JOB ADVERTISEMENT: Programme Officer- Safeguarding

JOB ADVERTISEMENT

FAWE: Programme Officer- Safeguarding

About FAWE

The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) is a pan-African non-governmental organization working through a network of 34 National Chapters across the continent. FAWE is dedicated to advancing gender equity and equality in education by influencing policies, fostering positive societal attitudes, and promoting inclusive practices that support girls’ and women’s education throughout Africa.

Position Summary: FAWE is seeking to recruit a qualified and experienced Programme Officer – Safeguarding to lead the development and implementation of safeguarding policies and practices across the organization. The Programme Officer – Safeguarding will serve as the primary point of contact for receiving, managing, and reporting safeguarding concerns, ensuring that all cases are handled confidentially, accurately, and in a timely manner, in line with relevant procedures and legal obligations.

This is a cross-cutting role that will provide technical support on safeguarding issues across all programmes and departments. The successful candidate will also act as the focal person for the Executive Director and the Board Chairperson in responding to and managing reports submitted through FAWE’s whistleblower mechanism.

Contract Type: This position is on a fixed contract for three years with the possibility of extension based on the availability of funding and individual’s performance.

Location: The Programme Officer – Safeguarding will be based in the Regional Office in Nairobi.

Reporting to: Deputy Executive Executive & Head of Programmes

Functional Relationships: All Units within FAWE, FAWE’s 34 National Chapters, Civil Society Organizations, and regional and sub-regional policy bodies, among others.

Direct Reportees: None

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

Safeguarding Policy development and implementation

• Coordinate development, review, and update safeguarding policies and procedures in line with legislative requirements, industry standards and changes in organisational risk or procedure.
• Support and Coordinate implementation of robust systems for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of safeguarding measures.
• Boost and embed a safeguarding culture that emphasise all employees’ role in safeguarding participants.
• Foster a culture of accountability and transparency regarding safeguarding practices across all levels of the organisation.
• Support the review of the established procedures for responding to safeguarding incidents promptly and effectively, ensuring that the approach is victim/survivor-centred
• Act as the main point of contact for receiving and managing any safeguarding issues/matters and ensure accurate and timely reporting of safeguarding concerns to relevant authorities and stakeholders.
• Facilitate investigation and responses to all reported safeguarding issues reported.

Training and capacity building

• Design and deliver comprehensive safeguarding training programs for staff, volunteers, and other relevant stakeholders
• Provide ongoing support and guidance to ensure all personnel understand their safeguarding responsibilities

Risk assessment and management

• Coordinate and support thorough risk assessments to identify potential safeguarding risks within the organisation and in the programmes.
• Develop and implement risk management strategies to mitigate identified risks effectively and ensure they are monitored
• Foster partnerships with external agencies, government bodies, and community organisations to enhance safeguarding efforts
• Represent the organisation in safeguarding-related forums, conferences, and working groups

Resource Mobilisation

• Participate/contribute to proposal development for FAWE’s program funding at the Regional Secretariat and National Chapter level includes supporting research on identifying potential funders and
• Any other tasks assigned in relation to smooth management and coordination of FAWE’s programme work.

Qualifications and Experience

• A Bachelor’s degree in Education, Gender Studies, Development Studies, Sociology, International Development, Humanitarian Studies, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant professional experience, including at least 3 years in a safeguarding role within an NGO or development agency.
• Solid understanding of education and gender-related issues, including current challenges and trends in Africa and globally, as well as experience in policy advocacy, community engagement, and resource mobilization.
• Completion of recognized local safeguarding certifications.
• Comprehensive knowledge of safeguarding legislation, policies, and procedures applicable to children, youth and vulnerable adults.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to effectively assess and manage complex safeguarding cases. 

Key Competencies

• Demonstrated strong leadership skills, with the ability to guide and influence others effectively.
• Excellent written, oral, and editorial communication skills in English. Proficiency in French is a strong asset.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and collaborate with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven ability to work effectively in team-oriented environments.
• High level of resilience and adaptability, with a flexible approach to changing priorities.
• Ability to work independently, managing tasks systematically and with minimal supervision.
• Skilled in crisis management, maintaining composure and effectiveness under pressure.
• Adheres to the highest ethical standards, particularly in the handling of sensitive and confidential matters.

Application Procedure

Review of applications will begin as soon as they are received, and only complete applications will be reviewed. If an outstanding applicant is identified early in the search process, we reserve the right to appoint before the deadline. For this reason, we encourage interested candidates to apply at the earliest possible opportunity. Please submit a detailed CV and a Cover letter to the Executive Director via email address recruitment@fawe.org  with the subject line ‘’FAWE Director, Programme Officer- Safeguarding’’ by the latest Friday 3^rd October 2025.