Community Services and DevelopmentFull-TimeMid-level(3-5 yrs)
Job Description
About the Role
The Safeguarding and Inclusion associate will support the implementation and coordination of safeguarding and inclusion frameworks, policies, and standard operating procedures (SOPs). The role involves adapting tools for EAMDA programme delivery, serving as a liaison on safeguarding matters, and ensuring that all programme activities—including field visits, mentorship, and digital engagement—meet agreed accessibility and safety standards.
Core Responsibilities
Safeguarding & Inclusion Implementation and Coordination
Support implementation of safeguarding and inclusion frameworks and SOPs in alignment with WEL guidance.
Adapt and contextualise safeguarding and inclusion tools for EAMDA programme delivery.
Serve as the primary liaison between EAMDA and WEL on safeguarding and inclusion matters.
Ensure programme teams understand and apply agreed safeguarding, accessibility, and inclusion standards.
Support onboarding of staff, consultants, mentors, and partners on safeguarding and inclusive conduct expectations.
Ensure safeguarding and inclusion measures are operational in trainings, field visits, mentorship settings, events, transport arrangements, accommodation, and digital engagement platforms.
Prevention, Risk Assessment & Mitigation
Conduct activity-level safeguarding and inclusion risk assessments in coordination with programme teams.
Identify participation barriers related to gender, disability, displacement status, power dynamics, literacy, or other vulnerability factors.
Recommend practical and enforceable mitigation measures and escalate systemic concerns to management and WEL where required.
Support integration of disability inclusion approaches, including use of the Washington Group Short Set Questions for appropriate data disaggregation.
Promote gender-transformative and inclusive methodologies, including approaches such as Gender Action Learning System (GALS).
Ensure event planning and field delivery checklists incorporate safety, accessibility, and reporting visibility measures.
Reporting, Case Management & Response Coordination
Manage and monitor EAMDA-level reporting channels, ensuring they are confidential, accessible, and low-barrier.
Receive, document, and safely store safeguarding concerns in line with agreed protocols.
Coordinate immediate safety measures where required and escalate cases to WEL in accordance with established procedures.
Support referrals to appropriate services (medical, psychosocial, legal, protection, disability services), maintaining updated referral pathways.
Ensure all actions follow survivor-centered principles, including safety, confidentiality, informed consent, respect, non-discrimination, and do-no-harm.
Inclusion Mainstreaming & Equitable Participation
Support integration of gender, disability, and displacement inclusion considerations across programme design and delivery.
Advise teams on reasonable accommodations, accessible venues, inclusive communication formats, and safe participation arrangements.
Monitor participation trends using disaggregated data (sex, age, disability, refugee status, and other relevant markers).
Identify and flag risks of exclusion, gatekeeping, elite capture, retaliation, or discriminatory practices within groups, SACCO engagements, or partner processes.
Training, Culture & Capacity Strengthening
Deliver safeguarding and inclusion training sessions to staff, regional teams, mentors, consultants, and key partners.
Reinforce expectations around respectful conduct, boundaries, accountability, and inclusive participation.
Support managers with practical tools to identify early-warning signs of misconduct, boundary violations, or exclusion risks.
Partner & Vendor Safeguarding Support
Support integration of safeguarding and inclusion requirements into procurement and contracting processes.
Assist with due diligence checks for high-contact service providers.
Support partner onboarding on safeguarding, inclusion, and reporting obligations.
Monitoring, Learning & Continuous Improvement
Support tracking of safeguarding and inclusion indicators in collaboration with MEL and WEL.
Monitor training coverage, reporting awareness, accessibility measures, and participation equity trends.
Contribute to periodic safeguarding reviews and field audits.
Qualifications and Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Gender Studies, Disability Studies, Psychology, Public Health, Law, Development Studies, or a related field (Master’s is an advantage).
Minimum 4–6 years of relevant experience in safeguarding, protection, gender, disability inclusion, or related fields.
Practical experience supporting implementation of safeguarding systems in community-based, livelihoods, youth, or development programmes.
Demonstrated familiarity with SEA/SH prevention and response principles, survivor-centered approaches, and complaints mechanisms.
Experience with disability inclusion frameworks and Washington Group Questions.
Knowledge of gender-transformative methodologies such as GALS.
Strong understanding of ethical information handling, confidentiality, and data protection practices.