Risk Assessment, Mitigation and Internal Controls
Bringing 12 Partners Into Full PSEA Capacity Assessment Compliance
A mandatory PSEA Capacity Assessment process required partner organisations to complete their compliance review through a global online platform, but all 12 partners in the operation were working largely offline. I informed senior management of the requirement and led each partner through migration and completion on the correct platform. Multifunctional teams reviewed documentation and flagged 3 partners below the required risk threshold for further action. By June 2026, the operation was fully compliant with the online process requirement.
- Partners brought into compliance
- 0
- Assessed as low risk
- 9/12
Partners brought into compliance
Assessed as low risk
The Context
The organisation partnered with 12 organisations delivering services to beneficiaries, including women and children, all of whom were required to complete a mandatory global PSEA Capacity Assessment process online.
The Challenge
Partner compliance processes were largely offline despite the global policy requirement, leaving documentation incomplete or unmigrated and partner risk status unclear to senior management.
The Strategic Approach
How It Was Solved
Notification phase
briefed senior management on the policy requirement and initiated the process for each of the 12 partners.
Migration phase
coordinated the transfer of offline documentation to the online platform and completed the process for partners who had only partially finished it.
Review phase
formed multifunctional teams to assess submitted documents against policy, updated the platform and initiated Capacity Strengthening Implementation Plans for flagged partners.
Measurable Results
- 09 of 12 partners were assessed as low risk with full capacity and updated accordingly.
- 3 partners were flagged as below low capacity and high risk for further action.
- The operation reached full compliance with the online process requirement by June 2026.
Broader Impact
- Made partner risk status visible and trackable for the first time across the operation.
- Strengthened the credibility of partner selection and monitoring processes.
- Improved partner engagement through regular update meetings on requirements and progress.
- Ensured beneficiary-facing partners met the organisation's own safeguarding standards.
Migrating a compliance process online is not just a technical task. It requires sustained partner engagement to actually close capacity gaps rather than simply relocate paperwork.
This case shows how policy enforcement, cross-functional review and consistent partner engagement can convert a stalled compliance requirement into a fully implemented system. The operation now has a clear, trackable view of partner safeguarding capacity.
Tools Used in This Case
SharePoint
used to coordinate document migration and review workflows with multifunctional teams.
Microsoft Office
used to compile risk assessments and briefing materials for senior management.
DocuSign
used to formalise Capacity Strengthening Implementation Plans with flagged partners.
UN Partner Portal
used to commence PSEA self capacity assessments and preliminary reviews, and to initiate Capacity Strengthening Implementation Plans with flagged partners. Navigating this portal is itself a recognised skill in the NGO sector.
Competencies Evidenced
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