The Charity Commission has given Save the Children International (STCI) an official warning following the death of a charity employee overseas in 2023.
In its warning, issued this month, the regulator said it had identified failures to oversee operations and safeguard staff in STCI’s Yemen office.
The commission also found shortcomings in ensuring employees followed policies and procedures, as well as counter-fraud training requirements.
Its regulatory compliance case into STCI opened in October 2023 following the detention and death of employee Hisham Al-Hakimi.
STCI told Civil Society that it reported concerns over Al-Hakimi’s death to the commission and commission its own review, which ended in 2024.
An internal investigation found a “negative working culture” at the charity’s Yemen office, the Guardian reported, with staff “disillusioned and marginalised”.
“Those reviews […] resulted in a number of recommendations, which we began acting on immediately,” the charity stated.
STCI said that it accepted the failings identified in governance, management, oversight and compliance with policies and procedures in the Yemen office.
The charity added that it would continue to work with the regulator to address any outstanding matters.
STCI, which recorded an overall income of £1.1bn in 2024, remains on regulatory alert, according to its commission listing.
‘Significant changes’ since incident
STCI said it has made significant changes since 2024 to improve oversight, staff support and rebuild trust.
The charity said it has also introduced detention risk assessments, updated its relocation and evacuation policies and strengthened crisis management, among other measures.
Inger Ashing, STCI chief executive, visited the Middle Eastern country in July where the charity continues to operate.
Stephen Roake, the commission’s assistant director, acknowledged the challenge for charities such as STCI operating in “high-risk, volatile environments”.
“We know that circumstances can change rapidly,” Roake said.
“However, it is this very reason that trustees must ensure they have sufficient oversight of their overseas operations.
“All charities must ensure their policies and procedures are fully implemented. Keeping people safe should be a priority for all.”
