Safeguarding Specialist, Afghanistan

This role can be based in Kabul, Afghanistan or any other IRC registered offices within the region.

The IRC has a strong commitment to creating a culture of prevention on safeguarding in our workplace and in our programs – as well as a safe environment for reporting. We are determined to protect our clients and staff from safeguarding violations through prevention and, where misconduct is alleged, to address it without fear or favor. The Safeguarding Specialist is responsible for providing limited term support to the IRC Afghanistan program to protect clients and staff from safeguarding violations.

Job Overview/Summary

The Safeguarding Specialist will be working under the direct supervision of the Regional Safeguarding Advisor – Asia, and in collaboration with the Senior Management team, Technical Coordinators, the HR team and partners in Afghanistan. S/he will be responsible for supporting the identification of safeguarding risks and gaps, with accountable action planning for filling them. Further, where IRC Afghanistan has significantly scaled up programming, they will take the lead role for ensuring safeguarding is mainstreamed in those locations and programs.

Areas of responsibilities

• Support IRC Afghanistan in identification of safeguarding risks and gaps, with accountable action planning for filling them.

• Provide supportive specialist safeguarding mainstreaming technical advise to IRC Afghanistan.

• Conduct a specific risk assessment to identify safeguarding risks facing clients and staff in the new operating environment in Afghanistan, with recommendations for mitigation measures and support to implement them. Where deemed necessary, build on-going risk analysis into appropriate functions and programs for continuous information streams on client and staff risks and mitigations.

• Conduct field visits to assess whether safeguarding activities are being fully implemented and identify gaps, with recommendations for addressing concerns.

• Support capacity building and support framework for Safeguarding Leads across Afghanistan.

• Assess existing risk register related to safeguarding, and assess current approaches and challenges to providing support services to survivors.

• Support continual training and capacity building of staff, partners, vendors, and suppliers on safeguarding expectations.

• Support in establishing and strengthening client responsiveness referral systems, including creation or assessment of current communication methods with clients, communication materials, and other activities to build trust with client populations.

• Support with technical advise to SMT, Grants teams, and other staff on safeguarding progress and challenges in country, as needed.

• Support further contextualization and rolling-out of communication materials on safeguarding to staff.

• Build relationships and networks with colleagues as well as partner organizations, I/NGOs, government departments, and civil society

• Prepare occasional reports and specific information and documents, per requirement and request.

• On quarterly basis, prepare and disseminate report on lessons learned and challenges from providing this support experience.

Job Requirements

• Relevant university degree (preferably post-graduate) in social sciences, development, human rights or other relevant field, or equivalent work experience

• At least 4 – 5 years of relevant program and/or safeguarding experience with an international organization in a complex humanitarian setting

• Experience with client protection from abuse and exploitation, sexual violence in development and humanitarian contexts in conflict/refugee settings, and knowledge of international protection frameworks and mechanisms on safeguarding

• Experience working with GBV/ Child Protection related programs would be a bonus

• Must be capable of applying skills and knowledge in a range of capacities, including implementation, advisory functions, training and the transfer of technical knowledge and management skills to others

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, Dari and Pashto

• The ability to deliver training in English, Dari and Pashto

The position will be expected to travel frequently to Afghanistan and within the country program, based on security situation.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.