Safeguarding Manager - Ethics and Compliance

Job Description

Background/IRC Summary: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their lives. The IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we improve outcomes in the areas of health, safety, economic wellbeing, education and power.

The IRC has been present in Nigeria since 2012 when the organization responded to flooding in Kogi state. In February 2014 the IRC moved into Adamawa State in NE Nigeria to provide humanitarian interventions through a multi-sectorial, integrated approach for conflict affected populations. IRC Nigeria now operates a country office in Abuja and field offices in Mubi and Yola of Adamawa State, Maiduguri and Monguno of Borno state and Damaturu of Yobe State. Currently, IRC Nigeria implements programs primary health care, nutrition, environmental health, women’s protection and empowerment, protection, child protection, education, food security & livelihoods.

The IRC also has a strong commitment to creating a culture of safeguarding in our workplace and in our programs. We are determined to protect our clients and staff from safeguarding violations through prevention and, where misconduct is alleged, to address it without fear or favor.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Safeguarding Manager (SfG Manager) will be responsible for implementation of IRC’s safeguarding strategy and activities across the country program.

Major Responsibilities:

- Lead and monitor the implementation of IRC Safeguarding SoP for the country program and its partners after establishing strong working relation with IRC’s regional office safeguarding Units and IRC Nigeria country leadership. - Work with the country leadership to develop Safeguarding Action Plans, including developing and adapting proven and innovative approaches for promoting and building an inclusive and equal office culture and environment. - Improve the effectiveness of exploitation and abuse deterrence, prevention, detection and response in the country program - Support country management teams to mitigate safeguarding risks in program activities and ensure mitigation measures identified in country risk registers are addressed in a timely manner - Oversee implementation of Safeguarding Action Plans and ensure that planned activities are delivered on time and within scope and meet technical standards. - In collaboration with key country and human resources staff, review, modify, design and support implementation of key processes, practices and tools to help guide more gender equitable HR policies and practices. - Provide orientation and on-job training to IRC staff on safeguarding across all field offices. Support contextual adaptation, design and roll-out of information, education, and communication (IEC) materials on safeguarding for the country program, including delivery of trainings on different aspects. - Provide professional advice to sector leads and SMT on safeguarding and support accordingly where there is need - Work with program leads to build their understanding and ability to apply sector specific approaches to deliver more safe programming by conducting analysis of program activities. - Support efforts to build capacity of implementing partners to deliver safe programs. As requested, provide technical support and guidance to partners, in accordance with partnership agreements and in coordination with the Partnerships department. Adapt and facilitate trainings for partners on Safeguarding. - Monitor program implementation through field visits, focus group discussions and key informant interviews with staff and beneficiaries. Produce reports to demonstrate impact, progress against action plans and inform ongoing and future program design. - In collaboration with relevant technical and M&E staff, review and support enhancement of country program and partner complaints response mechanisms and safeguarding mechanisms for clients and facilitate awareness raising of these mechanisms - Ensure representation in country forums, conferences and clusters focusing on safeguarding. Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all stakeholders - including community leaders, international and local NGOs, UN agencies, community-based organisations and other IRC sectors to enhance multi-agency and multi-sectoral cooperation and coordination. - Train and support country program safeguarding focal points in developing training awareness raising and other safeguarding best practices. - Provide inputs for proposals and reports and plan and manage Safeguarding budget and spending. - With oversight from the Compliance Coordinator and ECU, support IRC’s Safeguarding Team by addressing relevant safeguarding concerns raised by staff, clients, beneficiaries, and/or external parties and supporting investigations as needed while also taking into considerations the potential risks to personal safety for those involved - Ensure safeguarding investigation protocols are performed to the highest standards and consistency checked for their relevance and standards - Build trust with staff and survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse so that they feel empowered to report - Understand the different legal contexts and risks and implement safeguarding best practices which is legally compliant to the laws of Nigeria - Work with the Safeguarding focal points of each field site to ensure Safeguarding orientation is provided for Incentive, enumerators and field support teams before they commence work with the sectors - Support in translating safeguarding materials to local languages with support from relevant M&E or Program staff - Contribute to IRC Nigeria country risks management processes and follow all safeguarding processes and procedures

Key Working Relationships:

- Direct Reporting: Country Director - Partnership and Consultation: HR, Programs, Safety and Security, Sectoral, Compliance and other Technical Coordinators - External: IRC Organizational Partners, and Protection Cluster Groups

Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, law, psychology, health, social work, humanities or other related discipline. - 4 years professional experience in gender programs and/or Protection and/or safeguarding and/or HR. - Background or extensive understanding of humanitarian aid sector. Familiarity with the safe programing and safeguarding standards and principles, international protection frameworks and mechanisms on safeguarding. - At least one year experience of supervising a team providing direct services to survivors of violence and/or working at the community level. - Demonstrated experience/understanding of organizational and/or HR policies and practices. - Demonstrated understanding of the concepts of confidentiality and survivor centered approach. - Demonstrated understanding of feedback mechanisms, safeguarding, protection and similar matters. - Good communication and report writing skills is essential. - Demonstrated experience facilitating trainings and workshops. Good team building skills and knowledge of participatory approaches. - Excellent interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to develop positive relationships with local and remote team members at multiple levels in the organization. Experience in working collaboratively and/or advocating with other sectors and teams. - Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive situations diplomatically and in a confidential manner. - Commitment to upholding nd modelling IRC’s core values (IRC Way), demonstrating high standards of ethics and integrity - Ability to travel to other IRC field sites and province field project sites to promote safeguarding awareness through trainings and orientations. - Computer skills are required – MS Office package and Internet. - Self-motivated, highly responsible, punctual, flexible, culturally sensitive. Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

Standards of Professional Conduct The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Gender Equality****: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Working Environment

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.