Safeguarding Focal Point

BACKGROUND

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the world's leading agencies working in post-conflict and development contexts, supporting communities in over 40 fragile, failed and developing states.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Ukraine is dedicated to helping people whose lives have been shattered by conflict and disaster. Their work focuses on increasing programming across the humanitarian-peacebuilding-development nexus, strengthening systems and institutions, and promoting economic recovery, good governance, and social cohesion. The IRC is committed to working closely with local communities and civil society partners, dedicating 40% of their budget to these partnerships.

With a head office in Kyiv and several field and satellite offices, IRC's comprehensive approach aims to create sustainable, long-term impacts by addressing immediate needs while building resilient systems and communities for the future.

SCOPE OF WORK

The IRC is seeking a Safeguarding Focal Point for an upcoming FCDO Strengthening Humanitarian Assistance and Response to Protection Risks in Ukraine Project (SHARP). This project aims strengthen the protection response for the most at risk such as survivors of violence, children, persons with disabilities, minority groups and older persons; strengthen legal protection including facilitating access to legal identity and civil documentation; enhance mental health and psychosocial services and improve the legal and policy environment for conflict affected individuals.

Under the direct management of the SHARP Team leader, the Safeguarding Focal Point supports the Safeguarding leads of each Consortium partners in the implementation of the SHARP project's safeguarding risks mitigation measures. The Consortium's interventions will aim to enhance community awareness of safeguarding risks, survivors' rights and available remedies, while harmonizing approaches towards staff training and approaches used to integrate safeguarding in programming.

The role will also support partners in updating their internal Code of Conduct, and Safeguarding policies and guidelines, and ensure contextualized capacity to promote a culture of zero-tolerance for all forms of harassment, abuse and exploitation perpetrated by aid workers, including child protection safeguards and protection from retaliation for reporters.

The role will ensure clients and staff are protected from safeguarding incidents through prevention, reporting, and response mechanisms. The Safeguarding Focal Point will provide training to client-facing teams to ensure the survivor-centered approach to safeguarding is followed when approaching disclosure, and will enhance accessibility to prevention information for the groups at-risk targeted by the SHARP project through the development of contextualized and inclusive Information, Education and Communication materials.

Please note that recruitment is contingent upon the successful award of the project, and the selection of final applicants is subject to FCDO's approval.

RESPONSABILITIES

• Supports the SHARP consortium to appropriately adapt and implement global policies and procedures related to safeguarding.
• Supports the coordination and implementation of the project Safeguarding Action Plan in close coordination with consortium partners safeguarding leads and relevant technical teams.
• Ensures that approaches used by consortium partners to conduct community awareness on safeguarding risks consider the power imbalances, community perceptions and the needs of specific groups based on factors such age, gender, disability, social and ethnic groups.
• Strengthens safeguarding capacity across consortium partners by developing operational guidance and tools for program teams engaging directly with clients and delivering role-based training sessions.
• Collaborates with IRC's Safeguarding lead on the organization of the yearly Training of Trainers on Safeguarding[CH1] for all its partners and ensures the Consortium's best practices are spread amongst a larger audience and support sustainable and localized approach to safeguarding in Ukraine.
• Creates and updates annually stakeholders mapping and contextual analysis to inform project risks mitigation measures.
• Works closely with and provides support related to safeguarding to the Integrated Protection Lead and the Emergency Support Lead and their respective teams.
• Supports the Integrated Protection Lead and the Emergency Support Lead to ensure that all programming activities identify specific safeguarding risks and work to eliminate and mitigate those risks.
• Works with project teams and MEAL teams to ensure that client feedback mechanisms and registers include PSEA/safeguarding reporting channels and protocols.
• Ensures safeguarding mechanisms are in place and are subject to continuous monitoring/review.
• Actively engages in relevant clusters and working groups and meets with other agencies' safeguarding focal points to understand existing systems and inter-agency processes (e.g., PSEA network).
• Promotes two-way learning and dialogue on safeguarding, and shared learning across the consortium and other partners.
• Supports projects teams in identifying, capturing and disseminating safeguarding best practices and lessons learned to promote knowledge sharing and improve project outcomes among consortium partners and other stakeholders.

REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in Human Rights, Social Sciences, Gender or a Master's Degree in another relevant field and experience in protection or human rights.
• At least 2-year work experience in the same or similar position (experience with an international NGO or UN Agencies)Experience with client protection from abuse and exploitation, sexual violence in development and humanitarian contexts in conflict/refugee settings, and knowledge of international protection frameworks and mechanisms on safeguarding, Gender-Based Violence, Child Protection related programs would be a strong asset.
• Must be capable of applying skills and knowledge in a range of capacities, including implementation, advisory functions, training and the transfer of technical knowledge and management skills to others under stressful working conditions.
• Experience facilitating ongoing learning and orientation with diverse teams.
• Demonstrable understanding of power dynamics.
• Ability to quickly build personal rapport, trust, ease of communication and active listening.
• Skilled in identifying and mitigating risks.
• Excellent communicator with technical writing ability in English and Ukrainian is required. Knowledge of Russian a plus.
• Proven track record in working with teams, excellent interpersonal skills, ability to lead and work well in a team setting and with multiple partners.

Please note that the job description is high level and indicative only at this stage and may be subject to change once the Terms of Reference for the SHARP project are released and as the opportunity develops. This position will be contingent on the outcome of the stage-1 process.

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

IRC builds diverse and inclusive teams of professionals who promote team engagement, inclusion and cohesion, critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

The International Rescue Committee is determined to protect the people it serves, its staff and any person associated from all kinds of harm, abuse, and violence, including sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. It is committed to taking all necessary preventive measures and creating an environment where people feel safe and can report misconduct. IRC workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. The IRC also operates and enforces a set of complementary institutional policies to protect clients and staff from harm and abuse through the Adult and Child Safeguarding policies, the Respect at Work and Harassment-free Workplace policies, the Anti-retaliation and Reporter Protection policy, which are complemented by the IRC Global Reporting guidelines.

Where misconduct is alleged, IRC follows a Zero-tolerance approach and takes all necessary actions and corrective measures. The IRC investigation unit comprises of experts and trained investigators that ensures professional survivor-centered investigations are conducted if allegations of safeguarding violations are reported through the safe and accessible reporting channels that IRC makes available to its staff, partners, and clients. IRC is also an active member of the Inter-Agency Working Group on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) set-up in Ukraine.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people who are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.

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.

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. IRC does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. IRC will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application