Whistleblowing and complaints policy

1. What you can report

• Fraud, bribery, theft, misuse of funds, forged documents, conflict of interest.
• Sexual exploitation, abuse or harassment, discrimination, bullying, violence, unsafe conditions.
• Breaches of law, of TIPCS policies or of donor rules; sanctions or terrorism-financing concerns; misuse of personal data.
• Errors in our publications, poor service, or dissatisfaction with a decision (these are complaints rather than whistleblowing).

2. Who can report

Anyone: Board members, staff, interns, volunteers, experts, consultants, partners, suppliers, participants, members, donors and the public. You do not need proof, only a reasonable, good-faith belief.

3. How to report

• By email to Contact@tipcs.org with the subject “CONFIDENTIAL – Concern”. Such messages are read only by the Secretary General, or by the Chair of the Board when the concern is about the Secretary General or the Executive team.
• By the contact form on the Contact page, choosing “General enquiry” and starting your message with the word CONFIDENTIAL.
• By post or in person at the registered office, Avenue Mahmoud Bourguiba, Monastir 5000, in a sealed envelope marked “Confidential – for the Chair of the Board”.
• Anonymously, using any of the above without a name. Anonymous reports are examined, although follow-up questions are then impossible.
• You may also report directly to the competent public authorities, including the public prosecutor and the authority in charge of fighting corruption, or to the donor concerned, without first going through TIPCS. Nothing in this policy limits that right.

4. What happens next

• Acknowledgement within 3 working days, with a reference number.
• Initial assessment within 10 working days: whether it is within scope, how urgent, and who investigates. An investigator with no stake in the matter is appointed; an external one where the concern involves senior people.
• Investigation fair to everyone involved, including the person reported, who is told of the allegation at the right time and may answer. Presumption of good conduct until facts are established.
• A written answer to the reporter within 60 days where possible (or an explanation of the delay), explaining the outcome as far as confidentiality and law allow.
• Serious cases are told to the Board and, where required, to donors and the authorities. A yearly anonymised summary of cases is reported to the Board and in the annual report.

5. Protection

Identity is kept confidential and shared only with those who must know to investigate or act, or as the law requires. Anyone who reports in good faith is protected against dismissal, demotion, threats, harassment, exclusion or any other retaliation, even if the concern proves unfounded. Retaliation is serious misconduct. Knowingly false accusations are also misconduct. Records are kept securely and only as long as needed, in line with the data-protection law.

6. Complaints about services and publications

Complaints about courses, membership, events, communications or our publications follow the same channels. We answer within 15 working days, correct errors of fact openly with a dated note, and tell you what changed. If you remain dissatisfied, you may ask for a review by the Chair of the Board. Personal-data complaints may also be brought to INPDP (www.inpdp.nat.tn).