With 192 National Societies as members, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the biggest humanitarian organization in the world. The IFRC’s overarching mission is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” Prior to, during, and after catastrophes, health emergencies, and other crises, IFRC strives to provide for the needs of vulnerable people and enhance their quality of life.
Together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the IFRC is a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement). The core values of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntarism, unity, and universality serve as the foundation for the IFRC’s activities.
The Secretary-General is in charge of the IFRC, which has its main office in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters is divided into three primary divisions: management policy, strategy, and corporate services; global relations, humanitarian diplomacy, and digitalization; and national social development and operations coordination.
The IFRC maintains five regional offices, one each in the Americas, the Middle East and North Africa, Asia Pacific, Africa, and Africa. Additionally, the IFRC has national delegations and country cluster delegations all across the world. The IFRC Secretaria is made up of the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster, and country).
Since 1990, the International Fund for Refugee Cooperation (IFRC) has maintained a constant presence in Afghanistan to assist the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) with organizational growth, outreach, and auxiliary roles, humanitarian diplomacy, partnership building, humanitarian response operations, and longer-term programming. In order for the IFRC network to reach its full potential as a trustworthy, accountable, and engaged global humanitarian actor and to carry out an agreed-upon agenda, it is imperative that it coordinate and support the activities of its member National Societies. In accordance with an existing Movement Cooperation Agreement, the IFRC Secretariat collaborates with the ICRC on movement coordination and cooperation. Other Movement partners with a presence in Afghanistan are Canadian Red Cross and the IFRC Secretariat.
Details
- Closing Date: May 22, 2023
- Reference: Senior Safeguarding Officer
- Number of Vacancies: 1
- Salary Range: As per the company salary scale
- Years of Experience: 5 – 6 years
- Probation Period: Not Specified
- Contract Duration: 7 months
- Contract Extensible: Maybe
- Minimum Education: Bachelor’s Degree
- Work Type: Full Time
- Gender: Any
Summary
The Safeguarding Officer will primarily concentrate on the prevention of and response to sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) and misconduct related to child safeguarding. The Safeguarding Officer will report to the Manager for Compliance, Risk Management & Safeguarding and operate under the technical guidance of the Head of Safeguarding.
In order to support and expand the availability of SEA-inclusive complaint mechanisms and efficient referral pathways for victims/survivors, the role will prioritize community engagement and support. To that end, it will require close collaboration with Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) colleagues, as well as communication with other units such as Protection, Gender, and Inclusion (PGI) and Office of Internal Audit and Investigations (OIAI), in order to create and deliver safeguarding communications. Along with providing strategic support to the ARCS to improve knowledge and understanding of safeguarding issues, it also includes developing and delivering safeguarding training to staff members of the IFRC network and implementing partners. It also includes supporting the establishment and/or strengthening of safeguarding systems within the National Society.
Duties & Responsibilities
In particular, vulnerable cohorts, such as children and widows, should be informed about PSEAH and child safety. Evaluate and validate the present availability, reach, inclusiveness, and efficacy of communications with impacted groups serviced by IFRC-supported operations and programs.
Identify and check the presence of SEA-inclusive complaint processes at the locations of IFRC-supported operations and programs.
In locations of IFRC-supported operations and programs, identify and confirm the availability and accessibility of standard victim/survivor support and referral pathways, including medical/psychosocial/places of safety, legal, and livelihood, and map out and confirm whether these are shared by IASC and the Protection Cluster (GBV/Child Protection Area of Responsibility) or stand-alone.
Create a safeguarding strategy and work plan to fill up the gaps and capitalize on the possibilities found during the mapping process as well as the efforts, capabilities, and lessons learned of the PSEA Network.
Create a capacity-building and initial training plan for IFRC network employees in Afghanistan, paying special attention to programs aimed at assisting affected populations in better understanding and socializing the role and responsibilities of the Red Cross Red Crescent as well as in protecting recipient communities from SEA and child safeguarding violations.
To assist the establishment of trust and successful adoption of feedback and complaint mechanisms connected to SEA in IFRC-supported operations and programs, promote and publicize the significance of community participation and inclusion in the creation of these systems.
Encourage the establishment and strengthening of the IFRC network’s safeguarding focal points in high-risk regions served by its activities and programs.
To promote an integrated approach to safeguarding and to ensure accountability among all staff, coordinate safeguarding training, knowledge, and understanding with the IFRC network PGI and CEA focal points.
Act, and train other IFRC network safeguarding focal points to act as victim assistance focal point(s) within their operating contexts to provide support to impacted individuals during and beyond an investigation as required. Develop training of trainer modules for safeguarding focal points within the IFRC network to enable them to train other staff and implementing partners within their operational contexts.
Raising awareness of safeguarding through training and outreach, including creating and hosting webinars on important safeguarding topics, and assisting in the creation of pertinent materials aimed at staff, partners, and communities.
Job Requirements
- a university education or comparable qualifying work experience related to child protection
- certification in gender, protection, or safeguarding
- a minimum of five years of prior experience working in Afghanistan in a field related to protection, such as gender, responsibility for impacted people, community organization/facilitation, social work, or international development
- PSEA, protection, gender, and/or inclusion expertise in the design and/or implementation of humanitarian programs
- working in vulnerable circumstances with adults and children
collaborating with joint ventures
- Post-graduate qualification in an area suitable for safeguarding
- A good understanding of both development and humanitarian issues
- Experience producing reports and other documentation for a range of audiences
- Experience coordinating complex projects with multiple stakeholders
- Experience in developing and implementing learning processes
- Willingness to work outside of office hours, during emergencies, and when necessary
- Ensures inclusive practice and promotes diversity
Knowledge, Skills, and Languages
- Up-to-date knowledge of good practices in safeguarding/PSEA, protection, accountability to affected populations and/or gender issues
- Building and maintaining partnerships and relationships
- Ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders to influence practice
- Skills in active listening, empathy, communication, and influencing
- Training and coaching skills
- Attention to detail
- Self-supporting in computers and internet-based tools
- Knowledge of the Red Cross and Red Crescent International Movement
Language
- Fluently spoken and written English
- Knowledge of Dari and Pashto
