Partners Capacity Building in Safeguarding at Oxfam

Scope of Work

Oxfam Kenya would therefore like to seek the services of a consultant to undertake the following tasks:

1. Review of the partner self-assessment: Oxfam in Kenya partners undertook a self-assessment (including self-rating) of their safeguarding capacities, based on the 10 core safeguarding standards for Oxfam. The assessment was synthesised and is available as a summary report. The consultant will therefore be expected to review the summary report and refer to the individual self-assessment reports to determine the nature of capacity gaps identified and develop relevant strategies.
2. Partner independent assessment of safeguarding capacity needs and determination of partner capacity: The consultant will be expected to engage the humanitarian and development partners to verify the partners safeguarding risks and capacity gaps they identified, based on the 10 Oxfam safeguarding core standards. The number of the standards that each partner claimed to meet will provide the basis for determining the partner’s “safeguarding Risk Rating” and will reflect the partner’s current capacities. However detailed discussions with the partners will contextualise the extent to which the standards are being met or not and why.
3. Partner safeguarding capacity strengthening plan: The consultant will be expected to analyse the final capacity gaps, aggregate them where possible and provide a shared understanding of the partner’s organizational strengths and areas of improvement on safeguarding moving forward. This should be the basis for development of an implementation plan, outlining appropriate risk mitigation, capacity building initiatives and monitoring, as means for the partner to meet the “full capacity level”. Specific areas of capacity should reflect the following standards:
4. Safeguarding Strategies and/or Plans of action: Do the partners have cross-functional Safeguarding strategies and/or plans for full integration and embedding of safeguarding within their operations and programmes? Are these budgeted for? What needs to be done? b) Organizational Safeguarding Policies: Do the partners have safeguarding policies related to PSEA and child abuse, in-line with Oxfam and IASC core principles on PSEA and child abuse. Do these need to be reviewed and/or supported to develop new one? c) Safeguarding Focal Points: Do partners have an appropriate safeguarding focal point model in place, including criteria for designation of the focal points, their roles and responsibilities, plus a clear plan for capacity building and mentoring them into this role? Do they need to be supported to adopt one? d) Training: What arrangements are in place to develop appropriate safeguarding awareness building and training strategies on safeguarding, tailored to the local context and to specific organisational roles and functions? e) Safe Recruitment: Do partners’ recruitment and screening processes integrate preventive measures to strengthen safeguarding? f) Reporting: What are the partners internal mechanisms and procedures for reporting safeguarding incidents? What are the gaps? g) Community Feedback and Complaints Mechanisms: What is the situation regarding community-based feedback and complaint mechanisms for their target communities to provide feedback and also raise safeguarding concerns, as accountability mechanisms? Are they in place, safe, confidential and accessible to communities h) Case management system. Do partners have clear and detailed processes for case management, including investigating allegations of SEA and child abuse in place? Are there guidelines to ensure survivors of SEA and child abuse receive immediate professional assistance or referral to relevant service providers? i) Safeguarding risk management: Do partners have mechanisms in place for safeguarding risk assessment and management practices are in place for all. j) Data Protection: What mechanisms are in place for handling images and the collection, processing and storage of personal information are established in compliance with the Kenya Data Protection Act. k) Safeguarding Visibility: Do partners have the relevant safeguarding visibility materials both at their offices and during engagement with communities?
5. Partner safeguarding training workshop: The consultant will be expected to organise the first safeguarding training for Oxfam in Kenya partners. At least 2 participants per organisation should participate, the HR and at least one project focal point.

Specific Objectives

1. Submit a report of capacity development plan of safeguarding capacity gaps, based on partners self-assessment and consultant’s confirmatory assessment
2. partner safeguarding capacity strengthening plan, analyzed to highlight individual and collective capacity needs, proposed timelines and other necessary details.
3. A concept note/agenda for a general partner safeguarding training workshop
4. A training report with clear action plans from all partners on how to address some of the identified gaps from the assessment
5. With support of Oxfam in Kenya, development of Safeguarding material, review and enhancement of Safeguarding and HR policies for the identified partners.