Gender and Safeguarding Officer, Bangladesh

Organization: Street Child
Position: Gender and Safeguarding Officer, Bangladesh
Location: Barishal
Contract Length: 12 months; possibility of extension
Salary: 47,300 BDT [Monthly]
Post Type: Contractual

INTRODUCTION:

Street Child is a UK-based international organisation that works towards a world where all children are safe, in school and learning. We specialise in supporting children and communities in low-resource environments and emergencies: recognising that the complex, compounded challenges that affect them require innovative, integrated interventions. Our interventions are informed by robust, rigorous evidence and results-oriented, optimised to create maximum impact for children at minimum cost. Since 2008, we have assisted over 10,57,534 children and 1,57,929 adults across 28+ fragile, conflict and crisis-affected counties across Eastern Europe, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Gender & Safeguarding Officer will be responsible for overseeing the Safeguarding, Feminist Participatory Action Research [PAR] data collection & analyses, Beneficiary Feedback Management [BFM], and analysis of impact assessment, reporting, and spatial presentation. This role involves supporting the consortia partners' functioning to systematically generate programme quality and precise safeguarding support, facilitate data collection and analysis, and streamline reporting processes regarding the CARE for Women project’s overall goal.

The Gender & Safeguarding Officer collaborates with cross-functional teams, provides technical expertise on safeguarding, and ensures the quality of PAR data and information. Key responsibilities include organising boot camps, impact assessment of the project deliveries, climate resilience support to the local community, supporting and managing BFM, facilitating PAR data collection and reporting structures, and coordinating with consortia partners. The Safeguarding officer is also anticipated to be a technical user of safeguarding principles, code of conduct, and reporting mechanisms, thus the position is expected to contribute to ensuring the overall support to the consortia partners where needed. The role also involves rolling out capacity development plans for technical and implementing partners in the operationalization of safeguarding, BFM and function as a help desk to assist them as per need. Additionally, the Gender & Safeguarding Officer will closely coordinate and collaborate with the Project Manager, Advocacy & Liaison Coordinator, District MEL & Project officers and Upazila Field mobilisers. S/he will also be responsible for supporting adaptive management processes, frequent travel to project areas, and ensuring adherence to Street Child policies.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

• Overall Reports to: Country Lead- Street Child UK
• Dimensions: Barishal, with field visits as required 50% travel to Satkhira

STAFF DIRECTLY REPORTING TO THE POST:

Direct:

• None

Doted:

• Project Manager, CARE for Women

Key contacts:

• Project Officer, MEL Officer, Advocacy & Liaison Coordinator, Focal of consortium implementing partners and Street Child Team.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Safeguarding Policy Implementation

• Lead the implementation of locally contextualised safeguarding policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with both organisational and donor requirements.
• Safeguarding risk assessments and action plans should be established.
• Integrate safeguarding approaches into all project activities, including assessments, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Design and facilitate safeguarding awareness campaigns and training programs for staff, partners, and beneficiaries.
• Establish and manage confidential reporting mechanisms, ensuring accessible and safe channels for raising concerns.

2. Gender Mainstreaming

• Integrate gender-sensitive approaches into all project activities, including assessments, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Conduct gender analyses and ensure the collection of gender-disaggregated data for evidence-based programming.
• Advise teams on gender-related issues, promoting practices that support the empowerment and protection of women and marginalized groups.

3. Training and Capacity Building

• Develop training materials and conduct workshops on gender sensitivity, safeguarding, and related topics for staff, partners, and communities.
• Support capacity-building initiatives to empower staff and stakeholders in implementing gender-equitable and safe practices.
• Regularly update staff on safeguarding standards, reporting mechanisms, and gender mainstreaming approaches.

4. Complaint and Feedback Response Mechanism (CFRM) and Accountability

• Work with consortium Project Manager/partner focal points to implement effective accountability mechanisms, establish beneficiary feedback mechanisms to meet the standards and requirements of donors
• Implement effective accountability mechanisms that enable the program to receive, respond, and act upon feedback and complaints from the program’s beneficiaries, partners, and other stakeholders.
• Implementation of appropriate complaints and feedback mechanisms as per current guidance, tools and SOP that are contextual, effective, accessible and safe for beneficiaries, and that ensure that complaints and feedback from beneficiaries, communities and NGO partners are recorded, reviewed, acted upon and shared widely across the partners
• Support ensuring all staff at all levels, fully understand and promote accountability through training and coaching.
• Report against accountability-related indicators and issues.

5. Case Management and Reporting

• Manage reported safeguarding incidents with confidentiality, empathy, and adherence to organizational protocols.
• Conduct investigations (where necessary), document cases, and provide reports to management while maintaining strict confidentiality.
• Coordinate with local authorities and protection agencies as needed to address cases and ensure survivors’ access to appropriate support services.

6. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

• Develop and monitor gender and safeguarding indicators and provide regular reports on progress and challenges.
• Conduct field visits to ensure gender and safeguarding policies are effectively implemented.
• Capture lessons learned and best practices to improve future program activities and enhance organisational policies.

7. Partnerships and Coordination

• Liaise with other like-minded organisations, local partners, and governmental bodies to coordinate safeguarding and gender mainstreaming efforts.
• Represent the organisation in forums and networks focused on gender equity, women's rights, safeguarding and protection.

General:

• Organise a boot camp to generate innovative ideas of Gender Transformative Climate Smart Livelihood Innovation.
• Conducting Feminist Participatory Action Research.
• Research & Impact Assessment of the project.
• Climate Resilience support to the local community especially local women farmers.
• Collaborate and coordinate with the program’s technical leads, operations team, and partners to ensure the integration and harmonisation of the project’s components and locations.
• Undertake frequent field visits to supervise the implementation of safeguarding mechanisms, activities and provide on-the-job support and guidance.
• Facilitate advanced capacity building of the team members on Safeguarding check-in, BFM, report analysis, learning and regular feedback.

Others:

• Any other reasonable tasks assigned by the Line Manager that are consistent with the nature of the job and level of responsibility.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

ESSENTIAL:

Working experience:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in social science, Anthropology, Social Work, International Development, or a related field. A Master’s degree is an advantage.

Experience:

• Minimum of 3-4 years of relevant experience in gender programming, safeguarding, or protection roles in an INGO/LNGO or similar environment.

Key Skills:

• Strong understanding of safeguarding, gender equality, and protection principles.
• Experience conducting gender analyses and working with gender-disaggregated data.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Bangla; knowledge of local dialects would be advantageous.
• Ability to handle sensitive situations with confidentiality and professionalism.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of local gender norms and challenges in Bangladesh, with demonstrated cultural sensitivity and adaptability.

General Skills:

• Good organizational skills, the ability to pay close attention to detail and capable of reporting in a timely manner.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines accurately and on time.
• Excellent report writing and presentation skills, and ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner, and to use innovative forms of communication.
• Excellent proficiency in MS Excel, MS Word and PowerPoint.
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently to the program areas in Barishal and Satkhira districts, and other locations as required.
• Capacity and willingness to be flexible and accommodating in difficult working circumstances.
• Highly diplomatic and emotionally intelligent with strong oral and written communication skills to influence others.

• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience.

Key Competencies:

Ethics and Integrity:

• Demonstrates respect, inclusivity, and integrity.

Cultural Sensitivity:

• Awareness and appreciation of the socio-cultural context in Bangladesh.

Empathy:

• Shows understanding and empathy when dealing with safeguarding cases.

Analytical Skills:

• Ability to assess risk, identify trends, and evaluate the effectiveness of gender and safeguarding policies.

Team Collaboration:

• Works effectively with team members and stakeholders.

Compensation and Other Benefits:

• Festival bonus will be included.
• Travel allowance will be given.
• Others as per organizational policy.

Application Process:

Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their updated resume and cover letter using this link by 10 December 2024 at 23:59. The applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so interested applicants are encouraged to apply at their earliest.