Safeguarding consultant At World University Service of Canada

Call for Consultant(s): Safeguarding training Provider for the DREEM Digital Innovation Fund

Position Title: Safeguarding Consultant

Location(s): Turkana county, Kenya

Reports to: DREEM Regional Economic Inclusion Manager and DREEM Project Manager, EI

No of Days: 45 days

World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a leading Canadian non-profit organization in international development, committed to providing education, economic opportunities, and empowerment opportunities that improve the lives of millions of disadvantaged youth around the world. WUSC is seeking a business development services provider to support MSE applicants and eventual recipients of the DREEM Innovation Fund.

DREEM project

Through the DREEM project (2020-2025), we engage national and local government representatives, academic institutions, private sector actors, refugee-led organizations, local and international NGOs, and refugee youth to share knowledge and identify opportunities to advance the inclusion of refugee youth in national, local, and institutional priorities. Our three pillars drive us to build change and advance the inclusion of refugees and displaced youth, especially young women, in education, employment, and entrepreneurship. We believe that through this work and engaging diverse stakeholders from varied sectors and geographies, we will form new strategic partnerships, build momentum, and mobilize to advance refugee and displaced youth inclusion.

One of the areas of work of the DREEM project is Strengthening Economic Opportunities for Refugees (SEOR), which provides refugee entrepreneurs with a grant that combines financing and business development services (BDS) to micro and small enterprises selected through a business innovation competition. Business development support entails tailored mentorship and coaching, capacity building, and market linkages to ensure that businesses have the right expertise and support to generate revenue and jobs.

Overview of the Digital Innovation Fund

The digital component under the Strengthening Economic Opportunities for Refugees (SEOR) pillar of the DREEM project aims to enable 500 young people in Kakuma and Kalobeyei, particularly young women, to secure dignified and fulfilling economic opportunities in the digital and gig economy. The results of a digital opportunities market assessment conducted by WUSC in May 2022 highlighted the need to shift from a strategy that was only centered on market-driven skills training and transition to a model that addresses barriers transitioning to accessing economic opportunities post-training.

About the role

WUSC is working with existing intermediaries (community based organizations (CBOs), collectives, refugee-led organizations (RLOs), cybers, and entrepreneurs in the digital space) and helping them diversify/enhance/scale their services while improving their focus on job linkages outcomes will be core to the interventions. When working with highly vulnerable individuals in fragile contexts, policies, and procedures must be effective in safeguarding these individuals against harm.

The Safeguarding Consultant will work closely with the DREEM Economic Inclusion project team to assess and strengthen funded businesses in safeguarding.

Objective

Strengthening Safeguarding Awareness, Reporting, and Management at the partner level and existing UNHCR referral pathways.

Responsibilities

Specifically, the consultant will be responsible for the following:

1. Review the existing brochure and update it for use by WUSC and Young Africa Works partners;
2. Prepare and deliver training on digital safeguarding for SEOR RLOs
3. Support the RLOs to develop safeguarding action plans for their organizations.

Deliverables

Brochure Review and Update

• Deliverable: Revised brochure tailored for WUSC and Young Africa Works partners.

Training Preparation and Delivery

• Deliverable: Comprehensive training program on digital safeguarding for SEOR RLOs.
  • Develop training materials (slides, handouts, and resources).
  • Schedule and conduct a training session, ensuring participation and engagement from all RLOs.
  • Gather feedback from participants to assess the effectiveness of the training.

Safeguarding Action Plans Development

• Deliverable: Customized safeguarding action plans for each RLO.
  • Facilitate workshops or one-on-one sessions with RLOs to identify safeguarding needs and strategies.
  • Provide a template for action plans and guide RLOs in completing them.
  • Review and finalize the plans to ensure they are practical and effective for each organization.

Delivery of the Training of Trainers (ToT)

• Facilitate and deliver the Training of Trainers over the agreed-upon timeframe (1-2 days, online/in-person).
  • Ensure interactive participation, engage trainees through real-world case scenarios, group discussions, and role-playing activities.
  • Provide mentorship and coaching to participants on how to facilitate similar training within their organizations.
  • Document key discussions, feedback, and any challenges or success stories during the training delivery.
  • Develop a follow-up plan to provide ongoing support to ToT participants in applying digital safeguarding measures within their RLOs.

Requirements

The Consultant should have:

• Significant and relevant experience in developing and implementing safeguarding policies and procedures in conflict-affected contexts for programs targeting adolescents and youth.
• Proven experience of facilitation of capacity strengthening and training on safeguarding.
• Demonstrated experience in developing concise and clear guidance and templates on safeguarding measures.
• Excellent oral and written communication in English.
• Strong knowledge and experience of sub-Saharan Africa and adolescent programming (particularly in the refugee context) preferred.
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relations with individuals of diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Key Skills and Competences

• Strong technical background (Safeguarding or Gender and Inclusion) with demonstrated experience developing training manuals/content for risk management, safe programs, and safeguarding (including PSEA) in development and humanitarian settings.
• Proven track record in developing training/learning modules, implementation guidance, and technical templates for diverse INGOs.
• Demonstrated skills in developing engaging and effective learning and development materials on PSEA, safeguarding, quality, and accountability.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• A solid understanding of best practices for content, tone, and style for effective targeted communication.
• Experience in developing content and facilitating adult learning programs.
• Ability to package information in the learning mythology to meet the needs of the audience.
• Ability to facilitate peer-to-peer interaction and social learning in a safe space.

Qualifications and experience

• Postgraduate degree in social sciences, social work, and human rights preferably with a focus on protection/ child protection/ child rights. Relevant experience would compensate for lack of educational background
• Experience designing and implementing comprehensive safeguarding systems for aid/humanitarian organizations.
• Understanding of international best practices on safeguarding.
• Experience designing and implementing safeguarding referral pathways and confidential incident reporting systems within the refugee context.

WUSC’s activities seek to balance inequities and create sustainable development around the globe; the work ethic of our staff, volunteers, consultants, representatives, and partners shall correspond to the values and mission of the organization. WUSC adheres to strict safeguarding principles and promotes responsibility, respect, honesty, and professional excellence and we will not tolerate harassment, coercion, sexual exploitation, or abuse of any form. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract with WUSC will not be considered “staff members” and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements, medical insurance coverage, and or advance payments). Conditions of service will be governed by the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, medical & evacuation insurance covers under local or other applicable laws.

Interested organizations should apply to WUSC by 21 October 2024. Applications should consist of a detailed proposal detailing how they would approach the assignment, a sample of previous work reports, CVs of key staff members, and a proposed budget outlining their rate and expected expenses.