Safeguarding Officer

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: 

Level 3:  the role holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work in country programs; or are visiting country programs; ore because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

Anti-Fraud and Integrity Commitment: 

The organization maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward fraud, corruption, and unethical behavior. All staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity and accountability, comply with internal policies and procedures, and report any suspected misconduct through the appropriate channels.
Please note: The organization does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, offer, or onboarding). Any request for payment should be reported immediately.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Internal Control & Compliance Manager

Dotted Line Manager: Director of HR, Admin and IT

Staff directly reporting to this post: - None, but directly in charge of Field Focal Point Persons

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Child Safeguarding Leader and Champion across Rwanda offices.

• Work with programme development and programme operations teams to identify potential risks to children in all project’s activities including workshops and events, plan mitigating measures, and assign staff to be responsible for the implementation.
• Undertake clear, strong advocacy in line with the Safeguarding Policies at National levels. 
• Deliver high quality, accessible and reliable support, guidance and capacity to emergency/humanitarian response and programmes team 
• Establish Country safeguarding networks to champion local implementation
• Work with Child Protection colleagues to ensure that a mapping of service providers for children is completed in Save the Children’s operational areas and local procedures are developed/up to date
• Coach and support Field Focal Points in order to improve Safeguarding practice. 

Safe programming and Safeguarding Practice promoted across Rwanda offices

• Work with programme development team and other programme staff to ensure that all programming is designed, implemented and monitored through a Safeguarding lens, including supporting all new proposals
• With support of Internal Control and Compliance Manager, ensure that support for safeguarding is adequately resourced in all new project budgets.
• Support staff to take proactive steps to ensure that all programming activity identifies the potential risks and works to eliminate and mitigate those risks.
• Ensure that the tools and knowledge are made available to staff and that they know how to access support and guidance.
• Role model high levels of professional safeguarding behaviour and maintain the standards required by the Safeguarding Policies and Code of Conduct 

Country roll-out and maintenance of training programmes 

• Deliver a suite of mandatory core training workshops so as to enable staff with key responsibilities to undertake their roles and mainstream safeguarding functions
• Deliver on-going refresher training and safeguarding inductions as appropriate 
• Review and strengthen Safeguarding systems within the country office, planning, and delivering training programs accordingly. 
• Identify Safeguarding issues within Save the Children operational areas and develop a plan to respond to them in collaboration with other internal and external partners
• Deploy resources of the Keeping Children Safe strategically to ensure that the country office, its partners and all representatives maintain Save the Children safeguarding standards.

Capacity Building

• With the support of Internal Control & Compliance Manager develop capacity building plan for staff and partners and provide on-going mentoring and support .
• Serve as safeguarding focal point for the field office and lead on establishment of strong safeguarding procedures and risk assessment in all programme activities in accordance with the national strategies developed
• Build the capacity of Safeguarding Focal points to deliver safeguarding trainings, manage & undertake investigation
• Build the capacity of Safeguarding focal persons especially in receiving and recording reports
• Strengthen the capacity of Focal points in delivering safeguarding inductions 
• With the support of the Internal Control & Compliance Manager, develop and deliver training modules specific to knowledge gaps within the CO Safety and Security team (SSFP) to improve safety and security capacity.
• Identify gaps within the Field Offices in security management and planning and help resource improvements.

• Safeguarding Standards are applied throughout the country programme
• Work with the risk & Compliance team to monitor the overall implementation of safeguarding policies in the country programme.
• Conduct a review of safeguarding policy implementation throughout the country programme and implement the Safeguarding Policy Compliance Action Plan 
• Ensure that the safeguarding mechanisms are in place and are subject to continuous monitoring/review.
• Oversee and enforce follow-up in order to ensure maximum levels of compliance and competence
• Identify and utilise opportunities to integrate safeguarding approaches into all aspects of our work
• Apply critical analysis to ensure that we live up to our commitment to making Save the Children safe for children by ensuring child safeguarding concerns are reported effectively in line with the policy, Work with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) team to ensure that  safeguarding and reporting are central to our accountability system for all projects
• Ensure that reporting procedures are clearly understood by staff, partners, contractors/suppliers, visitors and by children themselves. This may include providing briefings, training or developing materials for dissemination, including the development of child-friendly materials;
• Ensure that concerns are followed up safely, effectively and efficiently and to the required standards.
• Ensure that safeguarding concerns are documented and regularly analyzed to inform organizational learning and improve safeguarding practice;
• Analyze the types of cases received, and the response provided on a regular basis to inform organizational learning and improve safeguarding practice;
• Provide guidance Where appropriate, personally undertaking safeguarding investigations, sometimes in challenging environments and to rigorous timescales and standards.
• Collaborating with key teams and processes within the country office to ensure that Safeguarding is integrated into all systems

 Safety and Security responsibilities 

• Assess threat, risk, and vulnerability and make recommendations to reduce staff exposure.
• Undertake safety and security assessments of program areas and potential program areas as requested, Report on findings and design necessary improvements.
• Undertake reviews of individual safety and security procedures and policies as requested and report to the risk & compliance lead.
• Assist to the Risk & Compliance lead to prepare/maintain/update safety and security management plan (SSMP).
• Ensure staff training/orientation re: safety and security roles. 
• Facilitate safety and security management training with staff in the country office and in project locations.
• Develop Security briefing materials for new staff and visitors. Provide security orientation/briefing for newly appointed SC staff and CO visitors.
• Ensure all SC staff understand and comply with incident reporting requirements and procedures. Follow-up as necessary re: issues related to reported incidents.
• Ensure that appropriate systems are in place to effectively disseminate safety and security information and updates of the security situation to SC staff.
• Liaise with administration and logistics offices re: vehicle movement and facility safety and security. Ensure established standards and procedures are followed
• Responsibility for ensuring compliance of and alignment with SCI Key Performance Indicators.
• Responsible for preparing, managing and Developing on the CO Security Budget
• Assist to prepare for major events and critical incidents where security is concerned. 
• Conduct security awareness training in accordance with SCI policies and procedures and in cooperation with the Regional Security team 

Planning and Preparation:

Oversee assessment of SCI and international staff premises’ locations on regular basis and advice on any possible security measures or change of locations.

Procedures and Protocols:

• Redundancy in communication is ensured by establishing multiple modes of communication between base and all offices in the field. 
• Communications: Ensure that effective communications are in place including communication tree system, mobile phones etc
• All staff ‘communication tree’ is established and kept updated so as to contact all staff when necessary. 
• Support the Risk & Compliance team in  advising the SMT of possible actions or options in a time of crisis or emergency. 
• Facilitate  information gathering through the relevant reporting lines during serious security incidents.
• Assist with emergency evacuations in coordination with the Risk & Compliance team and Regional Security Director Investigate and follow up security incidents.

Act in a Crisis:

Report security incidents in accordance with SCI protocols and using the online reporting system in timely manner.

COMPETENCIES AND BEHAVIOURS

Leading and Inspiring Others (Accomplished)

• Communicates our vision, values and strategy and encourages others to share them 
• Influences others positively to achieve team goals 
• Recognizes and celebrates the contribution and success of individuals and the team 
• Demonstrates humility in leadership of others ( i.e. Safeguarding, Safety & Security focal points)
• Values, and articulates a compelling vision to inspire others to achieve our goals for children.

Innovating and Adapting (Accomplished) 

• Openly talks about doing things differently, pushing the boundaries and ways of working to drive improvements 
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved Anticipates change and adapts team’s plans and priorities accordingly 
• Generates learning for the organisation and evidence for the impact and quality of our work

Applying Technical & Professional Expertise (Accomplished)

• Makes decisions based on professional expertise and experience without deferring unnecessarily to others 
• Shares knowledge and best practice on technical solutions so that others can make best use of that expertise 
• Actively seeks new ways to develop the application of technical and professional standards within the team

Communicating with Impact (Accomplished)

• Conveys complex issues with clarity, brevity and confidence 
• Promotes dialogue with key stakeholders through active listening and effective questioning 
• Adapts communication style to maximise support and engagement 
• Advises others on different approaches to influence key stakeholders 
• Seeks out new methodologies for communication to engage new audiences

Networking (Accomplished)

• Builds trust with contacts through openness and honesty 
• Participates effectively in sensitive, complex and/or high impact relationships and networks 
• Builds strong relationships with a broad range of stakeholders 
• Spots opportunities to bring together partnerships/ working alliances that have not been used before

Demonstrates SCI Values: Accountability, Ambition, Collaboration, Creativity, and Integrity.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Undergraduate in Gender, Child Protection or Child Rights Governance, governance, law, social work or related degree.
• Knowledge and/or experience of child safeguarding, child protection, gender, PSEA or SGBV 
• Experience within an INGO or similar other organisation working with vulnerable communities and children or with similar experience within Save the Children.
• Experience of managing as well as undertaking complex child protection/safeguarding investigations and or disciplinary investigations
• Experience of planning and undertaking training programmes/workshops in child protection/safeguarding at a range of levels (e.g. field workers, managers, senior managers and decision makers)
• Excellent verbal communication and report writing skills in English and Kinyarwanda
• Excellent presentation skills
• Demonstrable commitment to Children’s Rights
• Ability to provide long distance support and establish supportive relationships and networks
• Experience in safety and security practices.
• Proven ability to undertake Security Risk assessments. 
• Able to manage a high workload and meet tight deadlines 
• At least 2 years demonstrable experience in role with similar responsibly for Safeguarding and Safety/security management.
• An understanding of response management and the critical importance of safety/Security/ fraud   management and communications
• Excellent and proven communicator able to communicate to a wide range of audiences. 

Resourcefulness, flexibility, good organisational skills and the ability to prioritise and to meet deadlines

Desirable

• Evidence of professional expertise, personal development and learning in the field of child care
• Experience of working within hostile and challenging environments
• Experience of work-related travel in challenging environments
• Commitment to Save the Children values
• Knowledge of international humanitarian systems, institutions and donors

Additional job responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities set out above are not exhaustive and the post holder may be required to carry out additional duties from time to time, which are reasonable in relation to their level of skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities 

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding: We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.