Director, Safeguarding and Security at Women for Women International

Overview:

Women for Women International works in some of the most dangerous places to be a woman. We serve women survivors of war in conflict and post-conflict areas around the world in 8 countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, Eastern Congo, and Northern Nigeria. Our core belief is that stronger women build stronger nations; and with access to knowledge, resources, and a support network, a woman rebuilds her life and improves her community.

Our model works and we have the data to prove it. In our 26-year history, Women for Women International has reached over half a million women. The women we work with across 3 continents earn just $0.81 a day when we enroll them. At graduation, it’s $2.11, nearly tripled.

Our impact goes beyond income. The number of women who say at least one household member went to sleep hungry in the last four weeks has gone from 18% to 5%. And more women say they speak out against women’s abuse: 26% report having publicly spoken in the last 6 months against physically abusing women.

When women have the right tools, they realize the power within themselves to transform their lives, their families, their communities, and finally their entire nations.

WfWI signed in March 2018 a Pledge on Preventing Sexual Abuse, Exploitation, and Harassment by and of NGO staff. the Pledge outlines aspirational commitments towards sustained and significant changes by ensuring policies, procedures, and practices are strengthened, transparency and accountability enhanced, and root causes of harassment and abuse are addressed so that our offices and programs are safer spaces for all.

Summary:

The Director, Safeguarding and Security is responsible for leading on the organizational initiatives to protect staff and participants from any harm and abuse and protect WfWI assets and operations from any damage.

He/she will be responsible for developing and maintaining organizational policies and procedures for safeguarding and security management. S/he provides advice to WfWI leadership and technical support to Country Offices Senior Management Teams in the implementation of safeguarding and security management frameworks and facilitates the training and capacity building of staff.

Location:

The preferred location for this position is Nairobi or London. Other locations in WfWI African and European offices may be considered.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Safeguarding

• Leads and manages global safeguarding initiatives and framework to prevent harm, exploitation and abuse including:
• Prevention through the development and maintenance of appropriate policies/procedures, trainings and awareness initiatives,
• Coordination of prevention programs and initiatives at all levels with program operations staff, HR, and external parties,
• Managing reporting and responses mechanisms while ensuring privacy of all parties.
• Overseeing the activities of the Safeguarding focal persons.
• Coordinates proposals for safeguarding grants.
• Maintains safeguarding, safety and security report tracker.
• Manages and coordinates investigations into safeguarding violations.
• Ensures that the survivor-centered approach to safeguarding where the respect and wishes of the person who experienced the safeguarding incident is a key consideration.

Security

• Serves as the primary focal point for safety and security for both HQ and Country Office (CO) operations. Provides advice and counsel to leadership and management on matters relating to employee and property safety and security. Investigates all safety, security and risk management related issues.
• Develops and updates, as needed, the WfWI global security policy, crisis management plans, procedures and protocols in accordance with best practices and ensures their contextualization to geographies and implementation and compliance with internal and external parties.
• Provides technical support to program operations in the following areas: SOPs, security/risk assessments, scenario planning, security plan development, crisis/contingency planning; and, other security-related functions like pandemic or disaster management
• Develops and maintains policies and protocols for safe travel applicable to all staff.
• Matrix manages the security teams in offices.
• Develops an assessment of the risks and mitigating factors in areas which WfWI is considering as a new program location.
• Develop go/no go criteria to guide decision making, and contribute technical input to development of new proposals with regard to risk assessment and security issues.

Engagement

• Collaborates with the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) working group and ensure principles and requirements are met in collaboration with local stakeholders.
• Establishes and maintains strong networks globally and in WfWI countries of operation with relevant UN agencies, Government, NGOs, and security coordination bodies (INSO, EISF, UNDSS SLT, InterAction).
• Coordinates the Safeguarding working Group and focal points to ensure alignment of all WfWI activities with global policies as well as local regulations.
• Represents WfWI at Safeguarding external forums.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or relevant experience.
• Minimum of ten (10) years practical experience in security and safeguarding management with at least five (5) years in a leadership role (preferably in INGO security management).
• Work and living experience in insecure and/or hostile environments a plus.
• Ability to work within a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic team and understand the challenges of operating in insecure environments.
• Experience of threat and risk assessment, incident reporting, incident mapping, information collation and analysis.
• Ability to adapt to needs and balance demands of program participants and security actors while maintaining appropriate contextual NGO security advice and coordination.
• Sound knowledge of humanitarian principles of impartiality and neutrality as outlined in the Humanitarian Charter and the International Red Cross Code of Conduct.
• Technical Competency in investigating and leading investigations.
• Ability to train and coach staff in safeguarding, safety and security measures.
• Technical competency and training experience in field-based communications systems such as HF & VHF radios, satellite phone systems, GPS mapping and tracking devices, etc.
• Strong computer skills in MS Office, internet, and email applications.
• Strong report writing, analytical and interpersonal skills.
• Fluent in written and spoken English; language skills in, Arabic, French, Dari and/or Kiswahili a plus.
• Previous country experience in security management with INGOs operating in Nigeria, DRC, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Iraq, EU and USA preferred.
• Previous working experience with women’s empowerment organizations, networks and skills and knowledge in gender and conflict analysis preferred.
• Ability to travel extensively to program, fundraising and HQ offices.
• Demonstrates a growth and entrepreneurial mindset.

Physical Demands:

• May require bending, lifting, standing, sitting, computer work, etc.
• May require travel to remote locations where advanced medical services are not readily available.

Organizational Values:

Adhere to WfWI Values, Code of Conduct, Safeguarding, Diversity Equity and Inclusion principles and related policies.