Arab Finance: The British Council, in partnership with UNICEF, has launched a safeguarding toolkit to support British Council Partner Schools in Egypt in strengthening early identification of safeguarding concerns and improving consistency in decision-making as digital risks increase across the region, as per a press release.
Across the Middle East and North Africa, safeguarding risks are often not visible.
Increased digital exposure has raised risks related to online grooming and sexual exploitation, while social stigma continues to discourage children from reporting concerns.
Data from UNICEF and the International Telecommunication Union show that one in three internet users worldwide is a child, increasing exposure to online manipulation and abuse.
"The Safeguarding Toolkit provides schools with the clarity and confidence to act early, particularly where risks originate online or remain hidden due to stigma. Our aim is to support Egyptian Partner Schools in building a strong safeguarding culture where students feel safe to speak and are protected from harm," Ammar Ahmed, Exams Director, Egypt at the British Council, said.
Almudena Olaguibel, Child Protection Officer at UNICEF Spain, stated: "The Safeguarding Toolkit reflects a shared understanding between the British Council and UNICEF that effective protection depends on systems, not improvisation. As safeguarding risks become more complex and less visible, preparation, clarity, and shared responsibility across school communities are essential."
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that one in seven adolescents lives with a mental health condition, which can intersect with safeguarding concerns in school settings. Despite awareness, implementation remains inconsistent.
Many schools have safeguarding policies in place, but day-to-day decision-making can vary.
The toolkit is designed as a practical, role-based resource for everyday school use, supporting a whole-school approach that reduces reliance on individual judgment.
It defines responsibilities, improves recording and follow-up, and sets shared thresholds and escalation processes.
As safeguarding concerns increasingly move between online and offline environments, the toolkit supports schools in responding to risks such as online grooming, harassment, coercion, impersonation, and artificial intelligence-generated sexual imagery, allowing earlier intervention.
The toolkit is being rolled out across more than 2,500 British Council Partner Schools worldwide, reaching nearly 1.7 million students. It is designed to adapt to different legal contexts while maintaining consistency across the network.
