Consultant - 4th Independent Review of Safeguarding Practice and Culture

MAG is seeking an experienced consultant or consultancy group to undertake a review of its safeguarding practice and culture by September 2026.

ABOUT MAG

MAG (Mines Advisory Group) is an international humanitarian organisation based in Manchester, UK, and working in 32 countries. We remove landmines and unexploded ordnance to release safe and productive land for communities, and work to reduce the threat of armed violence by supporting governments to safely manage weapons and ammunition. In 1997, MAG was a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for our work campaigning for the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention.

BACKGROUND

MAG is committed to safeguarding staff, partners, and the communities who we work alongside. We strive to provide a safe and trusted environment for anyone who comes into contact with our work.

In 2018, MAG commissioned its first independent review of safeguarding practice and culture.

Subsequently a 2nd desk-based review took place in 2020, and a 3rd 2023. All reviews were undertaken by a consultancy group (with different consultants), recommendations were approved by MAG’s Leadership Team and then incorporated into an organisational Safeguarding work plan.

MAG has invested in Safeguarding by establishing the role of Safeguarding Lead who was appointed in October 2018 and was supported by a global safeguarding team between January 2020 to May 2025. The role of safeguarding trustee focal point was also established in January 2019.

In line with the review period (every 3 years) set by the Health, Safety, Security and Safeguarding Committee, MAG now wishes to commission a 4th review that is to be conducted and completed by September 2026 - see timeframe below.

The purpose of conducting the safeguarding external reviews are:

• to assess awareness, understanding, attitude, approaches, and progress to date on safeguarding work across MAG
• to recommend how MAG can continue to build a culture and amend its processes and procedures and activities, to ensure a high standard of safeguarding culture and practice, whilst also taking account of other sector wide (humanitarian development sector) and sector specific (mines clearance) initiatives.

SCOPE OF THE REVIEW

The 4th independent review, encourages general observations, but rather than focusing on the broad remit of the implementation of safeguarding across the organisation will this time be focused on:

• strengthening our safeguarding practice, in relation to our work with partners and alongside communities
• assessing our safeguarding self-assessment tool to ensure it is fit for purpose in relation to organisational strategy, policy and external obligations.

OBJECTIVES AND OUTPUTS

The consultant is expected to produce a report that measures progress and highlights areas of gaps and will include:

• a broad assessment of MAG’s current safeguarding culture and practice and recommendations for how MAG may strengthen the organisation’s safeguarding culture, policies and practice
• recommendations for strengthening our safeguarding practice, in relation to our work with partners and alongside communities
• an assessment of our safeguarding self-assessment tool with recommendation for changes to ensure it is fit for purpose in relation to organisational strategy, policy and external obligations.

METHODOLOGY

The consultant is asked to submit a scope of work and action plan for agreement before substantive work begins. The following is a proposed outline:

• clarify the scope of the review with the Safeguarding Lead, Director of People and Culture, CEO and Safeguarding Trustee focal point.
• conduct a desk review of relevant documentation – policies, training plans, lessons learnt exercises, case management and reporting.
• conduct online interviews and focus group discussions with key staff across MAG – at different levels, roles and locations.

If information comes to light about historical, specific unreported incidents or current safeguarding incidents the consultant will document and recommend action to be taken. Final decision making on follow up rests within the MAG management line.

REPORTING

The consultant will report to the CEO, Director of People and Culture and the Safeguarding Trustee Focal Point. The MAG Safeguarding Lead will provide administrative support and documents for review.

TIMING

The Review should be completed by mid-August 2026 at the latest with a view to finalising the report by end-August 2026.

CIRCULATION

It is our intention that as part of our accountability to all stakeholders in MAG, communities with whom we work, supporters and donors we will publish a summary of recommendations and a management response setting out a proportionate approach for the future.