A New Chapter Begins at Talk to Loop ??

We are relaunching with a stronger, more collective foundation.

Over the past few months we’ve made significant investments to come back stronger and long-term and we are thrilled to announce that with confirmed support from BHA, SDC, and FCDO, we are ready to continue contributing to the challenge of redistributing power through accountable action! ??

Join us as we build a sustainable, independent safe way for communities to raise their voices.?

People all over the world can now share feedback or report issues via our web channel, accessible in English, French, Spanish, ?Arabic, Maxatiri and Maay. Our Voice and WhatsApp channels will be available to local communities in Somalia and Somaliland very soon.?

?Stay tuned—big things are coming!

Reflecting on our journey?

In 2020, Talk to Loop was created to help ensure all voices, particularly those from vulnerable communities in crisis situations, are heard equitably, and safely by humanitarian, development, philanthropy, and peacebuilding actors. The approach was designed to increase the likelihood that others can respond to people in crisis meaningfully at any time.

?The platform was piloted across six countries (the Philippines, Indonesia, Poland, Ukraine, Zambia, and Somalia) with the support of key partners, such as Humanity United, the McGovern Foundation, ODI, FCDO, Global Giving, SDC, and others, who recognised its potential as a tool for systems change, accountability, and safe reporting of protection or fraud.

Talk to Loop offered a multilingual and multi-channel feedback platform, receiving over 5,500 pieces of feedback and 465 sensitive reports, registering 775 organisations across 18 countries. It proved effective in helping marginalised and vulnerable groups overcome some of the barriers to accessing traditional feedback mechanisms. Community use led to the disruption of trafficking rings, fraud detection, reports of child sexual exploitation, and the safe reporting of organisational issues by staff, all while maintaining their anonymity if needed. During the COVID-19 pandemic, people also used the platform to request information and services remotely and Talk to Loop demonstrated its potential as an early warning and early action tool.

In summary, by 2023, Talk to Loop had evidenced that it could play a unique role as an independent actor to address critical rates of underreporting of SEA, Aid diversion, and other kinds of abuse within the aid system, particularly in the Somalian context. It also evidenced that the resulting trends in data could help shape funding and program decision making, helping to center community voices. Talk to Loop was able to prove that given the right tools and the option to remain anonymous to avoid further harm, communities were willing to speak up and share crucial information about their interactions with local and international actors.

If you'd like to refresh your memory on the Talk to Loop journey, check out these reports:?

Talk to Loop's Annual Report 2023

Somali communities' usage highlights the need for CFM' independence and inclusivity

Language Diversity: Learnings on Inclusivity and Accessibility

In February Talk to Loop entered hibernation amid pressing challenges.

Despite a positive ?record and clear evidence of communities wanting and using the platform, earlier this year Talk to Loop went into hibernation.?Challenges such as low organisationsal response rates, resistance from some stakeholders, threats to our staff and partners and funding gaps, forced us to temporarily pause operations.

Read the announcement

During the six months of hibernation that followed, we worked diligently to address concerns, mitigate risks, raise funds and prepare for a stronger, more sustainable return.

Spurred on by a strong back up and bold endorsements from key actors in the sector, the news of our hibernation attracted the attention of institutional donors who saw the value of independent, multidirectional feedback and reporting mechanisms, specifically to address SEA (Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse) and PDAD (Post Distribution Aid Diversion) in complex chronic humanitarian settings.

After successful negotiations, we are now very excited to announce Talk to Loop’s full-scale return to operations in Somalia and Somaliland, with the valuable support from BHA, SDC, and FCDO. With this collective support and endorsement of the need for an independent, safe mechanism, which provides a collective service, we will also work alongside others to ensure community voices are heard and acted upon by relevant actors in an accountable manner. ?

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Engage, stay informed, respond & take action promptly.

Tap into the power of community feedback, start using Talk to Loop Now!

With a tech-based solution that supports local agency, accountability, and sustainability, we can help you listen to and learn from local voices, enhancing the quality, efficiency, and long-term impact of your services.?

We handle the data collection, you transform it into impactful actions.

As we continue to prepare everything to? comeback stronger, we are looking to grow the team!

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We are looking for individuals who are skilled at handling sensitive issues with professionalism, empathy, and care. Candidates should have advanced training in Protection against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Harassment (PSEAH), Gender-based Violence (GBV), Child Protection (CP), Safeguarding, Community Feedback Mechanisms, or workplace investigations.

This position will play a vital role in ensuring that the voices of vulnerable communities are heard in a safe, neutral, and supportive environment.

?Read the full job description here.?

If this role is for you or someone you know, please share this information.

Apply now.

Stay tuned for updates on how our comeback strategy is shaping our localisation agenda, integration efforts, and our?collective approach.?

As we embark on this new beginning and get the local channels for Somalia and Somaliland ready to go, we're also working diligently to expand our operations to other regions, with strong interest from areas like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and Syria keeping us busy.

If you believe there are new locations we should consider, please reach out to us and register your interest.

Warm regards,

The Talk to Loop Team.