Safeguarding policy consultant

Job Description

International Alert is seeking a qualified consultant to provide briefing and training support on our safeguarding policy and translating the policy into accessible and child friendly language.

About the project

International Alert is a leading peacebuilding NGO, with 30 years of experience in preventing violence. We have been working in Lebanon since 2008. Our thematic focus areas include peace education and non-violent education, youth participation, gender equality and addressing the underlying causes of conflict related to human rights abuses, gender inequality, social and economic exclusion and insecurity. Alert is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.

The Ending Violence Against Children project aims to increase the capacity of schools and learning centres to reduce violence against children and generate evidence of the effectiveness of various approaches. It will be implemented in areas affected by the Beirut blast and in areas in Tripoli and the Bekaa with high concentration of refugees, targeting teachers and educators, children and their caregivers through face to face and virtual activities. The project will generate evidence through action research on effectiveness of approaches to addressing violence against children, including school-based and learning centre-based and community-based approaches.

Prevention and response of violence against children will be strengthened through supporting schools and learning centres to improve their existing capacities, and development of child safeguarding policies.

The Consultant will take our safeguarding policies and procedures and summarise these into accessible formats (text and visuals) to be shared externally on our website and venues where activities are taking place so that vulnerable adults and children can understand our safeguarding commitments, policies and procedures.   Additionally, the consultant will provide a refresher training and briefing session on Alert’s safeguarding policies and procedures for the Lebanon Country Team (either virtual, in person, or hybrid).

Deliverables and tentative workplan

1. Accessible and child-friendly products to communicate our safeguarding policies and procedures (6 days) February 2022
   1. Conduct a benchmarking review of best practice for developing child friendly language (examining different safeguarding products developed and published by organisations – e.g. NGOs, INGOs, UN agencies etc. working on children’s rights)
   2. Develop a 2 page accessible summary of our safeguarding policy and how to report safeguarding concerns.
   3. Develop content for an advise on accessible infographics and visuals to communicate the safeguarding policy reporting procedure (Alert’s designers will create and edit content based on this content and advice i.e. the consultant is not required to have graphic design expertise, however, if the consultant has this expertise this can be highlighted in their proposal and additional resources added to cover this).

2. Guidance note brief for personnel and partners on Lebanon country level safeguarding procedure, reporting and referral mechanism March (1.5 days)

• Develop a short guidance note (max. 3 pages) summarising the Lebanon Country Programme safeguarding reporting procedure (in line with the organisation wide safeguarding procedure already developed).

3. Conduct a refresher training on safeguarding for Alert Lebanon Country Team March/ April (3.5 days)

• Course development and preparation (1 day)
• Refresher training delivery (1.5 days)
• Write up of course content and lessons learned (1day)

International Alert will retain the training materials for its own learning and training. Alert can provide translation support costs so that all products are published in both Arabic and English (i.e. the consultant is not required to add resources for translation in their proposal).

Consultant profile

• University degree in social sciences or relevant fields
• At least 5 years of experience in child protection and safeguarding
• Excellent skills in policy development, and collaborative process design
• Experience of translating safeguarding policies into accessible and child friendly language and formats
• Excellent writing skills in English, and ability to deliver a training in Arabic
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and professionalism, including following data protection guidelines
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Prior experience in context analysis, peacebuilding and conflict analysis in Lebanon is essential and experience with gender sensitivity analysis a strong plus
• Demonstratable commitment to and practical understanding of safeguarding and child protection.

Education degree: Professional direct experience in Safeguarding

Experience required:

• 5-10 years

Languages - Arabic: Excellent English: Excellent

Period: A maximum of 15 full working days to be completed February to March 2022.

Compensation: Competitive price offers