Safeguarding Specialist

Main purpose of the Job:

The Safeguarding Specialist will be responsible for providing ongoing, embedded technical assistance to a PVO with the objective of:

• Strengthening safeguarding systems, procedures, and culture.
  
• Supporting safe programming and operations across multiple sites.
  
• Building internal capacity to prevent, identify, and respond to safeguarding risks and incidents.
  

This role will serve as the primary technical resource and advisor on safeguarding for the PVO. This full-time role will involve close collaboration with the PVO’s leadership, staff, and stakeholders to mainstream safeguarding throughout its activities. 

  Key Duties and Responsibilities

1.  Conduct Safeguarding Assessments within the PVO

• Conduct safeguarding risk assessments for programmes, offices, and outreach activities.
  
• Conduct assessment of PVO’s current safeguarding framework and measures: relevance, effectiveness, best practices, gaps.
  
• Produce detailed assessment reports with clear recommendations for system strengthening, risk mitigation, and compliance improvement.
  
• Develop a safeguarding action plan based on the assessment’s findings. 
  

2.Support Safeguarding Policy Review and Development

• Review, update, and support rigorous implementation of the PVO’s safeguarding policies and procedures, including reporting, response and disciplinary procedures.
  
• Ensure safeguarding is embedded in relevant organisational and operational areas (e.g.: recruitment, induction, management, activity planning, etc.).
  
• Develop strategies and materials to ensure policies are accessible and understood by all staff, volunteers, and PVO’s recipients of care (adults and children).
  
• Ensure safeguarding approaches are disability-inclusive, child-friendly, practical, contextually relevant, and aligned with national frameworks and international best practices.
  

3. Capacity Building 

• Build existing PVO staff capacity to sustain and develop safeguarding practices. This includes identifying and mentoring a dedicated safeguarding role within the PVO structure
  
• Design a safeguarding training curriculum and facilitate safeguarding trainings for staff, volunteers, and leadership.
  
• Facilitate all staff reflection and learning sessions on safeguarding. Develop relevant awareness raising materials and other safeguarding resources, to support understanding of safeguarding key concepts and measures (internal and external).
  
• Identify, train and manage a network of safeguarding focal points in all programme sites and offices, including at Board level.
  
• Facilitate mentorship and peer-learning sessions for focal persons to strengthen their capacity and confidence in safeguarding.
  
• Support leadership in creating a positive safeguarding culture that promotes accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.
  

4. Incident Reporting and Management

• Ensure adequate reporting mechanisms are in place and functioning across all project sites and offices.
  
• Review reporting, incident management and disciplinary procedures, in line with PVO context, best practices and applicable law.
  
• Manage reports and concerns as per procedure.
  
• Document and develop learning on safeguarding incidents, responses, and outcomes.
  

Requirements

Functional skills and knowledge

• Proven experience conducting safeguarding risk assessments and monitor implementation of mitigation measures.
  
• Proven experience in leading and supporting safeguarding incident response and management.
  
• Demonstrated skills in safeguarding training design and delivery, mentoring, and capacity strengthening.
  
• Knowledge of international safeguarding standards and with national child protection policies, practices and regulatory frameworks.
  
• Sound understanding of disability inclusive safeguarding, and national child protection and case management frameworks.
  
• Experience working with PVOs or Community Based Organizations, preferably across multiple locations.
  
• Experience working with organizations supporting children and adults with disabilities is a strong advantage.
  

Person Specification

• Degree in in Social Work, Psychology, Child Welfare or other relevant studies.
  
• At least 3 years’ experience in developing, strengthening, and implementing safeguarding systems and processes in Zimbabwe.
  
• Ability to travel to operational sites as needed.
  
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and report-writing skills.
  
• Confidence and assertiveness to challenge more experienced and senior colleagues when necessary.
  
• Computer literacy in Ms Packages
  
• Clean Class 4 driver’s licence and willingness to travel to operational sites around Zimbabwe.