Safeguarding Officer – WCA AND ESA

JOB SUMMARY:

This role has been created to help ensure we continue to protect program participants from harm or abuse of any kind, including sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse. The post holder reports to the CARE USA Global Safeguarding Advisor and supports safeguarding operations across ESA and WCA. This includes awareness raising, training, and supporting the Global Safeguarding Advisor on safer programming. This is a support role, with opportunities for learning and growth.

The Safeguarding Officer supports the integration of safeguarding and the protection from sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse (PSHEA), as well as physical and emotional abuse, neglect, and child abuse, across CARE’s work. The role works closely with Safeguarding Focal Points in ESA and WCA country offices, Regional Safeguarding Advisors, and other Safeguarding team members, as required. Working with the Global Safeguarding Advisor, the post holder provides day-to-day advice and support on safeguarding inquiries, safer programming and partnerships, staff capacity strengthening, and awareness raising—aligned with the CARE International Safeguarding Policy and related frameworks.

Support country office focal points to raise awareness of the CARE International Safeguarding Policy with staff, partners, program participants, and communities:

– Work with Safeguarding focal points and HR to ensure effective training and awareness raising at country office level, including onboarding.
– Help ensure robust safer recruitment practices are in place at country office level, using guidance developed by the safeguarding team.
– Support the Global Safeguarding Advisor to socialize the CARE Safer Programming Strategy with focal points, program staff, and partners, and monitor completion of the safer programming course by all staff.
– Support country office staff to develop Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials, and support staff and partners to adapt, share, and distribute them. This includes information on expected behavior by CARE staff and partners that is appropriate to the context.
– Using safer programming guidance, support focal points to organize community dialogues and focus group discussions with community members and program participants to identify risks and agree practical mitigation measures.

Support safeguarding risk management across projects and programs:

– With support from safeguarding technical advisors, conduct and review country-context safeguarding risk assessments
– Support country program teams and focal points to conduct program safeguarding audits and project safeguarding risk assessments, and to manage identified risks
– Monitor action plans developed by country offices in response to identified safeguarding risks
– Support processes to ensure safeguarding risk mitigation measures—and associated costs are included at the project proposal stage.

Support country office teams to conduct partner due diligence and develop capacity-building plans

– Provide guidance to country office teams to undertake safeguarding due diligence with partners and assess safeguarding standards.
– Review evidence provided by partners through self-assessments.
– Support the mapping and strengthening of partner capacity in safeguarding and safer programs and share approved resources and tools.
– Support country office teams to monitor safeguarding actions agreed with partners.

As delegated by the Global Safeguarding Advisor (ESA/WCA) and the Director of Safeguarding and PSHEA

– Using safer programming guidance, advise on safeguarding in project proposals and program budgets, as appropriate.
– Collaborate with Emergency Coordination, Gender, MEAL, and Protection colleagues to support joined-up prevention and response approaches.

Required Qualifications:

– A Bachelors’ degree in a relevant field, or equivalent experience in a relevant field.
– 3 to 5 years of relevant experience incorporating safeguarding practices into humanitarian or development programming.
– Understanding of, and commitment to, safeguarding and protecting the most vulnerable.
– Ability to recognize safeguarding risks and identify mitigations in programs.
– Excellent communication skills.
– Fluency in written and spoken English and French.
– Proven ability to produce high-quality work.
– Experience in ESA and/or WCA, and knowledge of the African context, is strongly preferred.
– Strong interest and personal commitment to CARE’s values, including gender equality, safeguarding, and the empowerment of women and girls.