Gender and Safeguarding Manager

Who we are

SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia is an International Non-governmental organization and a member of SOS Children’s Villages International Federation. We started our humanitarian work in Ethiopia with the opening of our first Village in Mekelle, Northern part of Ethiopia in 1974. Since then, we have expanded our programs to different regions where there are significant needs for intervention and where we believe we can work in partnership with all relevant actors to bring sustainable positive outcomes for children’s and young people.

Today, we have grown significantly to meet the persistent challenges that confront Ethiopian children who have lost parental care and those that are at risk of losing their parental care. Working in close collaboration with international donors, local government and community-based organizations across eight program locations; we aspire that every child grows up with love, respect and security.

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Our Commitment to Safeguarding  

At SOS Children's Villages, safeguarding isn't just a policy, it's a foundational value embedded in everything we do. We are unwavering in our commitment to protecting the children, young people, adults, and communities we serve, as well as our workforce and resources.

We cultivate an environment of trust and accountability where every voice is heard and respected. All successful candidates will be expected to champion our holistic safeguarding principles, actively upholding our Child & Youth Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct, and regulations against sexual misconduct, fraud, and corruption.

By joining our team, you commit to integrating these vital standards into your work, ensuring the highest levels of safety, ethics, and integrity in every action and partnership.

Together, we create a world where everyone feels safe, respected, and protected

Join Our Mission:

We are looking for Gender and Safeguarding Manager who is  responsible for leading the implementation, monitoring, and continuous improvement of the i-Work program’s Gender and Safeguarding framework. The role ensures that iwork programme is gender transformative, disability inclusive, and adherence to the highest standards of youth safeguarding. This role holder is responsible for developing, implementing and monitoring the programme’s Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and safeguarding strategies The manager leads the integration of GESI principles across all programme pillars, build the capacity of staff and partners, and establish robust survivor-centered safeguarding mechanisms. The incumbent ensures that all interventions are designed and delivered to empower young women and protect all programme participants, particularly the most vulnerable from abuse, exploitation, and harm.

The incumbent is required to carry out his/her duties following the SOS CVs Safeguarding policies and regulations, the Code of Conduct, the values-based competency frame “Living our Values” and any further international and local regulation that influences safeguarding at SOS CVE.

Key Responsibilities

We are looking for Gender and Safeguarding Manager who is  responsible for leading the implementation, monitoring, and continuous improvement of the i-Work program’s Gender and Safeguarding framework. The role ensures that iwork programme is gender transformative, disability inclusive, and adherence to the highest standards of youth safeguarding. This role holder is responsible for developing, implementing and monitoring the programme’s Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and safeguarding strategies The manager leads the integration of GESI principles across all programme pillars, build the capacity of staff and partners, and establish robust survivor-centered safeguarding mechanisms. The incumbent ensures that all interventions are designed and delivered to empower young women and protect all programme participants, particularly the most vulnerable from abuse, exploitation, and harm.

Strategic Leadership on Gender Equality and Social inclusion (GESI)

• Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive, results-oriented GESI strategy aligned with the program's Theory of Change to address the systemic and cultural barriers facing young women and other disadvantaged groups.
• Provide technical guidance on GESI integration across all program components, including outreach, participant selection, skills development, internship placement, and ecosystem strengthening.
• Conduct and update a detailed GESI analysis, using findings to inform program adaptation and ensure interventions are responsive to the unique needs of women, persons with disabilities and other marginalized groups.
• Oversee the development and delivery of gender-sensitive training curricula for participants, host institutions, and staff.
• Lead the development and tracking of GESI-related indicators in the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) framework.

Safeguarding and Duty of Care

• Establish and implement a comprehensive safeguarding framework that complies with the Mastercard Foundation's Child & Youth Safeguarding Guidelines and international best practices.
• Develop and roll out Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for safeguarding, including detailed reporting, case management, and response protocols.
• Lead the capacity building of all staff, consortium partners, host organizations, and program participants on safeguarding policies, codes of conduct, and reporting mechanisms.
• Oversee the setup of accessible, youth-friendly, and confidential local reporting mechanisms for all program participants and community members.
• Ensure a survivor-centered approach is integrated into all safeguarding case management and response actions, prioritizing the well-being and agency of the survivor.
• Lead the due diligence and assessment of 1,200 host institutions, ensuring they meet minimum safeguarding and inclusion standards before hosting interns.
• Chair the program's safeguarding working group and ensure timely reporting of all safeguarding incidents to the Foundation and relevant authorities.

Institutional Capacity Building and Partnership

• Collaborate closely with consortium partners, including SOS Children's Villages Ethiopia and the Civil Service Commission, as well as other implementing partners, to strengthen their internal Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and safeguarding systems in alignment with program standards and organizational policies.
• Design, coordinate, and facilitate high-quality, disability-inclusive capacity-building initiatives for staff, implementing partners, and host organizations on:
• Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) mainstreaming
• Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Harassment and Abuse (PSHEA)
• Creating safe, inclusive, and respectful workplaces
• Addressing harmful social and gender norms
• Coach and mentor Gender and Safeguarding Officers, providing ongoing technical guidance, capacity strengthening, and operational support to ensure effective implementation of safeguarding and GESI activities at the cluster level.
• Provide strategic technical leadership and oversight to implementing partners to ensure the effective integration of GESI and safeguarding principles across all program interventions.
• Collaborate with government institutions, child protection networks, and community-based structures to strengthen safeguarding referral pathways, coordination mechanisms, and joint protection initiatives.
• Represent the program in national and regional GESI and safeguarding coordination forums, fostering strategic partnerships and maintaining effective collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation Safeguarding Unit.
• Support the establishment and strengthening of safeguarding focal point systems within partner organizations, providing continuous mentoring, supervision, and technical assistance to enhance safeguarding compliance and capacity.
• Work closely with consortium partners (SOS Children's Village Ethiopia, Civil Service Commission) and other implementing partners to strengthen their internal GESI and safeguarding systems, aligning them with the program’s standards.
• Design and facilitate high-quality, disability-inclusive training programs for staff, partners, and host organizations on topics including:
• GESI mainstreaming
• Preventing and responding to Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH)
• Creating safe and inclusive workplaces
• Challenging harmful social and gender norms
• Coach and mentor the Gender and Safeguarding Officers, providing them with the necessary support and technical guidance to effectively implement activities at the cluster level.
• Provide technical guidance and oversight to implementing partners, ensuring Gender and safeguarding is mainstreamed into all program interventions.
• Collaborate with government agencies, child protection networks, and community-based structures to strengthen referral pathways and joint safeguarding efforts.
• Represent the program in Gender and safeguarding coordination forums and maintain active collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation safeguarding unit.
• Support the establishment of safeguarding focal points at partner organizations and provide ongoing mentoring and supervision.

Incident Management and Reporting

• Oversee the establishment of accessible, confidential, and youth-sensitive reporting and complaint mechanisms across all locations where the programme is implemented.
• Ensure all safeguarding incidents are properly documented and reported to the National Incident Management Team in line with reporting protocols stated in the Misconduct Incident Management Regulation
• Coordinate survivor-centred responses, ensuring confidentiality, timely referrals, and psychosocial support as needed.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

• Collaborate with the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team to integrate Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and safeguarding indicators into the program's MEL framework, ensuring data is systematically collected, analyzed, and utilized to inform evidence-based decision-making.
• Lead the analysis of GESI and safeguarding data to identify emerging risks, measure program progress, and recommend adaptive management strategies.
• Prepare high-quality reports for internal and external stakeholders, including the Foundation, highlighting progress, challenges, lessons learned, and key achievements related to GESI and safeguarding.
• Ensure all safeguarding cases are documented accurately, professionally, and confidentially, with timely follow-up actions appropriately recorded and monitored.
• Conduct regular field monitoring visits to assess the effectiveness of safeguarding risk mitigation measures and preventive interventions.
• Facilitate joint gender and safeguarding reviews, assessments, and monitoring activities with implementing partners and cluster teams.
• Document and disseminate lessons learned, best practices, and recommendations to strengthen safeguarding systems and promote continuous program improvement.
• Prepare comprehensive quarterly annual gender and safeguarding reports summarizing key activities, achievements, challenges, trends, and outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with safeguarding standards and policies across all project components, including partner sub-grants, agreements, and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs).
• Advise iwork management on emerging safeguarding risks and provide strategic recommendations to strengthen mitigation and response mechanisms.
• Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, respect, and safeguarding across the organization and its partner network.
• Coordinate and prepare internal safeguarding audits in accordance with SOS Children's Villages (SOS CV) safeguarding requirements.
• Facilitate external safeguarding audits and compliance reviews in response to Mastercard Foundation requirements.

Advocacy and representation

• Represent the iWork program in external forums, working groups, and networks related to gender equality, youth safeguarding, and inclusion.
• Advocate for policy changes and system-level improvements to create a safer and more equitable environment for young women and disadvantaged groups in the workforce.

SAFE Environment

• Ensuring a safe and conducive working environment is created for co-workers and all programme participants where they feel free to speak and raise concerns without fear;
• Ensuring that safeguarding measures are in place within their area of managerial responsibility and that staff, associates and other key stakeholders are made aware of these measures and are supported in implementing them;
• Ensuring that safeguarding is integrated into all management processes including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, team meetings, annual planning processes, field-level monitoring, IAP, IDP etc.
• Creating and maintaining a managerial and operational environment where Safeguarding policies such as Child and Youth Safeguarding, Code of Conduct the Sexual Misconduct Regulation, Anti-Corruption are effectively implemented;
• Fulfilling the minimum standard and additional responsibilities in achieving compliance with SOS Children’s Villages safeguarding policies.
• Ensuring the best interest of young people is applied and considered in projects, decision making or any other work that is performed.
• Ensuring a conducive and safe working environment for their subordinate co-workers free of any harm, abuse, neglect and exploitation.
• Ensuring that staff members in their line of authority receive an induction and training on the SOS Children’s Villages Safeguarding policies (Children and Youth Safeguarding, Sexual Misconduct Regulation, Anit-Fraud and Anti-Corruption policies and other related documents) and Code of Conduct.
• Uphold SOS Children’s Villages Values and the Code of Conduct when interacting with partners, children, young people, families and other stakeholders within or outside the organization.
• Ensure that all equipment or materials provided by the organization are properly managed transparently and appropriately with the established procedure.
• Ensure that contracts and partnership agreements or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) have articles referring to safeguarding policies (Child and youth safeguarding and Sexual Misconduct Regulation, Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption and other related policies) and the Code of Conduct with partners, contractors, vendors/suppliers, consultants or any other stakeholders working with SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia.
• Ensure partners or co-workers working on behalf of the SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia have been vetted for any safeguarding risks before signing any contracts.

Our Ideal Candidate?

Let's find out if we're a match. The next step in our process depends on how your background closely align with the below criteria’s. 

Essential Requirements (Must-Have):

• Education: A Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Gender Studies, Social Work, Human Rights, Law, Development Studies or a related field.
• Experience:A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience within NGOs or development settings. with a significant focus on gender and safeguarding in large scale programmes 
• Proven experience in developing and implementing Gender Equality and Social Inclusion and Safeguarding frameworks, strategies, and Standard Operating Procedures
• Demonstrated expertise in safeguarding with a strong understanding of PSHEA principles, survivor-centered case management and mandatory reporting protocols
• Experience in building the capacity of diverse stakeholders, including staff, partners, and private sector actors, on complex issues like gender and safeguarding
• Strong knowledge of Ethiopian context, particularly regarding gender norms, disability inclusion, and the challenges facing vulnerable youth
• Experience working with international donors, preferably the Mastercard Foundation
• Fluency in English and Amharic is required. Knowledge of one local language relevant to the programme regions (Afan Oromo and Somali) is a distinct advantage
• Ability to travel regularly to regional clusters (Oromia and Somali)

Desired Assets (Nice-to-Have): 

•  Education: Master’s degree in social work, Human Rights, or related discipline.
• Experience: working with youth-focused or employment programs, ideally with the Mastercard Foundation or similar donor-funded projects.
•  Certification or formal training in gender, safeguarding, child protection, or gender-based violence response.
• Experience in coordinating with government, CSOs, and community partners on gender, protection and safeguarding issues.
• Familiarity with digital reporting tools and safeguarding monitoring systems.
• Strong facilitation, mentoring, and interpersonal skills, with sensitivity to cultural and

Role specific Competencies:

• Understanding the organization and commitment to its vision and mission: able to clearly communicate SOS Children’s Villages Who We Are (Vision, Mission & Values), “Living our Values” policies and strategies in all areas.
• Commitment to organizational values, and GESI and the protection of vulnerable youth from all forms of abuse: Demonstrates strong alignment with the i-Work program’s mission to create safe and inclusive environments for youth.
• Safeguarding Expertise: In-depth understanding of safeguarding frameworks, survivor-centred response, and protection principles.
• Leadership and Influence: Ability to provide technical direction, inspire trust, and build safeguarding capacity across teams.
• Analytical and Risk Assessment Skills: Capable of identifying potential safeguarding risks and developing practical mitigation strategies.
• Communication and Advocacy: Excellent ability to engage, train, and influence diverse stakeholders on safeguarding issues.
• Monitoring and Learning: Skilled in tracking safeguarding indicators, analyzing incident trends, and facilitating learning for continuous improvement.
• Teamwork and Collaboration: Works effectively across teams and with partners to promote a shared culture of protection.
• Integrity and Accountability: Upholds the highest standards of ethical conduct, confidentiality, and professionalism in all safeguarding actions., SKILLS, ABILITIES

SOS Lead and Core Competencies 

Lead Competency 

• Role model: Act as a role model for the organization, living our values and inspiring and learning from others
• Collaboration: Remove barriers to participation, share decision making and build partnerships
• Empowerment: Promote inclusion and equitable sharing of power
• Strategic Thinking: Live the values and mission, setting realistic goals and translating them into actionable plans

Core Competency 

• Kindness: Act with empathy towards everyone he/she works with.
• Continuous Learning: Make an effort to learn, understand and grow as a person, admitting your own mistakes.
• Inclusiveness: In any actions show respect and care for others.
• Initiative: speak up when things are not right, do not hesitate to act, and adapt to change when necessary.
• Results Orientation: look for solutions and focus on desired results.

Does This Sound Like You?

To apply, please submit your updated resume via SOS Children's Villages Application portal (ICIMS)

We actively champion diversity and inclusion and strongly encourage women to step forward and apply. As part of our unwavering commitment to holistic safeguarding protecting children, youth, adults, and assets our selection process emphasizes value alignment and includes thorough background checks for all potential hires.

SOS Children's Villages in Ethiopia is an equal opportunity employer, providing fair consideration to all applicant regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or class.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.