The Ugandan Jobline

Job Title: Safeguarding Officer

Location: Jinja, Uganda

Reports to: Safeguarding Coordinator

 

About Project:

GOAL and its consortium partner, Wageningen Environmental Research (WENR) will be commencing on an anticipated 5 years resilient and inclusive economic development programme funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands in Kampala.

 

The objective of the programme is to build climate resilient and more productive farming systems and livelihoods, with environmentally sustainable and commercially viable practices, as such sustainably increasing productivity and income of 200,000 smallholder farming households (SHF) in Busoga and Lango regions. The project is built around four pathways and outcomes:  Pathway and Outcome 1: focuses on enhanced social resilience and agency in SHF households and communities; Pathway and Outcome 2: focuses on ensuring SHF farming systems are more sustainable, productive and resilient to shocks.; Pathway and Outcome 3: focuses on SHF actively participating and benefiting in inclusive markets ; and Pathway and Outcome 4: ensures SHF have enhanced voice and influence to address market system issues.

 

Job Summary: The Safeguarding Officer fosters a working environment that is non-threatening, safe and actively addressing safeguarding in its processes. This position will ensure that programme staff are aware of the power relations taking place in the systems in which they intervene. The role will support the Safeguarding Coordinator in ensuring the successful implementation of GOAL’s safeguarding policies and guidelines, including the Child + Adult Safeguarding Policy, Child Protection (CP) Policy, Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) Policy and the Code of Conduct (CoC) at field level with the aim of creating a safe working environment.

 

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Inductions and Training

• Conduct inductions and ongoing capacity building of program staff in general safeguarding issues, through formal training and refresher sessions.
• Conduct safeguarding training for suppliers/vendors/contractors and GOAL partners
• Conduct safeguarding induction of locally recruited staff within 30 days of employment and ensure they understand and commit to policies and procedures related to safeguarding.
• Ensure that this is documented and reported to the Safeguarding Coordinator on a monthly basis.
• Conduct community meetings to raise awareness on safeguarding and the expected behaviours of GOAL and Partner staff. Communities should be informed on ways they can report safeguarding cases.

Safeguarding standards at field level

• With support from the Safeguarding Coordinator work with program teams to conduct mapping of referral services
• In liaison with the Safeguarding Coordinator, support the program teams to develop safeguarding mitigation and prevention action plan as per risk assessments

Act as field safeguarding focal point

• As the field Community Feedback and Response Mechanism (CFRM) focal point receive feedback and consolidate reports
• Work with the team to ensure functionality of feedback mechanisms
• Provide quarterly updates of training and create reports using PowerBi dashboards.
• Provide quarterly updates of the country safeguarding KPIs and progress towards their Safeguarding Action Plan to the Safeguarding Coordinator.
• Identify and report safeguarding concerns in a timely fashion including providing response to the concerns as advised by the Safeguarding Coordinator.
• Using the country level mapping of Protection stakeholders, make appropriate referrals for GBV and violence against children (VAC) cases, in consultation with the Safeguarding Coordinator, without disclosing confidential information (such as the name of the alleged perpetrator).
• Participate in a monthly or bi-monthly safeguarding online meeting with the Safeguarding Coordinator to assess the level of compliance to safeguarding policies and procedures and progress made on the Safeguarding Action Plan.
• Participate in the Global monthly country safeguarding call
• Foster a working environment that is non-threatening, safe and actively addressing safeguarding in its processes.

Other tasks

• Contribute to establishing a team culture grounded in collaboration, openness, and learning

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

Essential Criteria

• Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology, Gender and Women’s Studies, Development Studies, International Development, Anthropology, Human Rights or a related discipline
• Minimum of 3 years relevant safeguarding/protection experience in the development or humanitarian sector
• Demonstrable interest in working to prevent Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.
• Demonstrable understanding of power relations.
• Excellent presentation and training skills
• Fully proficient in the use of MS Office with advanced experience of Word and Excel
• Skilled in using different design software to create tools and resources, such as posters, flyers, infographics etc.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strong commitment to upholding Goal’s values: Integrity, Humanitarianism, Courage, Partnership, Respect; demonstrating diplomacy, professionalism, reliability, and resilience.
• Ability to quickly build personal rapport, trust and excellent communication and active listening skills.
• Strong commitment to confidentiality, accuracy and attention to detail

Desirable Criteria

• Knowledge about statutory and regulatory information on safeguarding
• Previous experience of training staff and engaging communities in safeguarding
• Ability to work confidently with various programs and integrate safeguarding appropriately
• Very strong organisation and planning skills
• Ability to develop and tailor trainings according to the context and community

GOAL

Established in 1977, GOAL is an international humanitarian agency, with a global team of 2,400 personnel, dedicated to alleviating the needs of the most vulnerable communities. Currently operating in 13 of the world’s most vulnerable countries, GOAL delivers a wide range of humanitarian and development Programmes, ranging from humanitarian relief in disaster situations, to focusing on nutrition, food security, and building greater resilience and sustainable livelihoods.

 

General description of the country programme:

First operational in Uganda in 1979, the current GOAL Uganda country programme focuses on Health (including WASH, Health Accountability and Nutrition programing); and a market-based systems approach to improving agricultural livelihoods and WASH. GOAL Uganda mainstreams gender, child protection, social behaviour change and resilience strategies across all programming. GOAL works on a district focused approach and uses a mixture of direct implementation and partnerships with national and international civil society organizations, local government, the private sector and communities to give effect to our mission.

 

Safeguarding

Children and vulnerable adults who come into contact with GOAL as a result of our activities must be safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury and any other harm. One of the ways that GOAL shows this on-going commitment to safeguarding is to include rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates.

 

Accountability within GOAL

• Alongside our safeguarding policy, GOAL is an equal opportunities employer and has a set of integrity policies. Any candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of accountability:
• Comply with GOAL’s policies and procedures with respect to safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behaviour protocols.
• Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within our programming area.
• Report any concerns about inappropriate behaviour of a GOAL staff or partner.

 

GOAL Uganda has a skilled team of approximately 130 personnel and manages an annual operating budget of approximately €9.7 million (2024). GOAL is currently operational in the North, South, East and West of Uganda with six established offices in Kampala, Lira, Mbale, Kabarole, Moroto, Kaabong and Agago Districts. GOAL Uganda country programme is funded by a number of donors who include Mastercard, charity water, Irish Aid and some small foundations.

Our package includes a competitive salary, health insurance cover for up to 3 dependents, comprehensive 24-hour personal accident cover, terminal benefits equivalent to one month for each completed year of service, a flexi-work arrangement and our working hours provide for a half day on Fridays. GOAL promotes a learning and development environment with training & study opportunities aligned to our staff development policy.

 

How to Apply:

All candidates should apply online at the link below.

 

Click Here

 

Deadline: 14th August 2024

 

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