PSEA - Majd Hallab

Commitment

Why PSEA matters to me.

Throughout my career in humanitarian and development programs, I have witnessed firsthand how safe programming is not optional, it is the foundation of everything we do. PSEA is not a compliance checkbox, it is a lived responsibility toward the communities we serve.

As Programs Manager at DCL Foundation, overseeing large-scale operations across North Lebanon, I have embedded PSEA principles into team culture, field protocols, and organizational frameworks to ensure every beneficiary interaction is safe, respectful, and accountable.

Initiatives

Policies and frameworks developed.

Whistleblower Policy

Developed a comprehensive whistleblower protection policy to ensure staff and beneficiaries can safely report concerns without fear of retaliation.

Protection, Safe Identification and Referrals Policy

Designed and implemented a policy to guide safe identification of at-risk individuals and establish clear, confidential referral pathways to appropriate services.

Organizational Misconduct Framework

Established a structured misconduct response framework defining procedures, accountabilities, and consequences to ensure consistent and fair handling of all reported cases.

PSEA Embedded in Contracts

Integrated PSEA clauses and compliance requirements into all organizational contracts with suppliers, partners, and service providers to extend accountability across all stakeholders.

Code of Conduct for Private Sector

Developed a PSEA curriculum and code of conduct tailored for private sector actors, raising awareness and setting clear behavioral standards for non-traditional humanitarian partners.

Disability Inclusion Initiatives

Designed and led initiatives to embed disability inclusion principles across programs, ensuring that persons with disabilities receive equitable, dignified, and accessible assistance.

Panels and engagements

Representing Lebanon on the global stage.

May 7, 2025

WFP Executive Board, "Strengthening PSEA through Collaborative Action", Rome

Represented DCL Foundation and Lebanon at the WFP Office of the Executive Director's PSEA event held on 7 May 2025 in Rome, titled Strengthening Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse through Collaborative Action. The event featured two dedicated panel sessions examining how strengthening localization and country-level operations can elevate PSEA efforts across the humanitarian system.

As a panelist, contributed field-level insights from Lebanon on how embedding PSEA into NGO operations is fundamental to maintaining community trust, particularly in contexts where free-of-charge assistance creates natural power imbalances that can be exploited. The session was organized by WFP's Gender, Protection and Inclusion (GPI) unit and the Operational Partners Unit (OPU), bringing together NGO partners, UN colleagues, and civil society voices from across the globe.

Panel · WFP Executive Board · International · Rome

Majd Hallab presenting at WFP Executive Board PSEA panel, Rome 2025

Dec 11, 2025

WFP Harmonized PSEA E-Learning, Launch Event, Lebanon

Participated as a speaker at the launch event of WFP's Harmonized PSEA online course on 11 December 2025. Shared perspectives on how embedding PSEA mechanisms into NGO operations is fundamental to maintaining trust with the communities served, and why the course represents a significant step forward for local and national organizations.

"Embedding PSEA mechanisms into NGO operations is fundamental to maintaining trust with the communities we serve. In humanitarian settings, especially when we are providing assistance that is free of charge, whether cash or in-kind, an imbalance of power naturally exists. And that imbalance can unfortunately create incentives for exploitation, including sexual exploitation and abuse."

Highlighted how PSEA stops being a checklist and becomes a mindset when it is fully integrated into every stage of the programme cycle, from project design involving protection focal points early, to safe recruitment, community awareness, and accessible reporting channels. Emphasized the value of the Harmonized PSEA Course in giving smaller civil society organizations practical, structured guidance to build capacity at their own pace, giving organizations the confidence to assess their gaps and put the right safeguards in place.

Speaker · WFP · Lebanon

Majd Hallab speaking at WFP Harmonized PSEA E-Learning launch event, December 2025