The Position
The Regional Safeguarding Advisor (RSA) will deliver expert technical guidance and assistance to proactively prevent, identify, and mitigate safeguarding concerns across Mercy Corps’ East Africa programs and operations while ensuring robust survivor support systems are established and maintained.
The RSA will offer direction and assistance to regional country teams regarding Mercy Corps’ safeguarding framework and procedures, particularly regarding the implementation of Safeguarding Core Standards. Additionally, the RSA will aid in evaluating and identifying safeguarding risks faced by children and adults within affected populations across regional country programs, as well as facilitate the creation and implementation of mitigation strategies.
This role will contribute to critical funding proposals, ensuring safeguarding risks are evaluated, and essential safeguarding measures are adequately funded. 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 central to strengthening systems, enhancing capacity, and fostering safeguarding awareness among staff 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 extensively with Community Accountability and Reporting Mechanism (CAR) teams to integrate safeguarding principles into every phase of CAR deployment.
Essential responsibilities include leading and overseeing the development and implementation of strategic initiatives to drive organizational growth and operational efficiency. The role demands collaboration with cross-functional teams to align business objectives, ensuring compliance with industry regulations and internal policies. Key duties involve analyzing market trends, identifying opportunities for innovation, and optimizing processes to enhance productivity and profitability. Additionally, the position requires the preparation of comprehensive reports, maintaining stakeholder communication, and providing actionable insights to senior leadership. Strong leadership, analytical thinking, and exceptional communication skills are imperative for success in this role.
We are seeking a dynamic individual to develop and implement comprehensive training programs designed to enhance knowledge and promote awareness across various domains. The ideal candidate will collaborate with stakeholders to identify training needs, design engaging educational materials, and deliver interactive sessions that foster learning and skill development. Proficiency in instructional design, strong communication skills, and the ability to assess training effectiveness are essential. Experience in curriculum development, workshop facilitation, and utilizing diverse training methodologies will be advantageous.
Collaborate with regional individuals and teams to embed safeguarding prevention protocols and standards within programs and operations, while ensuring appropriate responses to survivors.
Adapt current resources and tools—whether developed internally or sourced externally—to align with the specific needs and conditions of the regional environment.
Provide assistance in the development and modification of training materials and design frameworks for both virtual and in-person instructional formats.
Provide guidance and support to in-country safeguarding personnel, such as Safeguarding Focal Points and Champions, by equipping them with robust systems, streamlined processes, and clear guidance. This will enhance team members’ understanding and strengthen their ability to meet safeguarding standards and expectations effectively.
Provide in-country safeguarding support by implementing and reinforcing systems, processes, and guidance to enhance partner awareness and capacity regarding safeguarding standards and expectations, including those of sub-grantees, volunteers, consultants, contractors, money transfer agencies, and daily workers.
Provide expert technical guidance to CAR and program teams to facilitate their work, ensuring communities and participants are fully informed about their rights and available reporting options while fostering confidence in response systems and survivor support mechanisms.
In collaboration with the Global Safeguarding Team and local in-country safeguarding support, deliver tailored training and informational sessions to leadership teams at the regional or country level, as required or feasible.
Design, develop, and maintain efficient systems, processes, and tools to support organizational objectives and enhance operational workflows. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify areas for improvement, ensuring alignment with business needs and technological advancements. Oversee the implementation of scalable solutions, leveraging data-driven insights to optimize performance and productivity. Monitor system functionality, troubleshoot issues, and implement corrective measures to minimize downtime and maximize efficiency. Stay current with industry best practices, emerging technologies, and evolving requirements to drive continuous innovation and improvement.
Assist in the implementation of the Core Safeguarding Standards across the designated region.
Facilitate the development of country-level strategic planning initiatives focused on safeguarding measures.
Working collaboratively with the Global Safeguarding Team, you will provide expert technical guidance and counsel to Country Directors and Senior Management Teams to develop tailored safeguarding strategies and prioritize key activities specific to each country.
Under the guidance of in-country Safeguarding support, provide expert technical input and recommendations for country-level and program-level safeguarding risk assessments and analyses.
To enhance safeguarding risk mitigation at the country level, it is essential to ensure that activities identified as high-risk are actively applying preventive measures, such as observational checklists, supervision, training, and other necessary actions.
Proactively and reactively collaborate with all departments to ensure the implementation of minimum mitigation measures and adherence to established best practices.
Assist country teams by delivering guidance and resources to partners, aiding in the enhancement of their safeguarding capabilities and adherence to safeguarding standards.
Support program teams by providing guidance and expertise to evaluate partners’ adherence to essential safeguarding standards.
Collaborate with regional Human Resources and program teams to establish and implement comprehensive safeguarding protocols for the onboarding of full-time team members, temporary staff, day laborers, consultants, and volunteers.
Collaborate with CAR and program teams to embed safeguarding measures within CAR systems and communications, while conducting sensitization sessions and consulting with communities to ensure comprehensive integration.
Provide expertise and guidance to senior leadership regarding the implementation of safeguarding best practices and the fulfillment of obligations outlined in Mercy Corps’ and donor safeguarding policies, as well as the associated response mechanisms.
Work collaboratively with regional Monitoring, Learning, and Evaluation teams to align MEL activities with established safeguarding guidelines.
In collaboration with the investigations team, assist in evaluating, refining, and executing corrective measures based on case reports as needed.
The position involves delivering comprehensive survivor response and support services, ensuring individuals receive the necessary care and assistance following critical incidents. Key responsibilities include assessing survivor needs, providing crisis intervention, and coordinating resources to facilitate recovery. Candidates must possess strong interpersonal skills, emotional resilience, and experience in trauma-informed care. Proficiency in active listening, empathy, and problem-solving is essential to effectively address survivor concerns and navigate complex situations.
Provide technical assistance and guidance to safeguarding Focal Points and Champions, ensuring they effectively fulfill their responsibilities as designated reporting channels for safeguarding-related issues, concerns, or experiences.
Assist country and investigative teams in implementing a survivor-centered methodology for addressing all reported safeguarding concerns, in accordance with Mercy Corps’ established investigative protocols.
Provide assistance to Focal Points and Champions in maintaining comprehensive resource mapping and streamlined processes to ensure survivors’ safety, security, and well-being. Collaborate with local Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) networks to identify, document, and continuously update the availability of local support services for survivors.
We are seeking a dynamic Engagement professional to foster meaningful connections and drive impactful interactions. The ideal candidate will possess strong interpersonal skills, exceptional communication abilities, and a proven track record in building and maintaining relationships. Responsibilities include developing engagement strategies, executing outreach initiatives, and analyzing interaction metrics to assess effectiveness. Proficiency in CRM tools and data-driven decision-making is essential, along with a minimum of 3 years of experience in engagement, marketing, or a related field. This role demands creativity, adaptability, and a passion for cultivating long-term partnerships.
Engage in pertinent sectoral forums and coordination platforms, such as Clusters and SEA networks, while representing Mercy Corps, and assist in the regional coordination of Safeguarding initiatives.
Join the cross-functional Global Safeguarding Task Force led by Mercy Corps, collaborating with essential team members from diverse operational units across the organization.
Engage in Mercy Corps’ regional working groups or cross-functional teams, offering representation for safeguarding initiatives or the safeguarding team as needed.
Under the guidance of the Global Safeguarding Team, deliver specialized technical assistance concerning donor prerequisites for project proposals and design.
Facilitate collaboration among countries to develop synergies, enhance coordination, and establish working groups, where feasible, between the CAR/SG/GDI initiatives and the DESI priority areas.
Overseeing a team of professionals to ensure optimal performance and adherence to company policies and procedures is a critical aspect of this role. This position involves managing staff, delegating tasks, and fostering a collaborative work environment to achieve organizational goals efficiently. The supervisor is responsible for monitoring progress, providing constructive feedback, and addressing any performance-related issues promptly. Additionally, the role requires maintaining clear communication channels with senior management and ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations and standards.
Providing indirect supervision and oversight, the role involves a dotted-line relationship with in-country safeguarding managers, focal points, and champions, ensuring alignment and support without direct authority.
Minimum qualifications and requisite transferable skills encompass a set of essential criteria and competencies that candidates must possess to be considered for the role. These include a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or an equivalent combination of education and experience, along with a minimum of three years of professional experience in a related industry. Additionally, proficiency in industry-standard software, strong analytical abilities, and excellent communication skills are required. Candidates should demonstrate adaptability, problem-solving capabilities, and a proven track record of success in comparable positions.
A bachelor’s degree is required for this position. While a master’s degree or equivalent qualification in a field such as Humanitarian Studies, International Development, or a closely related discipline is strongly preferred.
Seeking candidates with a minimum of four years of professional experience in the development/humanitarian sector, specifically within the fields of gender-based violence and/or safeguarding. Demonstrated expertise in safeguarding principles and survivor-centered approaches is essential.
Possesses extensive knowledge and hands-on experience with donor, regulatory, and sector-wide standards, expectations, and best practices in safeguarding.
Experience in emergency settings, fragile states, or other intricate, high-stakes environments is a strong asset.
Experience in conducting investigations related to Social and Environmental Assessment of Human rights (SEA) or safeguarding is advantageous.
Fluency in English, both written and verbal, is essential, with proficiency in additional regional languages considered a valuable asset.
Professionals with a proven track record in developing and facilitating safeguarding training programs tailored to varied audiences, including external partners, are sought after.
Proven capability to thrive in high-pressure emergency response settings, maintaining composure and efficiency amid rapidly changing circumstances. Demonstrates adaptability and resilience when faced with evolving challenges, ensuring effective performance under dynamic conditions.
Exceptional listening abilities, strong interpersonal and communication skills, along with robust networking capabilities, are essential in both virtual and face-to-face settings.
Analytical professionals with robust problem-solving skills, complemented by a keen self-awareness and the emotional intelligence to effectively process and implement constructive feedback, are sought after for this role.
We possess proven expertise in tailoring agency-specific safeguarding materials—such as training programs, policies, awareness initiatives, and communication tools—for effective use by agency partners.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite applications—including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint—is required.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND , MBA/MSc/MA
Experience Required
4 years
