Safeguarding Manager at African Management Institute (AMI)

Job Description

AMI is looking for an experienced Safeguarding Manager to lead the design, implementation, and reporting of safeguarding across our programmes. Working across multiple projects and geographies, this role is responsible for ensuring that AMI’s safeguarding commitments are met consistently — from due diligence and onboarding through to ongoing monitoring, incident management, and donor reporting.

The ideal candidate will be adept at translating donor and funder safeguarding requirements into practical, programme-ready plans, and at building the evidence trail needed to demonstrate compliance. They bring a strong understanding of safeguarding in international development contexts, and the credibility to engage effectively with partners, implementing organisations, and country teams across Africa.

AMI implements multi-year programmes supported by institutional partners including foundations and development finance institutions. Delivery activities span outreach and participant registration; selection and onboarding; learning, coaching and mentoring; field-based activities; partner delivery; data collection, surveys and MEL; and online participant engagement. Examples of programmes this role may support include enterprise development initiatives, youth livelihoods programmes, and leadership and management capability-building across institutions.

Risks may include sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH); inappropriate power dynamics and relationships; discrimination, bullying and intimidation; retaliation; risks to children and young adults; privacy breaches; and unsafe or inaccessible reporting channels. Safeguarding must therefore be embedded in programme design, budgets, contracts, operating procedures and monitoring — not treated solely as a policy exercise.

Key Responsibilities 

Policy, governance and organisational controls

• Assess existing safeguarding, code of conduct, whistleblowing, People & Culture, procurement, travel and data protection arrangements and recommend a coherent Group framework.
• Review and maintain safeguarding policy, procedures, roles, reporting channels, escalation matrix and secure case-management protocols.
• Embed safeguarding requirements in recruitment, partner due diligence, contracting, programme planning and leadership reporting.
• Provide risk-based assurance to management and escalate serious matters independently where normal reporting lines are conflicted.

Programme design and implementation

• Complete programme and country risk assessments, and agree mitigation plans with programme leads.
• Integrate safeguards into mobilisation, registration, onboarding, workshops, coaching, mentoring, field visits, digital delivery and MEL activities.
• Develop facilitator, coach, enumerator and participant guidance covering boundaries, consent, communications, images, data collection and disclosures.
• Conduct implementation visits, control reviews and corrective-action follow-ups, prioritising higher-risk locations and groups.

 Donor and funder contractual alignment

• Review signed funder agreements, relevant partner standards and any programme-specific safeguarding schedules before finalising obligations.
• Maintain a donor obligations matrix specifying required controls, evidence, reporting triggers, notification recipients, deadlines and contract owners.
• Support donor due diligence, compliance reviews, incident notifications and response to remedial-action requests in line with applicable agreements.
• Maintain auditable records of programme risk assessments, training, partner checks, complaints systems and corrective actions.

Incident prevention, response and case oversight

• Establish accessible, confidential, safe channels for participants, staff, consultants and partners to raise concerns without retaliation.
• Coordinate intake, initial safety assessment, triage, safeguarding referrals, notifications and case oversight, including urgent protection measures.
• Apply survivor-centred and trauma-informed methods; protect privacy and secure sensitive case information on a need-to-know basis.
• Engage specialist investigators or statutory authorities when appropriate; avoid assuming the safeguarding manager should personally investigate all incidents.
• Track actions, closure and lessons learned while safeguarding identities and preserving required records.

Capacity building and partner assurance

• Deliver staff and facilitator induction, refresher training and specialist modules on SEAH, professional conduct, disclosure handling and reporting.
• Assess implementing partners, contractors and consultants against minimum safeguarding standards; agree remedial plans where gaps arise.
• Work with People & Culture to build safeguarding into screening, onboarding and conduct management; nominate and coach programme focal persons.
• Ensure participant-facing safeguarding information is understandable, accessible and context-appropriate.

Monitoring, evaluation and management reporting

• Maintain a safeguarding risk register, training dashboard, programme compliance tracker, partner-assessment log and corrective-action register.
• Report trends, systemic weaknesses and implementation status regularly to Risk & Compliance and programme leadership.
• Support programme audit readiness and an annual review of safeguarding effectiveness and improvement priorities.

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree in social work, law, psychology, sociology, human rights, international development, public health or a related discipline is required. A specialist safeguarding or PSEA qualification is desirable. (Specific education requirements to be confirmed.)
• At least 10 years’ relevant experience, with a minimum of 5 years focused on safeguarding in donor-funded programmes — including direct reporting to a funder.
• Demonstrated experience managing safeguarding incidents against fixed reporting timelines, applying survivor-centred practice and maintaining thorough case documentation.
• Experience writing safeguarding policies, checklists, risk assessments and training content for programme and partner use.
• Experience assessing the safeguarding systems and controls of partner and implementing organisations.
• Ability to work remotely and collaboratively with project teams across multiple African countries.
• Strong understanding of PSEA/SEAH, safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults, and confidential referral pathways.
• Clear, evidence-based writing for funder reports, and the confidence to challenge partners when the evidence trail is thin.
• Ability to interpret donor contracts and translate funder safeguarding requirements into practical, programme-ready plans.
• Excellent judgement, integrity, discretion, cross-cultural communication and practical problem-solving.
• Hands-on safeguarding experience in international development or donor-funded programmes.
• Experience managing safeguarding incidents against a fixed reporting timeline.
• Experience designing and delivering safeguarding training for partner organisations.
• Experience in enterprise development or MSME support programmes.
• Knowledge of safeguarding practice and reporting channels in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone or Rwanda.
• Familiarity with Acumen or Mastercard Foundation safeguarding requirements an added advantage.