies to undertake PSEA activities and make them coherent, systematic and integrated into the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) as well as programming in other non-humanitarian contexts.