Accountability and Safeguarding (ASG) Coordinator (readvertisement) At SEED Foundation

About SEED Foundation:

SEED Foundation is a locally-registered NGO in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. SEED’s mission is to protect, empower, and support the recovery of survivors of violence and others at risk. SEED is committed to delivering quality and holistic approaches, combining international expertise and local know-how to achieve results for the people of Iraq and Kurdistan. SEED’s programming focuses on four key objectives: 1) the delivery of transformational, comprehensive MHPSS services including case management, mental health, and legal services, as well as psychosocial support activities; 2) strengthening the capacity of service providers through education, training, and capacity-building programs; 3) promoting policy and social change to strengthen the rights of, and protections for, vulnerable groups and individuals; and, 4) supporting the protection and recovery of survivors of trafficking, including through SEED’s shelter for victims of trafficking and those at risk, after care services, and prevention work to reduce the risk of trafficking through public awareness, technical assistance, and advocacy for legal, regulatory, policy, process, and institutional changes.

Role of the job title:

The ASG Coordinator will provide technical expertise and leadership to implement and support SEED’s Accountability Framework: specifically SEED’s policies and processes including 1. Child Safeguarding (CSG); 2. the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Policy; 3. the Complaints and Response Mechanism; 4. and Safeguarding SOPs. The ASG Coordinator will oversee the SEED’s ASG strategies and activities to keep the communities SEED serves safe from abuse and harm. The ASG Coordinator will be responsible for strengthening the quality of SEED’s safeguarding and accountability mainstreaming, mechanisms and procedures, activities, prevention, awareness raising, monitoring and reporting. The ASG Coordinator will provide specialized support to the field Safeguarding Focal Points and to SEED’s Complaints and Grievance Committee (CGC), as well as represent SEED in external forums related to CSG and PSEA. The ASG coordinator will report to the Senior MEAL Manager and work closely with the GBV and CP Technical Advisors, Directors, and collaboratively with all departments across SEED.

Specific Tasks:
Develop and Strengthen ASG Policies and Systems at SEED (30%)

• Review, revise and improve existing policies linked to the accountability framework.
• Lead the development of a coordinated and practical accountability system for SEED through connecting all the existing safeguarding and accountability policies, and creating clear processes for implementation and oversight across SEED’s portfolio, locations, partnerships.
• Ensure that all ASG policies and processes are adequately disseminated to all staff and partners and lead the development of training and capacity building of staff and managers.
• Act as the focal point for ASG at SEED and provide leadership and ongoing advice, resources, and guidance on safeguarding to SEED staff, volunteers, and partners.
• Coordinating with Senior Management, work to establish and/or strengthen investigation protocols, including clear case handling responsibilities.
• Map existing community engagement projects in SEED and work with Program Managers and MEAL to mainstream safeguarding messaging and gather community input where appropriate.
• Strategize on how to support and strengthen existing community-based protection mechanisms (CBPM). Assist in providing CBPM safeguarding capacity building opportunities to community members.
• Develop Age, Gender and Diversity informed awareness-raising tools with emphasis on CSG/PSEA, and rights of our clients and stakeholders.
• Assist in developing safeguarding messaging for all levels of SEED programs. Implement ASG Mechanism (30%)
• Lead the Complaint and Grievance Committee (SGC) of SEED and record complaints, and ensure appropriate investigation and response, and reporting to senior management.
• Strengthen safe safeguarding procedures for receiving and reporting information through SEED’s Complaint and Feedback Mechanisms (CFM), informed by good practice and community consultations [and incorporating the relevant national laws of Iraq].
• Deliver orientation and training for all SEED staff, volunteers, and partners on the Accountability Framework and Safeguarding Policies, and annual refresher training in order for staff to be able to safely identify and report PSEA/CSG and other complaints.
• Ensure accountability for client services in accordance with standards and that client feedback and input is collected and reflected.
• Design and disseminate culturally sensitive safeguarding materials across all sites.
• Ensure that we have all the accessible and functional ways in place to listen to our clients and stakeholders.
• Ensure our clients and stakeholders are feeling safe and easy while approaching us to share their feedback and/or complaints.
• Conduct spot checks and visits at all SEED program sites and offices and participate in safeguarding monitoring.
• Analyze information collected on safeguarding risk factors and make recommendations to Senior Management and Program Managers on how to enhance prevention strategies to mitigate risks.
• Take appropriate measures to ensure safety and protection of survivors, whistleblowers, and subject of complaints.
• Support planning, budgeting, implementing, and reporting on SEED’s safeguarding activities. Training, Capacity Building in ASG Mechanism (30%)
• Assist and train Human Resources in safer recruitment practices and policies; provide technical expertise on the mainstreaming of safeguarding in conducting interviews, job advertisements, screening/reference checks, etc.
• Identify and train ASG focal persons in field areas to make sure the SEED is accountable

and listening to their clients.

• Assist Program team in designing CSG/PSEA risk assessments and assist in the mainstreaming of safeguarding throughout SEED programs and program proposals and contracts.
• With the support of SEED, she would facilitate awareness raising events for community members on developed AGD about their rights and reporting for their rights to SEED.
• Assist and train the MEAL unit in ASG monitoring tools and the mainstreaming of ASG (staff knowledge and awareness, the functionality of safeguarding mechanisms, relevant safeguarding concerns) in assessments and data collection.
• Support the Senior Management to meet their leadership safeguarding responsibilities.

Coordination and Reporting Responsibilities (10%)

• Coordinate with sub/field offices to share lessons learned, as well as mainstream and harmonize safeguarding implementation throughout SEED.
• Maintain confidential records of reported SEA/CSG incidents for SEED. Share anonymized records within SEED to meet reporting requirements, inform program adjustment, and further develop efforts to address SEA and CSG.
• Contribute reviewing the ASG aspect of our internal and external reports and make sure that ASG is reflected in our annual reports.
• Support the strengthening of internal safeguarding reporting mechanisms within SEED.
• Develop quarterly reports and as needed reporting on complaints, safeguarding incidents, to the President and Senior Management.
• Perform other duties across SEED, as assigned by the Senior MEAL Manager.

Essential criteria:

• Bachelor’s Degree required, Master’s Degree desirable
• At least five years experience in accountability/safeguarding/child safeguarding/PSEA or experience in a similar field (e.g., child protection and/or gender-based violence protection in humanitarian international settings; Iraq or Middle East experience strongly preferred)
• At least two years’ experience in planning and leading on accountability and safeguarding on a range of organizational levels
• Track record of supporting operational change and/or the rollout of new policies and strategies
• Experience in delivering training programs and supporting organizational capacity building in safeguarding/protection
• Background in leading/participating in corruption/PSEA/child safeguarding investigations
• Strong belief in human rights, gender equality, and safeguarding
• Good interpersonal skills including the ability to gain trust and build relationships
• Good diplomatic and persuasion skills
• Ability to work effectively with people at all organizational levels
• Strong ability to work independently
• High standard of spoken and written English required; Kurdish and Arabic, a plus
• Good computer skills, experience with Google Drive
• Ability to work in a stressful setting and adapt quickly to changing environments **