SAFEGUARDING ADVISOR

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.  In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.  Now, and for the future.

CONTEXT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps works in places of transition, where conflict, disaster, political upheaval, or economic collapse present opportunities to build more secure, productive, and just communities. Providing emergency relief in times of crisis, we move quickly to help communities recover and build resilience to future shocks and promote sustainable change by supporting community-led and market-driven initiatives. Recognizing both the great potential and the complex challenges faced by the Middle East, since 1989 Mercy Corps has been implementing a range of humanitarian assistance and development programs tailored to the specific needs of the region and of those communities where we work.

Since 2003, Mercy Corps has been working to pave the way for a new Iraq. We continue to deliver emergency, life-saving assistance to conflict affected populations while also addressing longer term needs and underlying causes. Ongoing cycles of conflict have resulted in millions of people displaced, basic infrastructure destroyed, livelihoods disrupted, and deepening divisions within communities. Since our work began, we’ve provided support to more than 5 million people affected by war, violence, and displacement.

Mercy Corps has worked across Iraq’s 18 governorates since 2003, implementing relief and development programming, more than a third of which has focused on the specific needs of refugees and displaced persons. Mercy Corps Iraq current goal is to work with new and existing civil society, public and private sector partners to meet immediate and long-term needs by strengthening communities’ ability to rebuild amidst increasing crises.

General Position Summary

At Mercy Corps, safeguarding is a holistic term that encompasses our prevention and response around issues involving sexual exploitation and abuse of program participants, sexual harassment in the workplace, trafficking, and child safeguarding. We define safeguarding as our responsibility to ensure team members, operations and programs do not harm those we work with or put vulnerable populations at risk of abuse or exploitation. Safeguarding is a key agency priority and a critical part of our work in Iraq. Our Global Safeguarding Team is a part of the Mercy Corps’ Ethics and Compliance Department (ECD)  which reports to the Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer (CECO). The Position With support from the Global Safeguarding (SG) Team, the Safeguarding Advisor will lead efforts to prevent, detect, and deter safeguarding issues in Mercy Corps’ Iraq Country portfolio. The SG Advisor will support the assessment and identification of safeguarding risks to children and adults, and develop and execute plans to mitigate these risks, including through training and awareness raising. To support response efforts, when requested, the SG Advisor will serve as a co-investigator for safeguarding investigations in Iraq under the direction of the Global Safeguarding Investigations Team.

They will be available as a reporting channel for team members and others to voice concerns and to provide immediate referrals for survivor support when necessary. The SG Advisor will provide regular updates on safeguarding and escalate any safeguarding issues to the Global Safeguarding Team. They will also provide key input key funding proposals to ensure that safeguarding risks are assessed, and key safeguarding activities are appropriately resourced. This position will work closely with program teams to vet, monitor, support, advise on and improve the safeguarding systems, capacity and awareness of partners, which include sub-recipients, contractors, consultants and other organizations or individuals that act on behalf of, or at the direction of, Mercy Corps. 

The Safeguarding Advisor will work closely with Community Accountability and Reporting Mechanism (CARM) teams to ensure that safeguarding is considered during community consultation and sensitization. They will ensure program teams with participant facing activities include awareness raising information to participants about their rights, what safeguarding is, and the importance of reporting (in addition to sharing CARM information on reporting channels).

The Safeguarding Advisor will take part in multi-agency groups, including the Iraq PSEA Network, and collaborate actively with other NGOs, to identify and map survivor support resources and strengthen safeguarding throughout the response.

Essential Responsibilities

TRAINING AND AWARENESS RAISING

• Work with individuals and teams throughout the response to ensure programs, PaQ, HR, and operations integrate safeguarding prevention measures Create and adapt existing resources and tools (both internal and external) to the response context Create training content and develop models for delivery, including remote and in-person training
• Increase team member awareness and capacity surrounding the Safeguarding Core Standards and their departmental responsibilities
• Increase partner awareness and capacity surrounding safeguarding standards and expectations including sub-grantees, volunteers, consultants, contractors, money transfer agencies, and daily workers
• In coordination with CARM and program teams work to ensure communities and participants understand their rights and reporting options and build trust around response systems and survivor support

SYSTEMS, PROCESSES, AND TOOLS

• Lead safeguarding risk assessment and ensure activities assessed as having high safeguarding risks are actively implementing prevention measures, incl. observational checklists, supervision, training and other measures.
• Proactively and reactively engaging with all functions to ensure minimum mitigations measures and good practices are implemented
• Support program, finance and compliance teams around the assessment of partner, contractor and vendor safeguarding policies and processes
• Support partners in the development of safeguarding systems and compliance with safeguarding standards, including through sharing of guidance and tools
• Work with Human Resources and program teams to develop safeguarding protocols for onboarding casual workers, day laborers, consultants and volunteers 
• Work with CARM teams and program teams to ensure safeguarding is integrated in CARM systems, communications, and closeout processes.
• Work with Program, MEL and GESI teams to ensure a safeguarding lens is applied to assessments, gender analyses, and evaluations
• Act as a resource to senior management around safeguarding best practice and obligations under Mercy Corps’ and donor’s Safeguarding policies and response mechanisms
• Assist and advise response teams to be able to assess partners’ compliance with minimum safeguarding standards 
• Support in the development of all necessary procedures and tools needed to ensure safeguarding is integrated at all stages and points in CARM and programs design, implementation.
• Contextualization and rolling-out of communication materials on safeguarding, work with CARM team to improve existing community-based reporting methods/tools in locations of implementation, ensuring designing and disseminate culturally sensitive safeguarding messages in all CARM materials.

SURVIVOR RESPONSE AND SUPPORT

• Act as a reporting avenue for Safeguarding related issues, concerns or experiences and ensure next steps occur in accordance with organizational policies and procedures
• Act as a resource to survivors and help ensure their safety, security and well-being and support a survivor-centered approach
• In coordination with local PSEA networks identify, map and regularly update local support services available to survivors
• Ensure safeguarding allegations are reported immediately to the Global Ethics Team and provide support for investigations as requested by the ECD.
• As requested by the ECD’s Global Safeguarding Investigations Team and under their direction, conduct inquiries and investigations to determine the facts, circumstances and scope of any allegations raised.
• Provide the Country Director with recommendations based on data provided by the ECD related to country safeguarding trends and patterns.
• In coordination with the Global Safeguarding Investigations Team, Country Director, and the country management team as appropriate, prepare final reports to fully document the investigation and resolution of incidents.

ENGAGEMENT

• Collaborate closely with the Regional Safeguarding Advisor for the Middle East region and actively seek technical support
• Support the Iraq country office with the roll-out and implementation of the Safeguarding Core Standards in collaboration with the Regional Safeguarding Advisor
• Participate in and represent Mercy Corps at relevant sector groups and coordination mechanisms, including PSEA networks and support the coordination of Safeguarding activities.
• Participate in Mercy Corps’ cross-operational Global Safeguarding Task Force with key team members from across the organization
• Stay abreast of and provide guidance on major donor safeguarding standards
• Provide technical support regarding donor requirements on project proposals and design

Supervisory Responsibility: No supervisory capacity

Accountability 

Reports Directly To: Country Director

Works Directly With: Global Safeguarding Team; Country Director, Senior Leadership Team, Ethics and Assurance Manager, Program Leadership Team, PAQ Team (CARM, GESI, MEL)

External contacts: Participants (Beneficiaries and non- beneficiaries), and community members.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills 

• Bachelor’s degree required. Masters or equivalent in a field related to Humanitarian or International Development or relevant fields is preferred.
• At least four years professional experience in development/humanitarian sector, gender-based violence and/or safeguarding field; including a deep understanding of safeguarding and survivor-centered principles
• Experience in conducting program risk assessments, proposal writing, program management or any similar tasks related to program design and implementation 
• Deep understanding of and experience with donor, regulatory and sector-wide standards, expectations and best practices regarding safeguarding.
• Experience with SEAH/safeguarding investigations, including managing and conducting investigations preferred
• Excellent oral and written English skills required; fluency in Arabic and Kurdish are required
• Experience designing and delivering safeguarding training to diverse audiences, including partners
• Excellent listening, interpersonal, communication and networking skills in both remote and in-person contexts
• Analytical, problem solver, with high level of self-awareness and the maturity to deal with constructive feedback 
• Proficiency with MS Office software required (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Experience working in insecure and dynamic humanitarian environments is strongly preferred.

Success Factors 

The successful candidate is an adaptable, opinionated, fast thinking, experienced leader. They have a thorough understanding of what it takes to deliver high-quality programs in challenging environments, and how to conduct quality management of these programs. They are excellent communicators who can inspire broad and diverse teams towards achieving a shared goal and drive a fast-paced and adaptive program. They are able to create a stimulating working environment encouraging innovation and accountability. They should be able to facilitate complex team dynamics and achieve aims, have excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, good organizational skills and the ability to work independently, with a strong commitment to advancing learning in humanitarian response. They should have strong relationship-building skills and commitment to working collaboratively. They have an outstanding ability to design, implement and manage innovative programs that respond to the evolving response needs.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact. 

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to  Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERINCE:

Successful candidates should meet the education and experience requirements in the position descriptions for the vacant positions.

S/he must be self- motivated, creative, tolerant, and able to work in difficult, stressful environments and follow Mercy Corps procedures. S/he must respect diversity and gender equality at the workplace.

Interested candidates should submit their CVs to the email address [email protected], before the deadline indicated below.

Please indicate on the subject of the email the title of the position you are applying for, for full position description for the noted posts, please visit websites NCCI and F-Job.

ALL APPLICATIONS/ CVs SHOULD BE RECEIVED BY January 29th, 2023 at 4:00PM

Potential candidates for the post will be contacted for an interview and processed according to Mercy Corps Human Resources policies and procedures. Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for potential interview. Any documents submitted will remain with Mercy Corps and will not be returned to candidates.

Female Candidates are encouraged to apply for This Position. Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global Impact.

Mercy Corps Iraq offers a variety of arrangements that enable women to excel in their careers. Mercy Corps

Iraq ensures a safe and inclusive working environment for women and men through field security training and measures to provide secure working arrangements on-site and in the office.