Médecins sans frontières (MSF) or Doctors Without Borders, is an international humanitarian-aid non-governmental organization (NGO) and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, best known for its projects in war-torn regions and developing countries facing endemic diseases.

The Safeguarding Specialist is responsible for supporting and implementing safeguarding policies and procedures at programming location in collaboration with different MSF Operational Entities.

This position will be hierarchically and functionally accountable to the Head of EDI & Safeguarding.

Responsibilities or duties

Tasks & Responsibilities

• Lead or support on administrative workplace investigations at HQ and/or programming context.
• Follow up and address safeguarding concerns and challenges as they may occur.
• Build capacity for staff and affiliated members on safeguarding, including risk assessments, through trainings, workshops and alternative measures.
• Identify and develop necessary materials in collaboration with the behaviour /safeguarding Unit team to support the capacity building processes.
• Carry out safeguarding audits and provide support on self-assessments for programming context.
• Carry out field visit and/or audit reports after travel to programming context to contribute to the review of existing safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Follow up on safeguarding concerns and conduct lessons learnt exercise as preventative measure.
• Carry out surveys in relation to every workshop/training conducted.
• Support on mainstreaming of safeguarding capacity at MSF EA HQ and/or programming context though newly developed tools and practices.
• Contribute to the development of the Unit’s Annual Plan and support on internal monitoring of objectives set for the role.
• Support on regional networking strategies to ensure accountability through partnerships and best practices.

Other Responsibilities

• Recognize, respond, and document any form of abuse or inappropriate behavior and alert the safeguarding unit of any suspected potential abuse.
• Engage in on-going self-reflection and proactive approach to advance on EDI & Safeguarding related knowledge and skills.
• Integrate EDI & Safeguarding strategies and practices in area of work responsibility, while utilizing relevant available data to gain insights for informed decision making at all levels.
• Compliance assurance - Ensure that all data processing activities within the unit comply with relevant data protection laws and regulations in your area of operation, including the Data Protection Act, 2019 and support your team to receive necessary training in this area.
• Policy adherence - Enforce data protection policies, procedures, and guidelines within the unit, ensuring that all team members are aware of and adhere to these protocols.
• Proactively participate in the individual performance management process including objective setting, performance monitoring and performance evaluation.

Qualifications or requirements

Education

• A bachelor’s degree in behavioral science, social or organizational science, human rights, international development, law, education, or similar field from a recognized institution.
• Specific education/certification related to Safeguarding is a strong and added advantage.
• Knowledge of Safeguarding principles and capacity to use it in trainings and audits.
• Ability to develop case strategies, conduct investigative interviews and deliver investigation reports of high quality and within short deadlines
• Fluency in English and French is required, and knowledge of Kiswahili and/or other language is an added advantage.
• Cultural knowledge and competence of the African context is highly desirable.

Experience needed

Experience

• At least 5 years of experience in Safeguarding, Protection or GBV.
• Proven track record in leading and conducting workplace administrative investigations in the Humanitarian sector.
• Experience in supporting Safeguarding training/workshops.
• Experience conducting Safeguarding audits and/or self-assessments is desirable.
• Work experience from East or Central Africa is highly desirable.
• Experience advising on risks and risk mitigation regarding investigations into allegations of abuse.

• Lead or support on administrative workplace investigations at HQ and/or programming context.
• Follow up and address safeguarding concerns and challenges as they may occur.
• Build capacity for staff and affiliated members on safeguarding, including risk assessments, through trainings, workshops and alternative measures.
• Identify and develop necessary materials in collaboration with the behaviour /safeguarding Unit team to support the capacity building processes.
• Carry out safeguarding audits and provide support on self-assessments for programming context.
• Carry out field visit and/or audit reports after travel to programming context to contribute to the review of existing safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Follow up on safeguarding concerns and conduct lessons learnt exercise as preventative measure.
• Carry out surveys in relation to every workshop/training conducted.
• Support on mainstreaming of safeguarding capacity at MSF EA HQ and/or programming context though newly developed tools and practices.
• Contribute to the development of the Unit’s Annual Plan and support on internal monitoring of objectives set for the role.
• Support on regional networking strategies to ensure accountability through partnerships and best practices.
• Recognize, respond, and document any form of abuse or inappropriate behavior and alert the safeguarding unit of any suspected potential abuse.
• Engage in on-going self-reflection and proactive approach to advance on EDI & Safeguarding related knowledge and skills.
• Integrate EDI & Safeguarding strategies and practices in area of work responsibility, while utilizing relevant available data to gain insights for informed decision making at all levels.
• Compliance assurance - Ensure that all data processing activities within the unit comply with relevant data protection laws and regulations in your area of operation, including the Data Protection Act, 2019 and support your team to receive necessary training in this area.
• Policy adherence - Enforce data protection policies, procedures, and guidelines within the unit, ensuring that all team members are aware of and adhere to these protocols.
• Proactively participate in the individual performance management process including objective setting, performance monitoring and performance evaluation.

• Knowledge of Safeguarding principles and capacity to use it in trainings and audits.
• Ability to develop case strategies, conduct investigative interviews and deliver investigation reports of high quality and within short deadlines
• Fluency in English and French is required, and knowledge of Kiswahili and/or other language is an added advantage.
• Cultural knowledge and competence of the African context is highly desirable.

• A bachelor’s degree in behavioral science, social or organizational science, human rights, international development, law, education, or similar field from a recognized institution.
• Specific education/certification related to Safeguarding is a strong and added advantage.