The IRC has a strong commitment to creating a culture of zero-tolerance of safeguarding violations in our workplace and in our programmes – as well as a safe environment for reporting. We are determined to protect our clients and staff from safeguarding violations through prevention and, where misconduct is alleged, to address it without fear or favour. TheSafeguarding Specialist is responsible for supporting the Sierra Leone programme to protect beneficiaries and staff from exploitation and abuse.
Job Overview/Summary
The Safeguarding Specialist will be working under the direct supervision of the Deputy Director, Programs, with Technical support from the Ethics and Compliance Unit, Director of Safeguarding and in close collaboration with the Senior Management team, Technical Coordinators, the HR team and partners. S/he will be mainly responsible for advising and coordinating the effective implementation of IRC’s safeguarding measures and activities across the IRC in Sierra Leone, with a focus on the Consortium programmes. S/he will be responsible for effectively supporting IRC and partners in meeting international safeguarding standards. S/he will also lead in the establishing a national safeguarding working group, in line with the safeguarding best practice and related tools and guidance.
Areas of responsibilities
Donor compliance
- Ensure compliance with donor safeguarding minimum standards across the consortia partners; and
- Monitor the implementation of IRC and partner safeguarding plans, including field visits.
Programme Safeguarding – Consortia
- Support programme colleagues to undertake risk assessments of activities;
- Provide technical support to design mitigating and corrective measures, including incorporating safeguarding behavior protocols into field SoPs;
- Lead on the drafting of programme safeguarding guidelines, SoPs, and other required materials;
Accountability and Complaints facilitation
- Support programs to incorporate key accountability mechanisms;
- Guide the development of accountability communication guidelines for field work;
- Co-ordinate the review IRC’s and partners’ existing complaints response mechanisms;
- Support the revision of complaints response mechanisms in line with review findings;
- Review and improve IRC and partner’s safeguarding case handling frameworks and SoPs localized for Sierra Leone.
- Ensure the systematic updating and sharing of a centralized support services mapping;
- Chair the IRC Sierra Leone safeguarding committee, comprised of SMT and other relevant staff.
HR / Systems
- Provide technical support to IRC and partners’ HR departments, in order to enhance their safeguarding mechanisms throughout the life cycle of staffing;
- Provide technical support to IRC and partners’ logistics departments, in order to enhance their safeguarding mechanisms throughout the procurement and service provision implementation;
Co-ordination
- Lead the establishment of, and provide technical leadership for, a national working group on safeguarding, to foster information sharing, cross organizational learning on best practice and enhance safeguarding standard adherence across the NGO sector in Sierra Leone;
- In coordination with the Senior LNGB Consortium Coordinator, establish contacts with relevant international/local partners and line ministries in the area of operation;
- Liaise regularly with the relevant IRC HQ technical units as the Program may dictate;
- Lead on the roll-out of safeguarding activities in Sierra Leone;
- As requested by supervisor, represent the IRC to donors and other external stakeholders in Sierra Leone.
Training and Capacity Building
- Lead safeguarding trainings for staff in accordance to IRC Global policy and procedures;
- Support partners in any of their Safeguarding, Whistleblowing, and Code of Conduct training;
- Supervise Safeguarding Manager providing ongoing leadership and overseeing implementation and coordination of activity plans to ensure targets are met.
- Provide ongoing supervision, leadership, and technical support and guidance to staff, and ensure staff adhere to best-practice principles in all aspects of implementation. Specific support to Designated Safeguarding Officers at the district level.
Qualifications
- Advanced degree in education, social protection, or related field.
- At least 6 years of relevant program and safeguarding experience with an international organization in a development setting.
- Experience with beneficiary protection from abuse and exploitation, sexual harassment in development and humanitarian contexts in conflict/refugee settings, and knowledge of international protection frameworks and mechanisms on safeguarding
- Experience working with GBV/ Child Protection related programmes
- Must be capable of applying skills and knowledge in a range of capacities, including implementation, advisory functions, training and the transfer of technical knowledge and management skills to others.
- Experience in conducting training, orientation and refresher sessions with diverse teams.
- Experience in providing technical assistance across a variety of departments
- Excellent spoken and technical writing ability in English, including report writing.
- Proven track record in working with teams, excellent interpersonal skills, positive and professional attitude, ability to lead and work well in a team setting and with multiple partners.
More Information
- Job City Freetown
