Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 28 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 55 countries, our 8,990 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

Action Against Hunger USA is part of the Action Against Hunger International network. As an independent NGO, Action Against Hunger USA currently manages operations in 8 countries: Kenya, South Sudan, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia and Haiti. Action Against Hunger-USA has over $100 million in programs, and approximately 1,800 permanent staff based in New York City, Washington D.C, Nairobi, and country offices. Additional growth is anticipated.

I.           SUMMARY OF POSITION

The Gender and Safeguarding Specialist will be responsible for providing strategic and systematic support in implementing gender transformative programming as well as spearheading gender and protection program development and providing technical support across the South Sudan Country Office.  The Specialist will also ensure safeguarding mechanisms are in place. She/he/they will ensure that risk assessments are completed, staff and related personnel are trained and that complaints mechanisms are designed, consulted on and communicated to staff and program participants and the wider community. She/he/they will work with Action Against Hunger staff to ensure gender and protection mainstreaming across other sectors such nutrition, WASH, Health and FSL.

The Gender & Safeguarding Specialist will work in partnership with Horn and Eastern Africa Regional Office (HEARO), US Office, line ministries, county authorities and different donors in championing gender, protection and safeguarding priorities during program design and delivery. The post holder will focus on capacity building initiatives for staff and partners. Provide gender, protection and safeguarding related reports to internal and external stakeholders.

PURPOSE

• The Gender and Safeguarding Specialist is responsible for providing both technical and strategic support to Action Against Hunger South Sudan Country Office to ensure gender and protection is mainstreamed in all programming including nutrition, Health, WASH and FSL. The Specialist will ensure Gender Minimum Standards (GMS) and Gender Transformative Standards (GTS) are in place
• The Gender and Safeguarding Specialist will participate in project development including planning, concept note & proposal writing, development of gender strategies, conducting gender analysis and safety audits communication, monitoring and evaluation strategies in close liaison with Technical Leads, other Departments and Field Offices. The position will be responsible for overseeing adherence and delivery of Action Against Hunger Gender Policy, Protection Policy, and Safeguarding Policy.
• Action Against Hunger has a strong commitment to creating a culture of zero-tolerance of safeguarding violations in our workplace and in our programs – as well as a safe environment for reporting. The organization is committed to responsible programming, and the protection of program participants and communities with whom we work through prevention and, where misconduct is alleged, to address it without fear or favor. This position will therefore be responsible for supporting the South Sudan country office to institutionalize our Safeguarding commitments across programs and operations.

ENGAGEMENT

• Develop collaborative working relationships with program and support teams at the national and state level to ensure gender and protection integration and safeguarding commitments throughout the project cycle and within South Sudan country office operations.
• The position holder will represent Action Against Hunger in key strategic and coordination meetings/forums both at the national and State level, which include: National and State Gender Technical Working Group, Global Gender Task Force, GBV Sub Sector, Gender in Humanitarian Action (GIHA), Protection Working Group, PSEA Working Group, gender related conferences and Annual ACF USA Gender and Protection Workshop among others. Add the safeguarding groups, internal and external
• The Specialist will focus on strategic partnerships and relationship building on gender and protection related matters with key stakeholders in the government institutions, donor community (GAC, GFFO, USAID, SIDA, ECHO, etc.), UN Agencies (UN Women, UNICEF, WFP, UNFPA), like-minded NGOs and Inter-Agency PSEA Network.

DELIVERY

• She/he will provide technical support in knowledge product development and technical input on gender, protection and safeguarding issues including: conceptual clarity on gender mainstreaming in our programs in a timely manner.

I.           ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Take lead in development, management, and implementation of gender and protection focused activities for all program components.
• Provide technical guidance, resources, and tools on integrating gender through an intersectionality lens in the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of programs and activities.
• With the support of the Gender Focal Points, build and promote internal capabilities and collaboration in mainstreaming gender within Action Against Hunger Program
• Take lead in capacity building of County staff in consolidating, validating and analyzing of data disaggregated by sex, age and other diversities.
• Facilitate the transfer of gender information and updates between the Gender Task Force and South Sudan country office.
• Take lead in Country Office to maintain the Gender Minimum Standard (GMS) and Gender Transformative Standards (GTS)
• Prepare and disseminate gender assessment data at appropriate national and county forums.
• Develop and maintain positive strategic working relations with a wide network of partners, including Government, partners, NGOs and representing ACF at NGO Forum PSEA Working Group and GBV Sub Cluster.
• In partnership with the GBV/Protection Cluster/GBV sub-cluster, identify, map, and regularly update local support services to survivors.
• Support resource mobilization efforts for ACF South Sudan mission and ensure that gender is effectively mainstreamed in all project full cycle.
• Advocate with donors and other partners including governments for support of gender related activities including gender mainstreaming in respective program/project delivery.
• Promote knowledge sharing, documentation and dissemination of good practices on gender equality, women’s empowerment and rights, motivate, and engage peers to share ideas and engage with the gender and protection Agenda.
• Provide analysis and strategic advice at country office on current gender issues, opportunities and gender upcoming events i.e. 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence.
• Lead and Champion safeguarding policies and accompanying policy guidance support materials and assist Head of HR in promoting the prevention of sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation, and abuse (SEA)
• Ensure effective implementation of and compliance with the local safeguarding procedures and mechanisms; conduct periodic reviews and lead on the implementation of compliance and improvement of safeguarding country action plans and activities.
• Ensure that Safeguarding is included in all contracts including partnership agreements and contractors’ agreements and that partners and stakeholders receive orientation and induction.
• Assess partners, safeguarding capacities and compatibility to Action Against Hunger safeguarding policy and standards, advise on capacity strengthening plans and help in capacity strengthening of partners and other external actors as agreed to.
• Support frontline operational staff across the country programs with advice, guidance and practical support in the reporting safeguarding concerns.
• Lead on the review of any new proposal or project revision document to ensure safeguarding considerations are included as well as ensuring ensure programs and operations are integrating Safeguarding measures
• Lead and Champion community led reporting mechanism of safeguarding concerns across all areas of operation for Action Against Hunger and ensure compliance.
• Coordinate with the Senior management as they to work to fulfill their responsibilities and obligations under safeguarding and monitor the overall implementation of the Safeguarding Framework Policy (including Code of Conduct, child Safeguarding Policy, PSEA Policy among others.
• Undertake safeguarding monitoring internally and with Action Against Hunger’s partners to ensure compliance and identification of learning opportunities to further strengthen safeguarding practice and enable opportunities for organizational learning to be identified and learned from.
• Support the establishment of complaint response mechanisms and reporting processes to ensure safe, confidential and accessible channels are available for safeguarding/PSEA reporting.
• Take leading in ensuring program colleagues undertake Safeguarding risk assessments of activities; design mitigating and corrective measures, including incorporating safeguarding protocols into programs and operations;
• Prepare quality and timely donor reports as per the ACF and donor reporting requirements

I.           SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Roving GBV Programme Manager.

II.          FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

• Budgeting of gender related activities/ interventions/Safeguarding activities including trainings, translations, printing, field visit and community meetings and ensure implementation of these activities within budget, scope and time.

III.       PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• To travel to the field, the employee must at least to a level of physical fitness capable of enduring physically difficult, highly stressful situations, which may include the necessity to walk long distances, to eat a limited diet and/or to reside in potentially uncomfortable housing or tents.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

IV.       WORKING CONDITIONS, TRAVEL AND ENVIRONMENT

• The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required.
• Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business purposes. While performing the duties of this job in the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as infectious diseases.

V.         GENDER EQUALITY COMMITMENTS & ZERO TOLERANCE TO ABUSE

• Foster an environment that supports values of women and men, and equal access to information.
• Provide a work environment where women and men must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance
• Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, boys and girls regardless of gender, sex orientation, disability, religion, race, color, ancestry, national origin, age or marital status,
• Value and respect all cultures.
• Promote and uphold the Safeguarding/PSEA policy and procedures.

VI.                COMMITMENT TO SAFEGUARDING

• Responsible to fully understand and adhere to Action Against Hunger’s safeguarding policy, PSEA and child safeguarding policies as well as its Code of Conduct and Charter of Principles.
• Respect all policies during professional as well as private time and ask for clarification if needed.
• Accomplish tasks in a way not to harm children, vulnerable adults and other communities we serve, or expose them to risk of abuse and exploitation.
• Report all safeguarding concern according to the applicable reporting system.
• Create and maintain an environment free of abuse and exploitation.

Requirements

I.           REQUIRED QUALITIFICATIONS

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences, Art, Anthropology, Gender and Development Studies or other Social Sciences related discipline.
• Minimum 7 years work experience on similar position with similar setting and responsibility.
• Experience in program or project design
• Knowledge of main donor requirements in terms of gender integration including GAC, USAID, SIDA, ECHO, among others.
• Experience in beneficiary protection from abuse and exploitation in development and humanitarian context and knowledge of international frameworks and safeguarding mechanisms.
• Knowledge of international standards and best practices related to gender, safeguarding, PSEA, GBV, and Accountability to affected Populations (AAP) comments.
• Solid understanding and commitment to humanitarian principles including the Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS)

II.         REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE ESSENTIAL

• superior communication and writing skills
• Maintain high levels of confidentiality and trust
• Demonstrated analytical skills both qualitative and quantitative approaches
• Possess good knowledge in advocacy
• Experience in mainstreaming gender in multi-sectoral programming (Health and nutrition, WASH, food security and Livelihoods);
• Fluency in written and spoken English language.
• All employment offers with Action Against Hunger are conditional upon the receipt of satisfactory references and the signing our code of conduct, Safeguarding Policy with a particular focus on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Child Safeguarding.  This position will also be subject to robust reference and background screening checks.

Benefits

Action Against Hunger-USA provides all staff with an attractive salary & benefits package. We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees & qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Action Against Hunger-USA complies with all applicable laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.

Application Process

Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the apply button. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Application should reach us not later than February 2, 2024.