Safeguarding Project Officer at Kenya Red Cross Society

Overall Purpose

Reporting technically to the Programme Manager the Officer will be responsible for providing safeguarding technical and operational support in the Integrated Food Security and Livelihood project in Taita Taveta County

Safeguarding Project Officer                                                                                                 

Kenya Red Cross and the Red Cross network refers to our responsibility in acting to: Keep people safe from any form of harm caused by power dynamics by making sure that our staff, volunteers, programmes, communities we work with and communications do no harm to children and adults, nor expose them to abuse or exploitation.

This role is to promote a culture of supporting and facilitating safety and protection linkage for  a genuine zero tolerance to inaction on sexual exploitation and abuse by humanitarian aid workers, contributing to: ensuring all children and adults feel safe to participate in RCRC programmes; feel safe to report a SEA or Child Safeguarding concern; and concerns are appropriately responded to. This role will also support implementation of minimum actions for safe and inclusive programming, ensuring a joined-up approach to community engagement and accountability (CEA), protection, gender and inclusion (PGI) and Safeguarding, as well as facilitating peer learning with National Societies in the region. 

Key Responsibilities:

Key activities will include supporting, as needed: programmatic assessments; mainstreaming preventative actions into programmes including safer recruitment and screening, communications and training, community-based complaints systems, referral pathways and linkages, facilitating peer learning and coordination, as well as contributing to strengthening internal reporting and response mechanisms that are easy to access and survivor-centred.  

Coordination

• Identify and engage with local Protection Gender and Inclusion networks within Taita Taveta
• Engage with relevant organisations for referrals, knowledge-sharing, joint awareness raising, training and reaching out to local communities and specialist expertise.
• Support a collaborative approach to protection and safeguarding, with the County Gender Children’s’, Health & Social Protection department, programmes, HR and technical staff e.g. NSD, PGI, CEA and legal staff/focal points.
• Facilitate peer-learning and sharing with other KRCS branches/teams and focal points in other National Societies.
•  Inform strengthening of procedures for investigation and response through a survivor-centred approach.

Programmatic

• Support the designation of Protection Gender Inclusion focal points among volunteers delivering the IFSL programme.
• Deliver training for safeguarding, Protection Gender Inclusion focal points and support with step-down trainings, signing of child protection awareness forms and subsequent reviews of the roles.
• Facilitate assessment of programmatic safeguarding risks to community members (including child risk analysis) and identify practical actions to mitigate identified risks.
• Develop/agree a safeguarding, action plan for IFSL and ensure it’s integrated to programme plans and activities.
• Establish referral procedures and pathways for child protection, sexual/ reproductive healthcare, counselling, justice and MHPSS, at a minimum.
• Maintain an updated list of networks / organisations for assistance to survivors for the purposes of referrals, signposting and collaboration.
• Ensure well-communicated channels for safe reporting and response to PSEA and Child safeguarding, concerns clearly integrated into KRCS reporting channels and Taita Taveta specific community-based complaints mechanism.
• Support monitoring and evaluation of safeguarding, activities e.g. as part of programme monitoring and evaluations.
• Establish and support technical working structures and policy alignment across the project goals and roles of the government officers.
• Request specialist technical support when needed in consultation with HQ PGI focal points e.g. local specialists, IFRC and BRC advisers. 

Awareness-raising, training and peer learning activities

• Raise awareness and actively promote transparency and accountability in relation to safeguarding practices
• Adapt Protection Gender Inclusion information, education and communication resources in consultation with volunteers, community leaders and vulnerable groups.
• Together with the safeguarding focal point, lead a communications campaign among volunteers and community members involved in the BRC programme.
• Contribute to peer learning with other organisations locally, nationally and in the IFRC network e.g. through participation in Safeguarding network meetings and IFRC regional Safeguaridng working group. 
• Document and share case studies and good practices in PSEA and Child safeguarding from the program and county of operation.

Reporting

• Contribute to reporting on PGI to senior management and donors, as required.
• Prepare progress reports against KRCS PGI action plans.

Team member

• Actively participate in team meetings.
• Support other team members in inculcating safeguarding and protection roles.
• Work and behave in accordance with all organizational policies and procedures.
• Uphold the fundamental principles of the Red Cross and act with integrity.

Minimum Qualifications

Essential

• Relevant university degree (gender studies, anthropology, sociology, psychology, communication, political science, international relations, law or human rights) or similar professional qualification. Post-graduate degree is an advantage.
• B.A. Degree in Social Sciences, psychology/social work Management Information Systems, gender studies, development studies, Statistics or related
• 4 years for BA Degree holder and 3 years of work experience for post graduate degree holders in MEAL, GBV, Protection and accountability related tasks (NGO experience is an advantage)
• Computer skills (Word processing, power point presentation, database management); data analysis
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English Language

Desirable:

• M.A. Degree in Social Sciences, psychology/social work, Management Information Systems, gender studies, Development Studies, or related.
• NGO experience on humanitarian settings in the country
• Knowledge of statistical software like SPSS and experiences in database development applying common software like MS Access
• Knowledge and experience in gender assessment, digital data collection platform

Experience

• Experience in PSEA, child protection, gender and/or inclusion as part of design and/or delivery of humanitarian projects/services
• Working with adults and children in vulnerable situations
• Experience in coordinating complex projects with multiple stakeholders

Key Competencies

• Strong communication and presentation skills in both English and Kiswahili, including ability to develop reports and prepare relevant publications
• Demonstrated technical expertise in project management, budgeting, resource management, implementation ability as well as programme monitoring and evaluation
• Demonstrated proficiency in computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, database, email and utilization of the internet
• Knowledge on community led approaches to protection gender and inclusion projects
• Up-to-date knowledge of good practices in safeguarding, protection and/or gender issues
• Building and maintaining partnerships and relationships
• Ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders to influence practice
• Resilience in working with stakeholders with competing demands

Closing: 25th September 2022