Safeguarding Advisor (French Speaking)

War Child UK is seeking an experienced Safeguarding specialist to conduct investigations, develop policy and trainings, support Safeguarding coordinators in country offices, and work with staff and programmes across the organisation to mainstream and embed safe practices in all our activities. Reporting to the Head of Safeguarding, the Safeguarding Advisor role transforms the culture and understanding of safeguarding, PSEA, and how to keep children and communities safe in all of our programmes. The Safeguarding Team works closely with other the Programme Quality team and other stakeholders throughout the organisation and provides guidance and mentorship to in-country Safeguarding Coordinators. The position will require up to 40% travel to Democratic Republic of Congo and Central African Republic.

If you share our values and believe that children’s lives should not be torn apart by war, we want to hear from you.

About us

War Child, the specialist charity for children affected by conflict. For more than two decades we’ve delivering high-impact programmes that are rebuilding lives across Afghanistan, Iraq, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Central African Republic and Yemen. We understand children’s needs, respect their rights, and put them at the centre of the solution – from reintegrating children formerly associated with armed groups and armed forces (CAAFAG) in the Central African Republic to reuniting children with their families in Afghanistan. We look forward to a world in which the lives of children are no longer torn apart by war. This is a vision that can only be realised through the collective actions of children themselves, communities and their leaders, organisations like War Child, governments and key decision makers.

Child safeguarding and Adults at Risk

Our work with children and at-risk adults to keep them safe is the most important thing we do. We are committed to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults in all areas of our work. We have zero tolerance for any behaviours and practices that puts children and/or vulnerable adults at risk of abuse and/or harm.

Your role

The Safeguarding Advisor at WCUK supports the development and roll-out of policy, development of tools, strengthening capacity and learning, and improving measures to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse and child abuse across WCUK programmes. The Safeguarding Advisor will provide guidance and support to country-based safeguarding coordinators, and work with the Head of Safeguarding to develop innovative approaches to embed a safer culture. The Safeguarding Advisor will engage with external networks to ensure that WCUK operates in line with best practice and is at the forefront of safeguarding in the sector.

The Safeguarding advisor will work with colleagues in the UK and Country teams to ensure that WCUK programmes are safe for children and communities, identifying risks and mitigation strategies, investigating safeguarding allegations when required, and developing policies and procedures to strengthen systems within the organisation. The post holder must be a native or fluent French Speaker and have a strong knowledge of safeguarding, PSEA, and child safeguarding.

Your responsibilities

• Provide advice, support and training to country leadership, staff, focal points and partners
• Support country Safeguarding coordinators to develop and deliver training, support and progress safeguarding action plans, map survivor support, engage with partners and other NGOs.
• Design and deliver effective strategies, projects, and tools for countering child abuse, sexual exploitation and abuse across WCUK.
• Work with key stakeholders to improve the effectiveness of sexual exploitation and abuse deterrence, prevention, detection and response in the organisation.
• Research and develop innovative approaches to countering sexual exploitation and abuse. Support the Head of Safeguarding to promote best practice across WCUK
• Lead independent investigations into allegations of child abuse, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse in accordance with agreed WCUK procedures.
• Provide oversight to safeguarding coordinators conducting safeguarding investigations and support safeguarding coordinators to develop investigation skills.
• Communicate effectively with survivors, complainants/reporters, witnesses, subject of concerns and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Support safeguarding coordinators to develop networks in country to allow for an agile response in investigations and identify sources of GBV, PSEA, and Protection support.
• Responsible for creating a culture committed to the safeguarding of children, and adults and compliant to WCUK’s Child Safeguarding and Adults at Risk policies

These duties provide a framework for the role and should not be regarded as a definitive list. Other reasonable duties may be required consistent with the grade of the role.

You are

• Experienced in conducting investigations into child abuse and sexual exploitation and abuse
• Knowledgeable about PSEA and child safeguarding
• Experienced working within an international context or with INGOs
• Experienced in delivering training and providing mentorship to colleagues.
• Interested in working to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse and working with survivors of sexual violence.
• Able to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders and influence using a variety of different styles, considering cultural differences.
• Able and willing to travel globally, including to hardship environments and at short notice.
• Able to work with a high degree of confidentiality.
• Fluent in French/English