TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR)
Safeguarding Investigations – External Roster
REF: HEARO/HR/001/2026
Background
Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 28 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 55 countries, our 8,990 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good. Our work is primarily focused on these thematic areas: Nutrition and Health; Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL); Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH); and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS). Across the contexts where we operate in, Action Against Hunger works alongside communities, local organizations and Government institutions to collectively achieve this mission.
Action Against Hunger USA is part of the Action Against Hunger International network. As an independent NGO, Action Against Hunger USA currently manages operations in 8 countries: Kenya, South Sudan, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia and Haiti.
Each of these countries implement programs across the thematic areas earlier mentioned, often working in communities facing multiple vulnerabilities and navigating contextual factors that often compound these vulnerabilities. Though each country has unique political, economic and socio-cultural environments, there are common challenges experienced. These include economic disparities with some households living in poverty; climate shocks which in some instances lead to natural disasters that affect access to basic needs and often leave communities vulnerable to safety and security risks, and in other instances affect agricultural productivity which has compounding effects on food security and livelihoods; political tensions that contribute to civil strife that has led to violent conflicts in some countries; and socio-cultural norms that perpetuate discrimination and mistreatment along gender, age and ethnicity variations particularly for women and girls. A combination of these contextual factors and the inherent power differential that development/humanitarian organizations like Action Against Hunger bear, portray the increased risk and likelihood of safeguarding concerns. Safeguarding is a growing area of accountability across the humanitarian and development sector with the traction requiring intentional action from organizations on both safeguarding prevention and response. Action Against Hunger has an International Safeguarding Policy outlining the organization commitment to protecting the people we come into contact with through our programs, operations and presence in the communities in which we work.
Action Against Hunger USA in abiding by the organizations Safeguarding Commitments, intends to strengthen the Safeguarding response structure through establishing an external roster of trained, certified and experienced safeguarding investigators who will provide technical support in alignment with the sector standards on conducting investigations on Safeguarding (including Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment, Child Safeguarding, and Trafficking in Persons).
Rationale
Action Against Hunger USA is seeking expressions of interest from trained, certified and experienced individuals and firms who, on a need/demand basis, shall provide technical support to carry out investigations for reported safeguarding concerns. Action Against Hunger intent is to expand its current internal roster with an external pool of investigators given the critical importance and sensitive nature of safeguarding concerns.
Purpose of the Consultancy
Action Against Hunger (USA) is seeking expressions of interest from individuals and/or firms that would serve as consultants on demand for the provision of technical support on Safeguarding Investigations. The consultants when required and onboarded, will fully adhere to Action Against Hunger’s policies, procedures and guidance documents on Safeguarding, Safeguarding Investigations, and Ethical Incident Response.
The process of this consultancy opportunity is to review all submitted applications and expressions of interest and develop a roster of qualified and certified Safeguarding Investigations professionals. Not all who apply will be shortlisted, and Action Against Hunger will provide feedback to applicants on the outcome.
Specific Objectives
When it is determined that a consultant is required for the above-mentioned purpose, below are the priority actions that will be required, however Action Against Hunger USA reserves the right to adapt these within reason, when the consultant is onboarded.
- Develop a comprehensive investigation plan for the Safeguarding Incident for review and approval by Action Against Hunger USA’s Global Safeguarding team
- Includes technical assessment on all associated risks involved for the specific incident
- Highlights specific timelines for end-to-end completion of the investigation
- Includes all resources (human, financial, technical) required for a professional and survivor-centered investigation
- Conduct the safeguarding investigation in coordination with Action Against Hunger USA’s Global Safeguarding Investigations team, and informed by the organizations policies and procedures on Safeguarding and Ethical Incidents
- Gathering of evidence required for the investigation
- Conducting interviews as outlined in the investigation plan
- Coordinating with the Action Against Hunger USA’s Global Safeguarding team on any support services and referrals needed and/or requested by the survivor (s)
- Providing periodic updates on the process to the Action Against Hunger USA’s Global Safeguarding Investigations team
- Begin drafting the investigation report
- Provide a conclusive summary report of the investigation, detailing proposed actions and lesson learned for future mitigation of similar incidents
- Submit the report to Action Against Hunger USA’s Global Safeguarding team for review and completion
- Anticipate the possibility of presenting the findings, proposed corrective actions and lessons learnt to Action Against Hunger USA’s Global Safeguarding team.
Scope & Timeline of Consultancy
This process is aimed at developing a roster of qualified and certified safeguarding investigations professionals who will be engaged on demand to provide technical support for specific incidents and therefore the timeline will be determined by the specific incident and investigation plan.
The scope of the consultancy will be to conduct professional and survivor-centered safeguarding investigations that adhere to Action Against Hunger’s policies, procedures and guidance documents on Safeguarding, Safeguarding Investigations, and Ethical Incident Response.
Expected Deliverables for this Consultancy
- Investigation plan for the specific safeguarding incident
- Comprehensive report of the safeguarding investigation detailing findings, proposed actions and lessons learned
Management and Reporting Arrangements
The consultant when onboarded will report to the Chief People & Strategy Officer and will work closely with the Regional Safeguarding Specialist and country safeguarding focal points as needed.
Guidelines for Expression of Interest
Required Qualifications and Experience
- Professional certification from the CHS Alliance – SEAH Investigator Qualification Training Scheme (Tier III)
- Able to demonstrate at least 5 years’ experience in conducting survivor-centered safeguarding investigations for development and/or humanitarian organizations
- Able to demonstrate professional experience working in Safeguarding, Protection, Gender Based Violence in development and/or humanitarian organizations
- Has experience working in various country contexts in Africa, including but not limited to Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia as well as in Haiti.
- Must be fluent in English (written and oral)
- Fluency in French (written and oral) will be desired; and competency in any other local language spoken in the countries listed above is an added advantage. Possesses excellent communication skills and can navigate interpersonal interactions across diverse cultures and backgrounds
- Willingness to travel to high risk/hardship areas to conduct the investigations.
Required documents for submission
Individuals and/or firms who have carefully reviewed this Terms of Reference and have the requisite certification and qualifications listed above are required to submit the following information for their application and expression of interest:
- Profile or/and Curriculum Vitae of the individual and/or firm
- Brief letter of motivation summarizing relevant experience and qualifications and summarized proof of previous work done to demonstrate eligibility for this consultancy
- 3-5page summary to demonstrate your understanding of what is required to conduct a survivor-centered safeguarding investigation
- Quotation of daily/monthly rate for the consultant in USD (this daily rate should be inclusive of taxes)
- Copy of Identity Document to confirm Nationality (National ID and/or Passport)
- For consultancy firms – A copy of the registration certificate for the company
- Copies of Tax Registration documents and Tax Compliance Certificate
Ethical Considerations
The consultant is expected to fully comply with the Ethical Standards of Action Against Hunger – USA which includes principles and commitments outlined in the International Code of Conduct; International Charter of Principles; International Safeguarding Policy (including the annexes on Child Safeguarding and Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse – PSEA); Trafficking in Persons Policy; Anti-discrimination & Harassment Policy; Whistle Blower Policy; Conflict of Interest Policy; Anti-Fraud Policy; and the Ethical Incident Response Procedure. Once the consultant has been onboarded and engaged contractually, the consultant commits to read, understand and fully comply with these policies, recognizing that Action Against Hunger USA reserves the right to terminate the contract should there be evidence of a breach of any of these policies.
The consultant is expected to uphold the highest standards expected of Safeguarding Investigations, including but not limited to upholding confidentiality, survivor-centered principles, professionalism, protection of all data and information gathered guided by Action Against Hunger’s Data Protection policies and protocols.
The consultant acknowledges and complies with the statement that all information generated from and in association with their contract period with Action Against Hunger USA shall not be shared with any other party under any circumstances and shall remain the sole property of Action Against Hunger USA. Upon being onboarded and engaged through a formal contract, the consultant will be expected to sign a non-disclosure clause.
TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA & SCORING
No.
Evaluation Criteria
Scoring (Max)
Total Score
1 Professional qualification – CHS Alliance SEAH Investigator Qualification (Tier III)
2. Safeguarding investigation experience – Demonstrated experience and technical expertise in conducting survivor-centered safeguarding investigations particularly in humanitarian/development settings
3. Relevant technical expertise – Demonstrated professional experience and technical expertise in safeguarding, PSEA, protection and/or GBV within humanitarian and/or development organizations
4. Regional and contextual experience – Demonstrated experience working across diverse country contexts in Africa and Haiti, including experience in complex, high-risk environments and ability to navigate diverse cultural contexts.
5. Communication and Language Skills – fluent written and oral English; French language proficiency desirable; strong interpersonal, interviewing and report-writing skills, including ability to communicate effectively across diverse cultures and backgrounds
6. Availability and Deployment Capacity – Demonstrated willingness and ability to travel to high-risk/hardship locations to conduct investigations, as required by the assignments.
TENDER SCHEDULE
Description
Dates
Advert- 11th Nov 2026
Closing – 4th Dec 2026
Last Date for clarification – 24th Nov 2026
Tender Opening – 7th Dec 2026
Review of Applications – 7th – 18th Dec 2026
Feedback to Applicants on Outcome – 19th Jan 2027
Proposals shall be sent to Action Against Hunger USA through hearotenders@actionagainsthunger.org no later than 17:00Hrs (EAT) on 4th December 2026.
Any inquiries for clarification to be sent to hqprocurement@actionagainsthunger.org latest by 24th November 2026. Please note that only shortlisted firms/candidates will be contacted for further engagement. The process of this consultancy opportunity is to review all submitted applications and expressions of interest and develop a roster of qualified and certified Safeguarding Investigations professionals. Not all who apply will be shortlisted, and Action Against Hunger will provide feedback to applicants on the outcome.
How to apply
Proposals shall be sent to Action Against Hunger USA through hearotenders@actionagainsthunger.org no later than 17:00Hrs (EAT) on 4th December 2026.
Any inquiries for clarification to be sent to hqprocurement@actionagainsthunger.org