Safeguarding Senior Officer

Job Purpose

The Safeguarding Senior Officer is appointed to provide technical support and coordination for National Societies in the region to strengthen prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) and Child Safeguarding, in order to contribute to achieving the aims and targets of the Global Safeguarding Action Plan 2022-2025.

Safeguarding for the IFRC network refers to our responsibility in acting to: Keep people safe from any form of harm caused by the misuse of power by making sure that our staff, volunteers, programmes, and communications do no harm to children and adults, nor expose them to abuse or exploitation.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Key activities will include supporting, as needed: National Society organizational and programmatic assessments; mainstreaming preventative actions into programmes including training, community feedback and complaints systems, referral pathways and internal reporting mechanisms that are easy to access and survivor-centred; and facilitating evaluations and National Society peer learning and coordination.  

Coordination

• Support National Societies to identify national and local safeguarding networks in each country context (based on selection of priority countries through the PGI mapping process).
• Support National Societies to engage with relevant actors for referrals, knowledge-sharing, joint awareness raising, training and reaching out to local communities and specialist expertise.
• Support a collaborative approach to safeguarding with HR, programmes and technical staff e.g. NSD, PGI, CEA and legal staff/focal points.
• Coordinate the regional Safeguarding Working Group for National Societies in the MENA region, providing regular progress updates, including an annual report on progress against the Global Safeguarding Action Plan and an updated list of networks / organizations for assistance for survivors.

Institutional

• Support the designation of National Society Safeguarding focal points at headquarters and branch levels.
• Facilitate organizational assessment and development of National Society Safeguarding action plans.
• Deliver training for Safeguarding focal points (train-the-trainer).
• Work together with National Society focal points to implement Safeguarding action plans through provision of practical support and referral to technical advisers for specialist support (for example, specialist support required for developing PSEA and Child Safeguarding policies, NS procedures for investigation and response through a survivor-centred approach, contingency planning and case management).
• Share tools, templates and resources for operationalizing practical actions including:
• programmatic Safeguarding assessment and Child Safeguarding Risk Analysis;
• screening of National Society personnel to help prevent safeguarding risks;

- briefing, training, and signing of staff Code of Conduct by volunteers and staff;

- well-communicated channels for safe reporting and response to SEA and Child Safeguarding concerns integrated to community-based feedback and complaints mechanisms;

- referral pathways for child protection, sexual and reproductive healthcare, counselling, justice and MHPSS services; and

- access to PSEA and Child Safeguarding technical support (e.g. technical advisory staff, delegates, or consultancy support).

Awareness-raising, training and peer learning activities

• Raise awareness and actively promote transparency and accountability in relation to Safeguarding with National Societies in the region, for example by organizing regional PSEA events, webinars and trainings.
• Facilitate regional peer learning events (online and/or in person) focusing on different safeguarding-related themes and audiences, for example utilizing the role-specific IFRC PSEA video animations to introduce and discuss PSEA with different groups, peer exchange visits etc.
• Document and share case studies and good practices of institutionalising PSEA and Child Safeguarding and disseminate them widely.

Reporting

• Contribute to reporting on Safeguarding to senior management and donors, as required.
• Prepare progress reports against the National Society PSEA and Child Safeguarding action plans.
• Support IFRC regional and global reporting related to the IFRC Safeguarding Action Plan 2022-2025.

Team member

• Actively participate in team meetings.
• Support other team members.
• Work and behave in accordance with all organizational policies and procedures.
• Uphold the fundamental principles of the Red Cross and act with integrity.

Education

• Relevant university degree (gender studies, anthropology, sociology, psychology, communication, political science, international relations, law or human rights) or similar professional qualification. Post-graduate degree is an advantage. - Required
• IMPACT course or equivalent knowledge - Preferred

Experience

• Minimum 5 year’s experience in PSEA, child protection, gender and/or inclusion as part of design and/or delivery of humanitarian projects/services - Required
• Minimum 3 years of experience with community engagement approaches, direct support to survivors of violence, exploitation or abuse, or addressing the specific needs of marginalized groups at community level. - Required
• 3 years + Experience working in the MENA region - Required
• Experience working with partner organizations and in developing and adapting tools and experience and in strengthening capacities of local and national actors - Required
• Demonstrated professional experience in the IFRC or an organization within the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, or in an international organization or NGO - Required
• Demonstrated experience in applying humanitarian protection, gender, accessibility standards and guidelines and in setting up and managing accountability systems 
• Experience coordinating complex projects with multiple stakeholders - Preferred
• Experience in developing and implementing learning and capacity strengthening processes including in designing and developing training curricula - Preferred
• Holds a holistic and intersectional approach to addressing issues of discrimination, violence and exclusion and understands the institutional requirements necessary to achieve sustainable humanitarian impact to prevent and respond appropriately - Required

Knowledge, Skills and Language

• Up-to-date knowledge of good practices in safeguarding, protection and/or gender issues - Required 
• Ensuring inclusive practice and promoting diversity - Required    
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and networking skills, able to build relationships with people at all levels of the organisation across multiple countries and cultures, both in person and remotely, to build commitment and support for PGI  - Required 
• Possesses a broad understanding of global humanitarian issues, and international humanitarian standards for Protection, gender and inclusion and specifically safeguarding - Required 
• Solid written and verbal communication skills especially with rendering concepts accessible for a range of audiences  - Required 
• Highly motivated, self-starter able to take initiative and lead a team or process - Required
• Fluently spoken and written English  - Required
• Fluent spoken and written Arabic  - Required

Competencies and Values

• Respect for diversity
• Integrity and Accountability
• Communication
• Collaboration and Teamwork
• Judgement and Decision Making
• Creativity and Innovation