Recommendation 18

HM Government Acknowledged

The FCDO is committed to Zero Tolerance of Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination (BHD). The FCDO is launching a new Dignity and Respect at Work Policy in December 2022 which aims to respond robustly to bullying, harassment and discrimination, including on grounds of race. The policy has fairness and justice at its heart to ensure an objective complaints process for all staff by building in obstacles to biased decision- making in the process, such as ensuring no all-male or all-white panels. Specific measures enable representation of staff of colour in decision-making processes. Additionally, the policy text contains definitions and examples of racial harassment and micro-aggressions, so that staff better understand how to identify these and respond. The policy is clear that this behaviour is prohibited. The policy will be closely monitored with a set of performance indicators to show how far staff – including staff of colour - perceive the policy as fair and just. The FCDO uses its influence in this space when working with supply partners through the Supplier Partner Code of Conduct. Safeguarding, social responsibility and respect for human rights are central to the FCDO’s expectations of our supply partners. They must ensure that robust procedures are adopted and maintained to eliminate the risk of poor human rights practices within complex delivery chain environments funded by the FCDO. These practices include sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment; all forms of child abuse and inequality or discrimination on the basis of race, gender, age, religion, sexuality, culture or disability. The Code of Conduct requires supply partners to have adequate whistleblowing policies in place, through which individuals can raise concerns. Concerns can also be raised with the FCDO through its dedicated mailbox for reporting concerns. Due diligence assessment processes ascertain the presence of relevant safeguarding and whistleblowing policies and processes at implementing partners.