The purpose of this role is to lead the regional safeguarding practice in order to ensure that safeguarding is prioritized, of high quality, and embedded in a culture of prevention, awareness, reporting and response. The ultimate purpose of the role is to ensure that AKF is safeguarding its staff, partners, volunteers and associates, as well as children and adults in the communities where AKF works in the respective region. The Regional Safeguarding Manager for Africa role will include coordinating capacity building, promoting safe programming, enhancing safe partnerships, delivering trainings, establishing metrics, meeting donor compliance, managing risks, supporting the mainstreaming of safeguarding throughout operations, especially when engaging directly with communities and through partners.
Additionally, this role will focus on global capability enhancement through working closely with the global safeguarding team to develop systems/procedures and enhance standards.
This role has an administrative reporting line to the AKF EA CEO and the AKF Mozambique CEO, works closely with the local leadership and the respective Safeguarding Focal Points in each entity and has a direct technical reporting line to the Global Safeguarding Lead.
This is a local hire position based in Nairobi, Kenya but AKF may entertain alternate location in one of the regional countries (Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, or Mozambique).
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND CORE TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES
Be the safeguarding advisor
- This position holder will be responsible for leading the integration of safeguarding standards into the organizational culture, workplace and the programmes and promoting and reinforcing AKF values and an equitable, diverse and safe culture, where safeguarding misconduct is not tolerated.
- Raising awareness about AKF’s zero-tolerance policy towards safeguarding misconducts by working with HR to conduct briefings and inductions for new hires, and training staff, volunteers, and representatives on AKF’s Safeguarding Policy, Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH), Code of Conduct Champion safeguarding policies and accompanying policy guidance support materials, including strong advocacy for safeguarding across all levels of business to promote a culture of respect, safety and inclusion.
- Act as a reporting avenue for safeguarding related issues, concerns or experiences and foster an environment where all potential safeguarding misconducts are reported as per AKF’s Safeguarding Policy.
Drive regional safeguarding strategy
- Establish safeguarding implementation plan/annual plan for the region addressing gaps identified by the external audit and monitor progress against plan.
Lead capacity building efforts on safeguarding
- Create, support, and nurture a network of safeguarding focal points and trusted persons across the country.
- Partner with the programme and MERL teams to enhance safeguarding awareness-raising in communities where AKF operates, and supporting the development and implementation of community reporting mechanisms.
- Support programme teams in building partner capacity in the areas of safeguarding.
- Planning and conducting trainings and refreshers for staff on various safeguarding topics in order to raise awareness and capacity within the country teams.
Ensure safeguarding standards are applied throughout the region
- Undertake and/or support the review and adaptation of safeguarding procedures in line with mapping of local external environment (legislation, cultural considerations, etc.) and global AKF guidelines.
Partner with project and proposal development teams
- Operate as technical partner on safeguarding matters in regards to programme design, proposal formulation, donor compliance, etc.
- On the programmatic side, tasks include training and supporting staff to identify and mitigate safeguarding risks associated with the design and implementation in those programmes
- Ensuring that proposals include actions and budget to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, and other safeguarding misconduct.
- Reviewing and updating the referral pathways and support services map on an annual basis
- Working with HR to strengthen recruitment processes to safeguard communities and colleagues from potential harm
- Collaborating with MERL and programmes to establish community-based reporting mechanisms and tools to evaluate the impact of the safeguarding protocols on programmes
Participate in handling safeguarding cases
- With respect to safeguarding cases, play a lead role in case management, provide advice on case assessment and recommendations, and support as needed the investigations teams
- Ensuring quality and robust case management, including quality reports and documentation of decision-making processes and actions
- Monitoring progress of ongoing investigations, issues identified as a result of investigations as well as implementation status of suggested recommendations to stakeholders
- Communicating issues identified and suggesting recommendations as a result of the investigation to the appropriate stakeholders for actions.
- Is a custodian of the safeguarding case register
- Prepares reports on safeguarding misconduct incidents and Safeguarding implementation for leadership and key stakeholder groups, to enable high-level management decisions, and enable internal and external transparency and accountability
Support with the development of AKF global safeguarding arrangements
- Providing support and contributing to the development of global safeguarding systems and procedures
The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive, and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties that align with their skills and experience.
QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, BEHAVIOURS, ATTRIBUTES
Qualifications:
- Master’s degree level of education in relevant field, including but not limited to: law, child rights, gender, child protection / counselling, survivor care, behavioural change
Skills:
- Highly organised with strong logistical skills and consistent attention to detail.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in a cross-institutional, multicultural environment dealing with people from all levels of the organisation.
- Excellent ability in terms of verbal communication, training and report writing in English and Portuguese (Swahili desired)
- Strong operational and IT skills as well as an openness to learning new software and tools.
Knowledge:
- Knowledge of or keen interest in international development a plus.
- Knowledge of Safeguarding/child protection/GBV will be a distinct advantage.
Experience:
- Minimum 10+ years of experience of which at least 7+ safeguarding experience or experience in a similar field such as child protection or sexual and gender-based violence – preferably in an international non-profit organization
- 3+ years of safeguarding investigation experience, desired.
- Must have experience of working in the Region (Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya or Mozambique) and solid understanding of local culture and customs
- Experience dealing with sensitive matters – highly confidential and discrete – and ability to build/maintain trust
- Strong experience in capacity building and project implementation
- Deep experience of child protection, safeguarding and/or GBV issues and practice is a must
- Senior management experience within an INGO, a complex large NGO, ministry or similar other organisation
- Strong interpersonal, negotiation and diplomacy skills and ability to bring people from different cultures onboard
- Attention to detail and the ability to manage large amounts of data and information
- Experienced trainer, facilitator and mediator
- Experience in change management and project management skills
- Proven competencies and experience of heading a safeguarding team or similar team
- Proven ability to multitask and work under pressure, juggling various requests and deadlines.
- Capable of delivering results within demanding timetables.
- Experience adhering to safeguarding compliance requirements from donors desirable
Attributes:
- Strong moral compass, demonstrates equity, transparency, and integrity, inspiring trust through fairness, honesty, and confidentiality.
- Respects diversity and demonstrates compassion, empathy, and courtesy across varied backgrounds, religions, genders, and ages.
- Committed to acting ethically and upholding the organisation’s Safeguarding Standards towards all staff, volunteers, and beneficiaries.
- Awareness of own strengths and weaknesses and evidence of commitment to self-managed personal development
- Self-sufficient, collaborative, proactive, self-motivating work styles
- Ability to travel and work within challenging environments
Behaviours
- Exhibits a proactive and independent work style, proficient in managing tasks autonomously.
- Is a supportive team player, contributing effectively to shared goals and fostering a cooperative work environment and a collaborative organisational culture.
- Communicates complex ideas concisely, adapts communication styles to individual and audience needs, and actively listens to diverse viewpoints.
- Demonstrates a customer-focused orientation and is dedicated to the organisation’s purpose and mission.
- Accepts challenges, seeks learning opportunities, and demonstrates adaptability to change.
- Acknowledges creativity, actively seeks new innovations and improvements for systems and processes.
- Approaches problem-solving with an enterprising attitude, quickly seeking alternative solutions.