Safe Access and Protective Learning Environments

Safe physical learning spaces encompass a broad range of interventions that include both the presence of protective infrastructure and the absence of protection risks. Safe learning spaces promote the general well-being of learners and education personnel and enable learners to fully engage in the learning process. Determining potential hazards and protection risks is achieved through collaborative or complementary assessments that allow for essential information gathering to inform joint or integrated interventions. Interventions may address the: 

• Physical space to mitigate protection issues, increase safety for all, and ensure infrastructure is resilient to future shocks (E.g.: site selection, accessibility of site for all, provision of gender-segregated water and sanitation facilities) and
• Policies, practices, and behaviors (E.g.: supporting positive discipline, disciplinary policies updated and inclusive of SGBV, bullying, etc.) that reduce harm or potential risks to learners and education personnel. 

Safe access and protective learning environments are inclusive of all center-based programming with shared child protection and education interventions, including Child Friendly Spaces, ECD centers, and Formal and Non-Formal Learning Programs.