Preventing harm in research and innovation

Everyone has the right to be treated fairly and with dignity and respect. We are committed to promoting research and innovation environments that are free from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, bullying, psychological abuse and physical violence, for all individuals who are employed on, participate in, or otherwise come into contact with the research and innovation activities that we fund.

The role of UKRI

As the UK’s largest public funder of research and innovation, UKRI can play a significant role by working with partners from across the research and innovation sector to enhance approaches to safeguarding and building on good practice.

Our main activities

In October 2018, UKRI along with other UK funders of international development research (Wellcome, Department of Health and Social Care, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy) jointly committed to working with the research and innovation sector to enhance the approach to safeguarding, building on good practice where it exists.

In early 2019, the UK Collaborative on Development Research (UKCDR), on behalf of these funders, commissioned an evidence review of safeguarding in international development research by a team at the University of Sussex, which resulted in a draft set of good practice guidance and principles.

In late 2019, UKCDR commissioned a team from the University of Liverpool to conduct a global consultation on the draft guidance and principles which resulted in publication of a consultation report and finalised guidance on safeguarding in international development research in April 2020.

In May 2020, drawing on the work by UKCDR, UKRI published its Preventing harm (safeguarding) in research and innovation policy.

Key resources

You can find:

Get in touch

Contact us for more information about the preventing harm policy.

Email: preventingharmpolicy@ukri.org

Last updated: 17 October 2023

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