KEY INFORMATION

Job Title: Safeguarding Adviser

Reports to: Deputy Team Leader, with technical coordination with the GEDSI Lead 

Direct Reports: None

Location: Home based, with potential for a short trip to Manila to deliver safeguarding training depending on agreed approach 

Duration: Up to 10 input days over July to September 2026

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT

The DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) Social Protection, Inclusion and Gender equality (SPRING) program is Australia’s flagship investment of support to the Philippine Government on Social Protection, Gender Equality, Disability, Social Inclusion and Indigenous Inclusion. It is an AUD 40 million investment over 5 years that will support the joint Development Partnership Plan (DPP 2024-2029) between the Government of Australia and the Philippine Government. The investment will be the DFAT’s primary avenue in the Philippines for supporting poverty reduction and bilateral funding on gender equality and social inclusion at the national level and with some select Local Government Units (LGUs). SPRING supports efforts under Australia’s new International Development Policy and DFAT’s forthcoming new strategies on gender equality, disability equity and rights, and translate these into implementation in the Philippines. 

SPRING contributes to the goal that the social and economic transformation in the Philippines reduces poverty and provides equal opportunities to all Filipinos in line with the Philippines Development Plan.

The objective of SPRING is that Australia works in partnership with the Philippine Government to improve systems and structures that reduce poverty and inequality and advance gender equality and the rights of people with disabilities. 

SPRING has four mutually reinforcing End of Program Outcomes (EOPOs): 

1. Philippine Government social protection plans, policies and programs increasingly close gaps in the social protection floor.
2. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and select LGU systems increasingly deliver quality social protection that is inclusive, gender and shock responsive, and climate sensitive.
3. The Philippine Government increasingly invests in gender responsive policies, plans, programs and systems.
4. The Philippine Government improves data, systems and targeting to enable people with disability and Indigenous Peoples improved access to targeted services.

SUMMARY OF THE POSITION

The Safeguarding Adviser will provide short-term technical assistance to strengthen SPRING’s safeguarding policies, procedures and operational processes in line with the program’s Year 3 transition to full implementation. The role will focus on ensuring SPRING’s safeguarding arrangements are fit for purpose for expanded subnational activities in Occidental Mindoro, Leyte and Davao Oriental; the operationalisation of the SPRING subnational CSO grant scheme; and updated DFAT child protection and Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) requirements. The Adviser will review existing SPRING safeguarding documentation, identify practical updates required for implementation, grants management and partner engagement, and support the program to apply a risk-based, inclusive, victim-survivor-centred and child-safe approach across staff, consultants, suppliers, grantees and downstream partners.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

The Adviser will provide focused technical review, practical drafting support and targeted coaching to help SPRING update and operationalise safeguarding arrangements within the 10-day level of effort. Responsibilities will include the following, subject to final prioritisation with SPRING:

1. Review SPRING safeguarding policies, procedures and processes

• Review existing SPRING safeguarding policies, procedures, tools, reporting pathways, due diligence processes and relevant sections of the Operations Manual, Risk Management and Safeguards Plan, grants documentation and onboarding materials.
• Assess alignment with updated DFAT child protection and PSEAH policy settings, including the Child and Adult Safeguards Implementation Handbook, the 2025 Child Protection Policy and the 2025 PSEAH Policy.
• Identify gaps, inconsistencies and priority updates required to ensure SPRING’s safeguarding arrangements are practical, proportionate and compliant across staff, consultants, suppliers, grantees and downstream partners.

2. Update safeguarding requirements for subnational delivery and the CSO grant scheme

• Review safeguarding risks associated with SPRING’s expanded subnational activities in three provinces, including engagement with provincial and municipal counterparts, civil society stakeholders, communities, children, adolescents, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples and other groups who may experience heightened risk.
• Provide practical updates to safeguarding requirements for the subnational CSO grant scheme, including due diligence, risk screening, downstream partner checks, safeguarding clauses, reporting obligations, escalation processes, training expectations and monitoring arrangements.
• Advise on how safeguarding should be embedded in grant application, selection, contracting, induction, implementation monitoring and close-out processes.
• Ensure safeguarding arrangements reflect risks associated with community engagement, use of images and stories, consultations, field visits, referrals, feedback mechanisms and complaints handling.
• Recommend practical tools or updates to existing templates, such as a safeguarding risk checklist, partner safeguarding capacity assessment, incident reporting guidance, referral pathway template, and grants monitoring prompts.
• Provide targeted coaching or briefing for relevant SPRING staff on updated safeguarding requirements, with particular attention to grants, subnational operations, community engagement and incident reporting.
• Prepare concise recommendations for any further safeguarding capacity building, systems strengthening or follow-up support required beyond the 10-day assignment.

3. Prepare priority deliverables

• Brief inception note confirming scope, priorities, documents reviewed, consultation plan and agreed outputs within the 10-day level of effort.
• Safeguarding gap analysis and practical recommendations note, including alignment with updated DFAT child protection and PSEAH requirements.
• Marked-up or drafted updates to priority SPRING safeguarding policies, procedures, tools or manual sections, as agreed with SPRING.
• Subnational and CSO grants safeguarding checklist or tool package suitable for use by SPRING staff during activity / grant due diligence, implementation and monitoring.
• Targeted safeguarding briefing or coaching session for SPRING staff and, if feasible, selected grantee or partner representatives, focused on updated requirements, grants due diligence, subnational risk management, reporting and referral pathways.
• Short handover note summarising decisions made, outstanding issues, recommended next steps and any residual risks requiring management attention.

*Note on expected travel to Manila for an in-country input: In-country input for SPRING team safeguarding training may be feasible within the 10-day level of effort if it is tightly scoped and planned as a short briefing, orientation or coaching session rather than a full training rollout. Given the priority need to review and update SPRING policies, procedures, tools and grants-related processes, any in-country training should be limited to one consolidated session in Manila, or delivered through a hybrid format with subnational teams and partners joining remotely (or aligned in timing with planned SPRING subnational staff travel to Manila). If broader partner training across all three provinces is required, this should be treated as a follow-on assignment or separate capacity-building package after the updated safeguarding tools and procedures have been finalised.

For planning purposes, the preferred approach within this assignment is to include one practical safeguarding briefing for core SPRING staff and grants/subnational personnel, with partner participation included only where this does not compromise completion of the core policy, procedure and tool updates. The Adviser may also prepare a short training outline or facilitator guide that SPRING can adapt for later rollout to CSO grantees and provincial partners.

Key Abilities and Skills

• Strong technical knowledge of safeguarding in international development, including child protection, PSEAH, adult safeguarding, risk management, reporting, referral, investigations interface and survivor-centred response.
• Ability to translate donor requirements into practical, proportionate and user-friendly policies, procedures and tools for program teams, grantees, suppliers and downstream partners.
• Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to prepare concise gap analyses, policy updates, checklists, briefing notes and operational guidance.
• Strong facilitation and coaching skills, with the ability to brief program staff on sensitive safeguarding requirements clearly and constructively.
• Sound judgement in managing sensitive and confidential issues, including safeguarding incidents, complaints handling, reputational risk, retaliation risks and duty of care.
• Demonstrated commitment to GEDSI, disability inclusion, localisation and do-no-harm approaches, including the ability to apply intersectional safeguarding analysis to program design and delivery.
• Strong understanding of compliance obligations related to DFAT policies on child protection, PSEAH, fraud control, anti-corruption, counter-terrorism financing, modern slavery and other social safeguards.

APPLICATION PROCESS 

This is a short-term advisory assignment for a Safeguarding Adviser. Applications will be reviewed and vetted sequentially as they are received. We encourage interested candidates to apply as early as possible.

For your application to be considered, please upload your documents as follows: Candidate Last Name, First Name, date, Title of the Position. 

Please send your cover letter addressing the position selection criteria and CV with name and contact details of three professional referees to hr@springphilippines.org, mentioning the position you are applying for in the subject line “SPRING Safeguarding Adviser” or apply online.

Women, persons with disability, Indigenous Peoples, and candidates with diverse lived and professional experience are encouraged to apply.

Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law. Persons with disabilities may send a request for reasonable accommodation to participate in the recruitment process to hr@springphilippines.org. 

Cowater International adheres to the highest standards of protection of children and vulnerable adults in the delivery of programs and services. Cowater is committed to the prevention of sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. 

Cowater International upholds standards of ethical conduct and has zero tolerance against fraud and bribery. 

Prior to any offer of employment, applicants will be subject to appropriate background checks. 

We thank all applicants, however only those shortlisted will be contacted. 

About Us 

Founded in 1985, Cowater International is a leading global development consulting company. Headquartered in Ottawa and with corporate hubs in Auckland, Berlin, Brussels, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Manila, Nairobi, Singapore and Stockholm, Cowater International has successfully delivered a portfolio of over 2500 projects and assignments in more than 95 countries. We work with governments, private sector actors and communities implementing projects that support socio-economic development, institutional strengthening, environmental improvements and advance equal opportunities for all. We are a diverse and experienced team committed to building a better tomorrow for the people we serve. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies since 2017.