In designing safeguarding reporting and response mechanisms, BOND recommends four foundational principles to inform the process.

a) Confidentiality: All information received through the system, including witness statements and investigation reports, are confidential. Access to this information should be on a need-to-know basis as guided by the data management and information-sharing protocols of the organisation. Further, confidentiality can be built into the system through anonymous reporting options. Confidentiality ensures that persons who share safeguarding concerns are not afraid of stigmatisation or victimisation  

b) Accountable: The mechanisms and the processes involved should be transparent and encourage openness. To build stakeholders' trust in the mechanism, there is a need to ‘walk the talk’ by being responsive to the reports and feedback given. All stakeholders should be made aware of the reporting procedures, mitigation mechanisms and how to use them.

c) Preventative and responsive in its approach which helps to create safe and supportive workplace and learning environments. Tracking all reported concerns ensures that no issue is left unattended. On the other hand, awareness creation on the reporting channels and guiding policies ensures that all personnel are aware of, and are able to use the system effectively.

d) Contextualised: The safeguarding reporting and response mechanisms should be dynamic and tailored to meet the specific needs of the institution. In consultation with the stakeholders who will use it, the reporting and response mechanism should recognise and build cultural sensitivities as well as linking up with other local actors as part of the referral pathways.

Well-functioning safeguarding reporting and response mechanisms will prevent as well as respond to concerns and incidents by:

• Increasing awareness of safeguarding policies;
• Logging concerns for early detection of harm caused by staff, operations, and programmes;
• Demonstrating organisational commitment;
• Increasing awareness of how concerns, incidents, and reports are handled;
• Reducing impunity, and;
• Rapidly responding to stop any further harm.