Exigo works frequently on serious and sensitive topics of concern, including issues of child protection and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). During data collection, our enumerators talk to many families, groups, and individuals every day - whether in the household, street, or school - and are thus in positions where they are occasionally alerted to protection issues in the field. In such a case, Exigo will identify the correct organizations for referral who have the capacity and mandate for taking appropriate action, based on the nature of the protection case, before providing the person or household in need of services with contact information, or else contacting the relevant organization to connect them directly.

All reporting and referral procedures follow our principle of ‘do no harm,’ including our ethical commitment to confidentiality and consent. Information is shared strictly on a ‘need to know’ basis as necessary to ensure the person in need is kept safe and appropriate assistance is given.

Exigo complies always with the safeguarding policies of our clients, as well as their protection referral pathways. We also follow our own Child Safeguarding Policy, which includes provisions on ensuring that Exigo agrees with each client, before data collection, on the case management referral procedures to be adopted for each project, and followed in the event of any child protection concerns.

We aim to always map and be aware of critical services and protection paths that exist in our areas of operations, and among all our clients and contacts we promote the frequent and up-to-date sharing of information around available services and accessibility.