Accountability & Safeguarding Officer

JOB DESCRIPTION

Title Accountability and Safeguarding Officer

Location Gaza

Job Family and Grade Technical T3 

Pre hire checks This role is classified as requiring Enhanced Due Diligence 

1. Scope 

Department: MEAL/Program

Reporting to:  MEAL Coordinator

Direct reports:

Budget responsibility:  NO

Relationship management Gaza team, MEAL Team, Program and Support functions

2. Context

About Relief International

Relief International (RI) partners with communities impacted by conflict, climate change, and disaster to save lives, build greater resilience and promote long-term health and well-being.

Currently, RI is active in 15 countries around the world, including some of the most fragile: Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Myanmar, occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), Pakistan, Philippines, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, and Yemen.

Relief International includes the four corporate members of the RI Alliance: Relief International Inc., Relief International-UK, Relief International-France and Relief International-Europe Under our alliance agreement, we operate with a single, shared management structure.

About our Country Program/ Regional Programs

Relief International was operational in OPT starting in 2007, and after entering hibernation period in 2017, has recently reactivated its operations at the end of 2023. Relief International is currently building its response to the current and evolving situation in both Gaza and the West Bank through both a direct implementation and partnership approach. Relief International’s programming in OPT follows Relief International’s global strategy with Health as a central focus with components linked to our work in Health through the sectors of WASH, Protection, Education and Livelihoods. 

3. Job Profile

Under the supervision of the MEAL Coordinator and Area Director, the Accountability and Safeguarding Officer oversee, manage, and strengthen RI’s safeguarding and accountability services - including the Feedback, Complaints, and Response Mechanism (FCRM) - in compliance with organizational, regional, and country program policies and best practices. Position responsibilities include establishing and delivering feedback and complaint services; handling collection, analysis, and presentation of data for decision-making; and developing individual and organizational knowledge on Accountability and Safeguarding. The position requires an active/strong engagement and the ability to establish solid working relationships across programming and other senior management units.

Key responsibilities

 Accountability and Complexity

• Accountable for the establishment of an effective FCRM system that adheres to internal standards and responds to RI’s obligations towards donors and affected communities.
• Ensure proper and efficient handling of any complaints from affected communities, including those related to safeguarding.
• Ensure Holistic Implementation of Safeguarding Policies and Procedures and Facilitate the Structural Embedding of Safeguarding Across Country Operations (In Coordination with the Safeguarding Focal Point). Support local partners in prioritizing and systematize accountability and safeguarding.

Lead Development and Maintenance of Accountability Practices:

• Ensure that RI’s FCRM minimum standards are met and proactively advise on accountability best practices (risk analysis, mitigation measures, FCRM systems, referrals, etc.) for new program proposals, as well as during program kick-off and strategic discussions.
• Draft the accountability section of all programmatic progress reports and new proposals.
• Align the country-level FCRM processes and tools and develop the FCRM strategy for each program in close coordination with the Project Manager(s) based on accountability matrices assessments.
• Develop a FCRM checklist for ongoing and upcoming projects to ensure incorporation of FCRM in projects.
• Incorporate protection safeguards, supervise implementation, and take corrective measures.
• Proactively coordinate and lead the consultations with stakeholders to inform system design and accountability and safeguarding implementation with the MEAL department.

Manage the Feedback, Complaints, and Response Mechanism:

• Develop and maintain updated FCRM Standards of Procedures (SoP) including referrals process.
• Develop necessary information, education, and communication materials on accountability for internal and external use.
• Coordinate with program teams and partners to ensure the communications and dissemination of FCRM communication materials as appropriate to program participants and other stakeholders throughout program activities.
• Manage set up and operation of communication channels in collaboration with relevant team members.
• Establish and administer safe reporting channels to be in use by beneficiaries and staff members.
• Work closely with the Awards and Partnerships Department to support partners to implement and maintain accountability activities and systems and set the needed plans accordingly.
• Process accountability focused data and implement activities to raise participants’ awareness on RI’s values, expected behavior from staff, FCRM and available reporting channels
• Ensure complaints are well documented through daily data entry
• Ensure confidentiality for all the complaints and feedback received through any channel and always protect participants’ identities.
• Update the internal and external services mapping of actors on a quarterly basis, in collaboration with program teams.
• Incorporate accountability and referrals related indicators into each project.
• Ensure initiating review process of feedback and complaints internally according to FCRM SOP process and facilitate reporting back to complainers.
• Provide analysis sheets and dashboards for the received complaints and feedback along with referrals made
• Provide feedback analysis narrative reports to be utilized internally and in donors’ reporting packages.

Safeguarding:

• In close coordination with HR, responsible for training new hires (Direct and Indirect Staff) on Safeguarding Essentials and Combatting Trafficking in Persons; responsible for training Partners (i.e PHCCs, Local NGOs, Service providers) on Safeguarding; and ensure that the needed annual refresher sessions are implemented in alignment with a clear plan which is set for the Country Office; assist in developing Safeguarding presentation material, when needed.
• Actively participate in reporting Safeguarding Incidents through RI’s Incident Management portal. When needed, and in close coordination with the primary Safeguarding focal point for the Country Office, act as the point of contact with GSO regarding Safeguarding Incidents and actively participate in investigations and developing the needed documentations accordingly.
• Actively participate in the completion of Safeguarding Audits requested by GSO; support in the completion of Safeguarding Audits requested by Donors in coordination with CO safeguarding focal point;
• Set the needed plans to advocate for and raise awareness of safeguarding and the Incident Reporting Guidelines (with staff, participants) through various channels (voice messages, emails…etc).
• Monitor, communicate, and report on overall progress of the program from a safeguarding lens and ensure key stakeholders and senior leaders remain updated and informed.
• Complete an annual country risk profiling exercise – mapping internal and external safeguarding risks.
• Actively participate in following up on the annual safeguarding action plan in close coordination with the Safeguarding primary focal point for the CO and relevant program team members and promote RI’s commitment to ensuring the safeguarding and safety of the vulnerable communities we serve.
• Act as a resource to survivors and help ensure their safety, security, and well-being when referring survivors to support services or when conducting follow-up.
• Within the office, the Accountability and Safeguarding Officer shall actively promote the Incident Reporting and Management policy – ensuring that posters and other awareness raising materials are visible and that staff are aware of what incidents must be reported in accordance with policy.
• Take appropriate measures to ensure safety and confidentiality of incidents and issues reported.
• Reporting any incident of concern to the Country Director or SMT without delay

Behavior and conduct

• Ensures that behavior inside and outside of work promotes the values in RI’s code of conduct and safeguarding policies.
• Acts with integrity and holds themselves accountable for being respectful, inclusive and professional.
• Reports any concerns.

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1. Person Specification

 Skills, knowledge and expertise required for the role.

Essential criteria

• Bachelor degree in relevant field
• Minimum of 2-3 years professional experience in relevant field – i.e. MEAL, accountability, safeguarding, case management.
• Fluency in Arabic and good level of English (written, spoken)
• Previous experience with program design, planning, management, information management, and protection
• Experience with multi-disciplinary teams.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Working knowledge of monitoring and evaluation systems and tools.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively analyze, interpret and present data.
• Excellent writing and editing skills.
• Experienced user of MS Office (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint) and database management software; familiarity with mobile data collection preferred (such as Smartsheet/Kobo).
• Strong self-initiative, and ability to be flexible under pressure and lead team in fast-paced environment.

2. RI Values

Guided by the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, as well as “Do No Harm,” Relief International Values:

• Integrity
• Adaptability
• Collaboration
• Inclusivity
• Sustainability

Please send your CV to [email protected] with Subject "Accountability and Safeguarding Officer" and fill https://forms.office.com/r/ScM1GJuMLZ

Only CVs submitted in English will be considered

Please apply immediately we will be reviewing applicants on a rolling basis, therefore we may withdraw the position from the jobs board before the closing date.

As a humanitarian organization, Relief International is committed to the safeguarding of all those we come into contact with through our work. We are committed to the core humanitarian principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse. Relief International expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and uphold the values and behaviors outlined in the Code of Conduct