Safeguarding Officer

Requisition Number

4298BR

About the Agency

A new agency, the Aga Khan Agency for the Habitat (AKAH), works to ensure that people live in physical settings that are as safe as possible from the effects of natural disasters, that residents who do live in such high risk areas are able to cope with disasters in terms of preparedness and response, and that these settings provide access to social and financial services that lead to greater opportunities and a better quality of life. The new agency merges the activities of the Aga Khan Planning and Building Services, with its prize-winning water and sanitation programmes and low-cost habitat products, such as smoke-free stoves; the humanitarian arm of AKDN, FOCUS, which promotes disaster mitigation and resiliency and intervenes after disasters; the AKDN’s Disaster Risk Management Initiative, which focuses on disaster preparedness in remote areas; and the environment- and habitat-related activities of the Aga Khan Foundation, including the Prince Sadruddin Fund for the Environment and the Foundation’s highly regarded rural support programmes.

Agency

Aga Khan Agency for Habitat

The position

The Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) has a responsibility to make sure its staff, operations, and programmes do no harm to children and vulnerable adults, or expose them to abuse or exploitation. This includes protecting staff from inappropriate behaviour such as bullying and harassment.

The Safeguarding Officer designation is being introduced to help further reinforce the culture of awareness, responsibility, and adherence to safeguarding principles across the organisation. It will play a key role in fostering the organisation’s capacity-building efforts and monitoring, whilst enforcing compliance. The Safeguarding Officer will be responsible for ensuring that the different aspects of safeguarding are systematically embedded into the organizational systems and processes. They will also support the Safeguarding Manager in essential administrative functions to ensure that operations related to safeguarding are carried out seamlessly and effectively.

The Safeguarding Officer will be based in Chitral with frequent visits within and outside the region.

Duties & Responsibilities

Act as a resource to staff at the field level and volunteers as they work to fulfil their responsibilities and obligations under AKAH’s safeguarding policies

Identify potential SG risks at the organisation and in all the programme activities and report them to the Regional Safeguarding Manager.

Champion safeguarding policies and accompanying policy guidance support materials, including strong advocacy for safeguarding across all levels of business to promote a culture of respect, safety and inclusion.

Update the organisational risk register.

Gather information on the progress of implementing the SG arrangements in functions and across regional offices

Support the General Manager and Regional Safeguarding Manager in the implementation of annual safeguarding action plan.

Identify and address the training needs of staff and stakeholders with respect to the implementation of the safeguarding procedures.

Support the design of and delivery of induction sessions, short training events as well as longer refresher training on safeguarding.

Support the Regional Safeguarding Manager with the roll-out/implementation of complaints mechanisms in the region, and work to establish community-level reporting mechanisms for beneficiaries

Support programme teams in building partner capacity in the areas of safeguarding.

Coordinate with the M&E team and ensure the compliance of indicators of safeguarding.

Conduct regular visits to the regional and area offices to ensure that SG arrangements are working effectively and staff and beneficiaries know how to report SG cases to the organisation

In partnership with the relevant teams, identify, map out and regularly update the directory of local support services/referral pathways available in different regions.

Maintain clear records of the staff, partners, volunteers, contractors, vendors, and/ or consultants trained in ensuring the safeguarding policies.

Work with HR to conduct briefings and inductions for new hires, existing staff, volunteers, or stakeholders on the safeguarding policies. Serve as a point of contact for safeguarding disclosures and support the Regional Safeguarding Manager in managing safeguarding cases.

Network with external experts/organisations who have skills related to safeguarding.

The requirements

A university degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., social work, gender studies, international development, development economics, law/ humanitarian law, sociology, or human rights.

Experience in planning and undertaking training programmes/workshops at a range of levels (e.g., field workers, community-based staff, project staff, senior management, and beneficiaries).

Excellent written and verbal communication and presentational skills; ability to communicate complex ideas to a wide range of audiences.

Highly organised with programme management skills and consistent attention to detail.

Approachable, highly confidential and discreet, demonstrating ethics and integrity.

Strong verbal and written communication skills in English required.

Sector

Social Development

Salary

Salary and package to attract the best candidate

Job Expires

26-May-2025