ABOUT MERCY CORPS

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

PROGRAM SUMMARY

Mercy Corps has been operational in Sudan since 2004 and currently leads humanitarian assistance and longer-term development efforts in conflict-affected South Darfur, Central Darfur, South Kordofan, North Kordofan, Kassala, Gedaref, and Khartoum States, supporting host communities, IDPs, returnees and refugees. Mercy Corps’ current areas of programming include food security and livelihoods, WASH, health, nutrition, peace building and protection, resilience, and Market Systems Development.

THE POSITION 

The Safeguarding Coordinator will support country safeguarding prevention efforts by ensuring the global Mercy Corps Safeguarding Core Standards are understood across functions and ownership increases across the board. Embedding these standards will require concerted effort and the Coordinator will play a key role in coordinating between departments, increasing accountability efforts and safeguarding mainstreaming in key areas. The Safeguarding Coordinator supports key departments within the country office towards ensuring a Safe, Diverse and Inclusive environment both internally within Mercy Corps and externally toward the communities we support. Working closely with relevant stakeholders, the Coordinator is primarily responsible for coordinating activities that contribute towards the realization of organizational commitments as identified in the strategy and the global Safeguarding Core Standards. 

Training and Awareness Raising

• Deliver safeguarding workshops as needed to enable teams to meet their responsibilities to mainstream safeguarding
• Review and strengthen all training material for teams, implementing partners and external stakeholders

• Drive safeguarding mainstreaming across field offices and work closely with Safeguarding Focal Points and various departments.
• Build the capacity of Safeguarding Focal Points and Champions in field offices and ensure learning is shared across different teams. 
• Support and monitor team member’s, partner’s and community members’ awareness of safeguarding and child safeguarding through collaboration with HR, PAQ and program teams
• Increase partner awareness and capacity on safeguarding standards and expectations involving the relevant program team 
• Ensure the hiring and onboarding of short-term workers includes safeguarding; collaborate with relevant teams to ensure accountability
• In coordination with CARM and program teams work to ensure communities and participants understand their rights and reporting options and build trust around response systems and survivor support
• Support teams to proactively identify program risks and implement realistic and practical mitigations
• Provide ad hoc briefings to senior management on progress and ensure Heads of functions are aware of key implementation challenges related to the Safeguarding Core Standards

Systems and Processes

• Coordinate and implement safeguarding audits in collaboration with key teams, Safeguarding Focal Points and Safeguarding Champions; requesting support from Regional Safeguarding Advisor throughout
• Conduct internal advocacy to promote a safeguarding culture free of sexual exploitation, abuse harassment; ensure senior management is aware of Core Standard 4
• Review and strengthen safeguarding systems within partner agencies when needed
• Support teams to promote an organizational culture that is committed to protecting program participants and communities we work with from sexual exploitation, abuse, harm and human trafficking 
• Mentor Safeguarding Focal Points and Safeguarding Champions and share best practices
• Coordinate regular meetings with Safeguarding Focal Points and Safeguarding Champions to ensure consistency and quality in approach, providing support or training when needed
• Work with CARM teams and program teams to ensure safeguarding is integrated in CARM communications
• Support internal investigations when requested and ensure confidentiality throughout
• Support lessons learned process when requested by the Regional Safeguarding Advisor

Program Support

• Support the Regional Safeguarding Advisor with proposal and safeguarding technical input; understand and follow guidance from Core Standard 5
• Support the delivery and commitment to mitigations in the proposal
• Work closely with the Regional Safeguarding Advisor when integrating safeguarding risks as part of a program or protection risk assessment, or a standalone safeguarding risk assessment
• Ensure risks have realistic mitigations in place with clear persons responsible in line with Core Standard 5 guidance 

Survivor Response and Support

• Act as a reporting avenue for safeguarding related issues, concerns or experiences and ensure next steps occur in accordance with organizational policies and procedures
• Act as a resource to survivors and help ensure their safety, security and well-being and support a survivor-centered approach
• In coordination with local PSEA networks and other agencies identify, map and annually update the survivor service map
• Ensure safeguarding allegations are immediately reported to the Global Ethics Team and provide support for investigations as requested by the Ethics Team.
  
   

Engagement

• Participate in and represent Mercy Corps at relevant sector coordination mechanisms, including Clusters and PSEA networks 
• Provide technical support regarding donor requirements on project proposals and design
• Collaborate closely with Regional Safeguarding Advisors

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

None 

ACCOUNTABILITY

Reports Directly To: Country Director & Regional Safeguarding advisor
Works Directly With: Director of Programs, Senior Management Team, PAQ, Security, Protection and GESI, Regional Safeguarding Advisor and other key stakeholders

ACCOUNTABILITY TO PARTICIPANTS AND STAKEHOLDERS

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION & TRANSFERABLE SKILLS 

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modeling Mercy Corps values
• At least a Bachelor degree in Social Work, Communications, Law, Education or relevant professional qualification.
• Minimum of 2-4 years relevant work experience.
• Knowledgeable about protection, safeguarding, child safeguarding or similar areas such as PSEAH or sexual misconduct or protection mainstreaming
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Good data management, data analysis, computer literacy and excellent documentation and report writing skills
• Experienced in working with senior managers across different departments and functions 
• Willingness to travel to and work in hard-to-reach areas
• Diplomatic in their communication and able to speak confidently and sensitively to those who disagree with them 
• Experienced in facilitation and coordination of training and workshop; developing and implementing capacity building plans
• Experienced in conducting assessments and report writing; able to deliver results against timelines and priorities 

SUCCESS FACTORS 

The successful candidate is an adaptable, opinionated, fast thinking, experienced coordinator. They have a thorough understanding of what it takes to deliver high-quality projects in challenging environments, and how to conduct quality management of these workstreams. They are excellent communicators who can inspire broad and diverse teams towards achieving a shared goal and drive a fast-paced and adaptive program. They can create a stimulating working environment encouraging innovation and accountability. They should be able to facilitate complex team dynamics and achieve aims, have excellent analytical and critical thinking skills, good organizational skills and the ability to work independently, with a strong commitment to learning. They should have strong relationship-building skills and commitment to working collaboratively. They have a strong ability to design, implement and manage projects that respond to evolving safeguarding needs.

ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING

Ongoing learning in support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

SAFEGUARDING & ETHICS

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. By applying for this role an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or trafficking policy. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis. As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact. 

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

LIVING CONDITIONS / ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

The position is based in Port Sudan.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/short term assignment to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.