Role Overview
The Regional Safeguarding Advisor (RSA) provides technical guidance and support efforts to prevent, detect, and deter safeguarding issues in Mercy Corps’ East Africa programs and operations. This role ensures that appropriate survivor support mechanisms are in place and provides guidance to country teams on Mercy Corps’ safeguarding approach, including the rollout of Safeguarding Core Standards. The RSA assesses safeguarding risks to children and adults in affected populations and supports the execution of plans to mitigate these risks.
Essential Responsibilities
Training and Awareness Raising
- Work with individuals and teams throughout the region to ensure programs and operations integrate safeguarding prevention measures and standards and respond appropriately to survivors.
- Adapt existing resources and tools (both internal and external) to the regional context.
- Support the creation and adaptation of training content and develop models for delivery, including remote and in-person training.
- Support, guide, and advise in-country safeguarding support roles (including Focal Points and Champions) with systems, processes, and guidance to increase team member awareness and capacity.
- Increase partner awareness and capacity surrounding safeguarding standards, including sub-grantees, volunteers, consultants, contractors, and daily workers.
- Give technical guidance to CARM (Community Accountability and Reporting Mechanism) and program teams to ensure communities understand their rights and reporting options.
Systems, Processes, and Tools
- Support the rollout of the Core Safeguarding Standards throughout the region and assist in country-level strategic planning.
- Provide technical guidance to Country Directors and Senior Management Teams to identify country-specific safeguarding strategies.
- Input into country-level and program-level safeguarding risk assessments and analyses.
- Ensure activities assessed as having high safeguarding risks are actively implementing prevention measures, such as observational checklists and supervision.
- Collaborate with Human Resources to develop safeguarding protocols for onboarding team members, casual workers, consultants, and volunteers.
- Ensure safeguarding is integrated in CARM systems and communications, including sensitization and consultation with communities.
- Collaborate with Monitoring, Learning & Evaluation (MEL) teams around safeguarding guidelines for activities in the region.
Survivor Response and Support
- Provide technical guidance to Safeguarding Focal Points and Champions regarding reporting avenues.
- Support country and investigative teams in employing a survivor-centered approach to all reports of safeguarding concerns.
- Ensure adequate resource mapping and processes for survivors, coordinating with local PSEA networks to identify support services.
Engagement
- Represent Mercy Corps at relevant sector groups and coordination mechanisms, including Clusters and PSEA networks.
- Participate in the Global Safeguarding Task Force and regional working groups.
- Provide technical support regarding donor requirements on project proposals and design.
- Establish synergies and coordination between CARM, Safeguarding, and GESI (Gender, Equality, and Social Inclusion) focus areas.
Minimum Qualifications & Skills
- Bachelor’s degree required; Masters or equivalent in Humanitarian or International Development preferred.
- At least four years of professional experience in the development/humanitarian sector, gender-based violence, and/or safeguarding field.
- Deep understanding of safeguarding and survivor-centered principles.
- Deep understanding of donor, regulatory, and sector-wide standards regarding safeguarding.
- Experience in emergencies, fragile states, or other complex, high-risk contexts is preferred.
- Experience conducting SEAH (Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment) or safeguarding investigations preferred.
- Excellent oral and written English skills required; fluency in additional regional languages desired.
- Experience designing and delivering safeguarding training to diverse audiences, including partners.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced emergency response environment.
- Proficiency with MS Office software (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should apply through the Mercy Corps recruitment portal by visiting: https://www.myjobmag.co.ke/apply-now/1210737. This link will redirect you to the official Jobvite application page.
