Re-advertisement Regional Safeguarding Specialist at Action Against Hunger International

Purpose

• The Regional Safeguarding Specialist will take lead in ensuring that Action Against Hunger HEARO and Country Offices prepare and are able to respond to reports of SEA (sexual, exploitation and abuse), Child Safeguarding and trafficking in persons. S/he will raise awareness Action Against Hunger’s policy commitments, including zero-tolerance approach through training, coaching and ensure that the global PSEA, Child Safeguarding and Anti-trafficking in persons mechanisms are socialized and used by staff and related personnel.

Engagement

• The Regional Safeguarding Specialist will collaborate closely with Action Against Hunger Safeguarding focal persons, key stakeholders at Country and Regional level. S/he will also work with program teams in the region to ensure that Safeguarding policies is mainstreamed into program design. A strong rapport will be created and enhanced with the Safeguarding unit in Canada as well as others in the international network including the Safeguarding Community of Practice.
• Externally, close collaborations and working relationships will be created and maintained with Safeguarding working groups in the region, InterAgency Working groups (ICVA, IASC, CHS, AAP, CDAC etc), organizational partners, collaborators and other INGOs with the aim of creating a positive culture.

Delivery

• S/he will be responsible for the timely and quality delivery of the Safeguarding road map to ensure that regional and country office priorities are achieved.

Essential job roles

• Lead the implementation of the Safeguarding policy and procedures and facilitate the structural embedding of safeguarding across Regional and country operations
• Oversee the functioning of Safeguarding investigations and ensure accurate and proper close-out of investigations, survivor support mechanisms are in place adhering to the principles of confidentiality, impartiality, fairness and sensitivity of investigation.
• Lead in the roll-out, awareness creation, training and capacity building of all staff in line with the Safeguarding priorities.
• Work with the Regional HR Director and Director of People & Strategy and to map out a clear process for vetting & reference checking including implementation of the misconduct disclosure scheme. S/he will create the legal framework available and the HR teams to ensure that these checks are rolled out, ensure that all staff are checked in line with agreed protocols.
• Providing on the ground Safeguarding support and expertise during humanitarian emergencies in the region and drawing up lessons learnt
• Support in Country office teams in conducting Safeguarding assessments, setting up processes for community complaints mechanisms and that they are mainstreamed into program design.
• Provide technical advice and support to Country Offices in coordination with Country Directors, Safeguarding focal points and HR teams
• Provide technical advice and guidance to Country Offices and Regional Teams in coordination with Action Against Hunger International Safeguarding policy and protocols
• Create a close work relationships with the Safeguarding Community of Practice members in the Network, Region and Countries
• Work with the Regional HR and Regional Director’s to deliver a coordinated Safeguarding services to Country Offices
• Lead, alongside Safeguarding focal points, on Safeguarding related data collection, auditing and reporting in the organization and donor requirements.
• Ensuring that action plans are in place at HEARO and country office regional level to facilitate continuous improvement in the prevention of and response to safeguarding reports
• Work with Country Office teams to ensure that Community Complaints Mechanisms have a safeguarding lens and adequately cover safeguarding needs.

Gender Equality Commitments

• Foster an environment that supports values of women and men, and equal access to information.
• Provide a work environment where women and men must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.
• Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sex orientation, disability, religion. race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status.
• Value and respect all cultures.

Fiscal Responsibility

• The position will be the overall budget holder for Safeguarding priorities.
• The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required.
• Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business purposes. While performing the duties of this job in the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as to infectious diseases.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a field related to humanitarian assistance and international development, psychology, law, political science, development studies, gender studies, social work.
• Minimum 10 years humanitarian work in emergency and/or development context (experience in Horn and East Africa Region an added advantage).
• At least 7 years of Safeguarding experience with sound knowledge and understanding of organizational Code of Conduct and Safeguarding policies.
• Certified trainer in Safeguarding investigations.
• Proven experience in managing Safeguarding investigations.
• Training in interview skills and techniques or mediation techniques.
• Understanding and experience of the first phase of humanitarian response and the unique pressures faced in this period.
• Experience developing safeguarding resource materials, including training curriculum, guidance tools and best practices.