From 3–7 October 2025, safeguarding leaders from Jesuit Provinces across Africa and Madagascar gathered at Africama House in Nairobi for the Provincial Safeguarding Officers’ (PSOs) Conference. This annual event has become a cornerstone for evaluating progress, identifying persistent challenges, and charting a concrete way forward for safeguarding in schools, parishes, formation houses, and social ministries.

The 2025 conference painted a clear picture: safeguarding in the region is no longer a peripheral compliance obligation. It is steadily becoming a cultural expectation; woven into leadership, formation, policy, and pastoral practice. Yet, genuine institutionalization still requires stronger leadership support, consistent financing, and sustainable human resource structures.

This blog highlights the significant achievements, lessons learned, and priority actions emerging from the conference.

Significant Achievements Across Provinces

1. Policies Are Becoming More Accessible

Many provinces have made significant strides in updating and simplifying their safeguarding policies. Notably, Rwanda–Burundi has translated policy summaries into English, French, and Kinyarwanda, making safeguarding expectations more accessible and understandable for communities. The Eastern Africa Province has also integrated PSEAH (Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment) into its updated safeguarding framework, aligning with international standards.

2. Formation and Training Have Expanded Dramatically

Across the region, the reach of safeguarding formation has expanded significantly, providing reassurance and confidence in the progress being made.

Eastern Africa alone trained approximately 2,140 people across schools, parishes, and social works. JCSA contributed significantly through its Community of Practice (CoP) webinars, bringing together more than 4,100 participants between mid-2024 and August 2025. Trainings have been targeted and practical, covering teachers, parish teams, parents, students, novices, formators, and Diocesan collaborators.

3. Practical Tools Are Being Produced

Several provinces have developed and disseminated practical tools, including incident reporting forms, case logs, risk assessment templates, consent forms, and child-friendly awareness posters. These tools, when translated into local languages, significantly improve accessibility and equip communities with the necessary resources.

4. Formation Houses Are Deeply Engaged

Novitiates, scholasticates, and tertianship programs across multiple provinces are receiving specialized sessions focusing on boundaries, trauma-informed accompaniment, and ethical decision-making. Many formators reported measurable improvements in their own practice—particularly in understanding the distinction between internal and external forum.

5. Partnerships and Community Engagement Are Growing

From Zambia to Malawi and Zimbabwe, parishes and schools are working with local chiefs, dioceses, and community groups to build awareness and strengthen protection systems. Provinces like ANW have introduced self-audit systems (the “12 Cs”) to help apostolates evaluate their safeguarding maturity.

The Challenges That Must Be Addressed

Despite visible progress, the conference highlighted recurring issues that continue to hinder consistent safeguarding implementation.

1. Human Resource Constraints

Many Local Safeguarding Officers (LSOs) and Child Protection Officers (CPOs) are volunteers balancing multiple roles. This results in delays, inadequate follow-up, and inconsistent delivery of safeguarding activities across apostolates.

2. Chronic Funding Gaps

Nearly all provinces reported insufficient budgets for training, survivor support, case management, or staffing dedicated to safeguarding functions. JCSA also noted its current limitations in providing free capacity-building, despite widespread demand.

3. Weak Case Reporting and Data Management

In several provinces, cases remain underreported or inconsistently documented. Without reliable data, timely intervention becomes difficult, and institutional learning is weakened.

4. Limited Local-Language Materials

Where translations are unavailable, English-only materials reduce accessibility and impact, especially in rural and multilingual contexts.

5. Resistance and Perception Issues

Some apostolates still perceive safeguarding as an externally imposed requirement rather than a mission priority. Where leadership engagement is weak, implementation remains stagnant.

6. Staff Turnover

Frequent changes in ministry leadership and staff disrupt continuity, requiring repeated retraining and resetting of safeguarding structures.

A Practical Roadmap for the Next 12 Months

The conference did not stop at identifying challenges. It produced a clear and actionable 12-month plan that Provinces and apostolates can begin implementing immediately.

1. Stronger Leadership and Governance

Major Superiors are encouraged to formally require every apostolate to maintain a functioning safeguarding office consisting of at least three approved members. Safeguarding should also become a standing item in canonical visitations.

2. Dedicated Time and Secretariat Support

Larger institutions should appoint a part-time safeguarding coordinator. Provinces with broad geographic coverage should consider establishing a small safeguarding secretariat to oversee training, M&E, and case management support.

3. Accessible, Modular Training

JCSA will finalise a modular training manual that includes basic and role-specific courses, complete with facilitator notes. Provinces will pilot this manual in schools, parishes, and formation houses.

4. Standardized Case Management Pathway

All provinces are encouraged to adopt the “5 Rs” (Recognize, Respond, Report, Record, Refer), supported by standard forms, confidentiality protocols, and regular case log reviews.

5. Survivor Support Maps

Every province will compile referral maps for psychosocial, medical, and legal support—ensuring survivors receive timely and professional assistance.

6. Sustainable Financing

Apostolates must begin including a safeguarding budget line—however modest—in their annual financial plans. JCSA will continue pursuing partnerships with regional episcopal bodies and international donors to establish a regional safeguarding fund.

7. Quarterly Monitoring and Scorecards

A simplified but consistent M&E structure will help track progress through quarterly activity reports and an annual safeguarding scorecard presented to Provincial leadership.

Conclusion: A Critical Moment for the Region

The 2025 PSOs Conference demonstrated clear momentum and deep commitment across Jesuit works. Provinces are innovating, training widely, and collaborating across borders. Yet the path toward fully institutionalized safeguarding requires renewed leadership resolve, sustainable financing, and consistent accountability.

The roadmap emerging from the conference provides a clear and practical path forward—one that can transform pockets of good practice into a continent-wide culture of protection. With steady investment, coordination, and leadership engagement, safeguarding can become not just a policy requirement but a lived reality in every Jesuit apostolate in Africa and Madagascar.