The Position
The Regional Safeguarding Advisor will deliver expert technical guidance and assistance to mitigate, identify, and prevent safeguarding concerns within Mercy Corps’ East Africa programs and operations, while ensuring robust mechanisms for survivor support are established.
The RSA will deliver guidance and assistance to regional country teams regarding Mercy Corps’ safeguarding methodology and procedures, specifically the implementation of Safeguarding Core Standards. Additionally, the RSA will facilitate the evaluation and identification of safeguarding risks affecting children and adults within regional country programs, further contributing to the creation and implementation of mitigation strategies.
This role will contribute to critical funding proposals by evaluating safeguarding risks and ensuring adequate allocation of resources to key safeguarding initiatives. The RSA will deliver consistent updates on regional safeguarding developments and promptly escalate any concerns to the Global Safeguarding/Ethics team. Collaboration with program and human resource teams will be essential to strengthen, oversee, and enhance safeguarding systems, build capacity, and raise awareness among team members and partners—including sub-recipients, contractors, consultants, and other entities acting on behalf of or under the direction of Mercy Corps.
The RSA will collaborate closely with the Community Accountability and Reporting Mechanism (CAR) teams to integrate safeguarding considerations throughout the CAR implementation process.
Oversee critical duties that include managing daily operations, ensuring compliance with company policies and industry regulations, and maintaining high standards of accuracy and efficiency in all processes. The position demands a strong background in relevant fields, along with proficiency in key software tools and systems. Responsibilities encompass supervising teams, driving performance improvements, and fostering a collaborative and productive work environment. Additionally, the role requires excellent problem-solving skills, the ability to prioritize tasks effectively, and a commitment to continuous professional development.
The role involves delivering training sessions and conducting awareness-raising initiatives to foster a deeper understanding of relevant topics among stakeholders. This includes designing educational materials, coordinating workshops, and evaluating the effectiveness of programs to ensure continuous improvement. Strong communication skills and the ability to engage diverse audiences are essential for motivating participation and driving behavioral change. Experience in instructional design or public speaking is advantageous, along with a commitment to promoting inclusivity and accessibility in all learning opportunities.
Collaborate with regional individuals and teams to embed safeguarding prevention measures and standards within programs and operations, while ensuring appropriate responses to survivors.
Adapt existing resources and tools—whether internal or external—to align with regional requirements and conditions.
Facilitate the design, development, and adaptation of training materials while building frameworks for both virtual and face-to-face instructional delivery.
Provide guidance and assistance to in-country safeguarding support roles—such as Safeguarding Focal Points and Champions—by implementing systems, processes, and policies designed to enhance team members’ understanding and adherence to safeguarding standards and expectations.
This role entails providing in-country safeguarding support through the implementation of robust systems, streamlined processes, and clear guidance, thereby enhancing partner awareness and building capacity around safeguarding standards and expectations. Responsibilities include engaging with sub-grantees, volunteers, consultants, contractors, money transfer agencies, and daily workers to ensure compliance with these critical safeguarding measures.
Provide expert technical direction to CAR and program teams while contributing to efforts that ensure communities and participants are fully aware of their rights and reporting options, thereby fostering confidence in response systems and survivor support mechanisms.
In collaboration with the Global Safeguarding Team and local safeguarding support, deliver training and informational sessions to leadership at country or regional levels, as requested or feasible.
Designs, implements, and optimizes systems, procedures, and technological tools to enhance operational efficiency, support strategic objectives, and ensure seamless workflow integration. Evaluates existing frameworks to identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, or redundancies, then develops and deploys solutions—whether through automation, process redesign, or tool enhancements—to drive measurable improvements in productivity and performance. Collaborates with cross-functional teams to align technological advancements with business needs, ensuring scalability, reliability, and alignment with industry best practices.
Provide assistance in implementing the Core Safeguarding Standards across the designated region.
Facilitate the development and implementation of strategic safeguarding plans at the country level to ensure robust protective measures are in place.
Working collaboratively with the Global Safeguarding Team, you will provide specialized technical guidance and recommendations to Country Directors and Senior Management Teams to develop tailored safeguarding strategies and prioritize key activities specific to each country.
In collaboration with in-country Safeguarding support, you will provide expert technical guidance and input for safeguarding risk assessments and analyses at both country and program levels.
To uphold safeguarding standards at the country level, this role involves implementing risk mitigation strategies to ensure that activities flagged with high safeguarding risks are proactively addressed through prevention measures, such as observational checklists, enhanced supervision, targeted training, and additional protective actions.
Engage proactively and reactively across all functions to ensure the implementation of essential mitigation measures and adherence to best practices.
The role involves assisting country teams with the provision of guidance and resources to empower partners in enhancing their safeguarding capabilities and ensuring adherence to safeguarding standards.
Provide guidance and support to program teams to facilitate their evaluation of partners’ adherence to essential safeguarding standards.
Collaborate with regional Human Resources and program teams to create and implement comprehensive safeguarding protocols for onboarding various personnel, including full-time staff, temporary workers, day laborers, consultants, and volunteers.
Collaborate with CAR teams and program teams to incorporate safeguarding measures into CAR systems and communications, ensuring sensitization and consultation with communities are prioritized.
Serve as a key advisor to senior leadership on implementing safeguarding best practices and fulfilling obligations in accordance with Mercy Corps’ and donor Safeguarding policies and response frameworks.
Partner with Monitoring, Learning, and Evaluation teams to ensure adherence to safeguarding guidelines throughout all MEL activities in the region.
In collaboration with the investigations team, assist in reviewing and refining corrective actions based on case reports, and facilitate their implementation as needed.
Assist in providing essential support and guidance to survivors as they navigate their recovery journey. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure comprehensive care and address the unique needs of each individual. Conduct assessments to evaluate survivor circumstances and develop tailored plans for empowerment and resilience. Maintain accurate documentation of interactions, progress, and outcomes to support continuity of care. Participate in case reviews and contribute to the development of effective intervention strategies. Serve as a compassionate advocate, ensuring survivors’ rights and needs are prioritized throughout their healing process.
Provide technical support and guidance to Safeguarding Focal Points and Champions, serving as a resource for addressing their responsibilities concerning the reporting of safeguarding issues, concerns, or experiences.
Facilitate collaboration between country and investigative teams to ensure a survivor-centric methodology is applied to all reported safeguarding concerns, consistent with Mercy Corps’ established investigative protocols.
Provide assistance to Focal Points and Champions in securing the necessary resources and establishing effective processes for survivors to safeguard their safety, security, and overall well-being. Collaborate with local SEA networks to identify, document, and consistently update available support services for survivors.
We are seeking a highly motivated Engagement professional to drive meaningful interactions and cultivate lasting relationships with our clients. In this role, you will be responsible for identifying opportunities to enhance customer satisfaction, ensuring seamless communication across various channels, and contributing to the development of strategic engagement initiatives. The ideal candidate possesses exceptional interpersonal skills, a keen understanding of customer needs, and the ability to analyze data to refine engagement strategies. Proficiency in CRM systems, strong problem-solving capabilities, and a results-driven mindset are essential for success in this position.
Engage actively in sector-specific working groups and coordination platforms, such as Clusters and SEA networks, while representing Mercy Corps. Additionally, assist in the regional coordination of safeguarding initiatives to ensure alignment with established standards and best practices.
Join Mercy Corps’ Global Safeguarding Task Force, collaborating closely with essential team members from diverse operational units across the organization.
Engage in Mercy Corps’ regional working groups or cross-functional teams, providing representation for safeguarding initiatives or the safeguarding team as needed.
Under the guidance of the Global Safeguarding Team, deliver specialized technical assistance to ensure compliance with donor requirements for project proposals and design.
Foster collaboration among countries to cultivate synergies, enhance coordination, and establish working groups where feasible, aligning CAR/SG/GDI initiatives with DESI priorities.
Oversees and guides a team or department to ensure optimal performance and adherence to organizational standards. Provides direction, support, and feedback to staff members to enhance productivity and professional development. Monitors workflows, allocates resources efficiently, and resolves conflicts while maintaining a positive and collaborative work environment. Ensures compliance with company policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements. Accountable for meeting team goals, performance targets, and operational objectives through strategic planning and effective leadership.
Provides indirect supervision while maintaining a dotted-line reporting structure to in-country safeguarding managers, focal points, and champions, ensuring oversight and alignment with organizational standards.
Bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field is required, along with proven experience in a comparable role. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills are essential, along with proficiency in relevant software and tools. Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment is critical. Excellent organizational and time-management skills are necessary to meet deadlines consistently. Demonstrated leadership or team collaboration experience is preferred.
A bachelor’s degree is mandatory for this role. A master’s degree or an equivalent qualification in a field such as Humanitarian Studies, International Development, or related disciplines is strongly preferred.
With a minimum of four years of professional experience in the development or humanitarian sector—specifically within gender-based violence and/or safeguarding—you possess a comprehensive grasp of safeguarding principles and survivor-centered approaches.
Proven expertise in adhering to and implementing donor, regulatory, and industry-wide safeguarding standards, expectations, and best practices.
Experienced professionals with a background in emergency response, fragile state environments, or other high-stakes, complex scenarios are strongly encouraged to apply.
Proficiency in conducting SEA (Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment) and safeguarding investigations is highly desirable.
Fluency in English, both verbally and in writing, is essential; proficiency in other regional languages is preferred.
We possess a strong background in developing and facilitating safeguarding training programs tailored to varied audiences, including external collaborators.
Capable of thriving in high-pressure emergency response settings, this role demands the agility to adjust seamlessly to dynamic and rapidly changing circumstances as they arise.
Possesses strong listening, interpersonal, and communication abilities, as well as networking skills, effectively in both remote and in-person settings.
Analytical professionals who excel in problem-solving, demonstrate a strong capacity for self-awareness, and possess the maturity to effectively process and act on constructive feedback are encouraged to apply.
Experienced in customizing agency-specific safeguarding materials—such as training programs, policies, awareness campaigns, and communication tools—for effective use by partner organizations.
Fluency in Microsoft Office Suite applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, is essential.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND , MBA/MSc/MA
Experience Required
4 years
