KEY INFORMATION 

Job Title: Safeguarding Roster of Consultants 

Sector: Gender-Based Violence Prevention 

Position Type (full/part time): Part time 

Duration/Level of Effort (long/short term): Short Term  

Position Location (e.g. city, country, remote): Southeast Asia (regional) or any of the countries in Southeast Asia 

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT 

The Southeast Asia Gender-based Violence Prevention Platform (“the Platform”) is a regionally led, Australian-funded initiative that aims to address the need and demand for increased investment in, and coordination of, gender-based violence (GBV) primary prevention initiatives in the Southeast Asia region. It was created out of a shared commitment to end GBV against women and girls in all their diversity across Southeast Asia. The Platform aims to strengthen locally-led efforts to prevent GBV through evidence-based advocacy, dialogue, policy and programming in Southeast Asia. The Platform is led by a regionally based Secretariat, in collaboration with Cowater International, Social Development Direct and the Equality Institute (“the Collaborators”) which support organisational development and provide technical assistance.  

The Platform aims to achieve the following End of Program Outcomes under these three work Pillars:  

• Demonstrate Pillar: Evidence of what works to prevent GBV in Southeast Asia is accessible and applied by practitioners and policymakers in the region.  

• Advocate Pillar: Regional and bilateral multi-stakeholder collaboration on and commitment to GBV prevention are expanded.  

• Facilitate Pillar: Practitioners and policymakers have better capacity to design, implement and monitor high-quality, evidence-based GBV prevention policies and programmes.  

The Platform offers competitive grants to Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Women’s Rights Organisations (WROs) in Southeast Asia. The grants are offered in several cycles throughout the duration of the program, with a value range of AUD20,000-150,000. In addition, the Platform partners with individuals and organisations in the region through other channels.

SUMMARY OF THE POSITION/CONSULTANCY

The Safeguarding Consultant will provide tailored technical assistance to a portfolio of Platform grantees to strengthen their organisational safeguarding systems and practice in line with DFAT’s and the Platform’s safeguarding standards. Working under the overall guidance of the Platform's Safeguarding Specialist and with technical backstopping from the Safeguarding Adviser of the Technical Partner, the Consultant will serve as the primary technical support person for assigned grantees throughout the grant lifecycle. This includes facilitating safeguarding action planning, providing ongoing technical accompaniment, monitoring progress against safeguarding commitments, and supporting organisations to strengthen safeguarding in ways that are practical, proportionate to risk, and responsive to each organisation's existing capacity and context.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Grant assessment and onboarding

• Provide technical inputs into the safeguarding review of grant applications, due diligence processes and safeguarding risk assessments. 

• Support the Platform to identify safeguarding risks associated with proposed projects and recommend appropriate mitigation measures. 

• Support grantees to understand DFAT safeguarding standards and their safeguarding responsibilities throughout the grant. 

Safeguarding action planning

• Review the grantee's safeguarding policies, procedures and supporting documents and organisational safeguarding capacity against DFAT and the Platform’s safeguarding standards. 

• Facilitate the development and refinement of a risk-proportionate Safeguarding Action Plan that builds on the organisation's existing safeguarding systems, strengths and priorities. 

• Support grantees to identify realistic, achievable safeguarding priorities that are aligned with DFAT standards and expectations.

Ongoing technical assistance

• Provide tailored technical advice and accompaniment to support implementation of agreed safeguarding actions.

• Review and provide feedback on safeguarding policies, procedures, tools and resources developed by grantees.

• Support organisations to operationalise safeguarding systems, including reporting mechanisms, risk management processes, safe recruitment, training and safeguarding governance, as relevant.

• Deliver or facilitate safeguarding learning sessions, coaching or mentoring (where required) to grantees, mentors, mentees and other partners of the Platform

• Identify emerging safeguarding issues and work collaboratively with the Platform Secretariat to develop appropriate responses.

Monitoring and Coordination

• Maintain regular communication with assigned grantees to monitor progress against their Safeguarding Action Plan. 

• Document progress, emerging challenges, agreed next steps and technical assistance provided. 

• Identify where safeguarding priorities or action plans need to be adapted as projects evolve.

• Escalate complex safeguarding issues, incidents or significant organisational risks to the Platform Safeguarding Specialist. 

• Ensure technical advice provided to grantees is consistent with DFAT safeguarding requirements and Platform guidance.

** Consultants are expected to adopt a facilitative, collaborative and capacity strengthening approach, supporting organisations to develop and implement their own safeguarding systems rather than producing safeguarding documents on their behalf.

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

Education

• Bachelor's degree in social work, gender and development, international/community development, human rights, social sciences, or another relevant field. A postgraduate qualification is desirable but not essential. 

• Additional training and/or certification in safeguarding, child protection, protection from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (PSEAH), gender-based violence, protection, investigation, or related fields is an advantage.

Competencies and Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in safeguarding, child protection, PSEAH, gender-based violence, or related fields, including providing technical assistance, capacity strengthening, or organisational safeguarding support to civil society organisations, NGOs, or development partners.

• Demonstrated experience in developing, reviewing and strengthening organisational safeguarding policies, procedures, codes of conduct, reporting and case handling mechanisms and other safeguarding prevention and response systems. 

• Experience providing technical assistance, mentoring or organisational capacity strengthening to civil society organisations, women's rights organisations, community-based organisations or other local partners on safeguarding across the programme cycle.

• Experience conducting safeguarding risk assessments, including developing or advising on the development, implementation and monitoring of risk mitigation measures. 

• Experience designing and facilitating safeguarding training, workshops, coaching or mentoring for staff, partners or third-parties. 

• Strong understanding of safeguarding principles, victim-survivor-centred approaches, child safeguarding and PSEAH, with experience with DFAT safeguarding requirements or similar international donor standards. 

• Experience working in accordance with locally led development principles, supporting organisations to strengthen and build on their existing safeguarding systems rather than imposing external models. 

• Excellent analytical, facilitation and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate complex safeguarding concepts in practical and accessible ways. 

• Ability to exercise sound judgement, maintain confidentiality, and manage sensitive safeguarding information with professionalism and integrity. 

• Experience working collaboratively with diverse organisations (women’s rights organisations, organistations of persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ groups, etc.) to strengthen their safeguarding policies, systems and practices in ways that are responsive to the needs and risks of different groups is highly desirable.

Language

• Proficiency in English and at least one Southeast Asian language, both written and oral.

Application Process

This position is open for citizens of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Viet Nam who are based in and legally authorised to work in those countries. We will not consider application from citizens from other regions/countries and will not be able to issue working visa for this purpose. 

Candidates are encouraged to apply by 16 August 2026, 17:00 Bangkok/ Jakarta time (GMT +7). For your application to be considered, please upload your documents as follows: Candidate Last Name, First Name, date, Title of the Position. 

To apply, please submit the following:

• Updated CV that highlights relevant experiences and achievements vis-a-vis this job description

• Cover letter outlining your interest and suitability in the role.

Equal Opportunity

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the values of gender equality and intersectionality. We strongly encourage applications from women in all their diversity, persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and those from historically marginalised or underrepresented communities. If you require assistance in lodging your application, please inform us via email at collaborate@prevention-platform.org.

Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring based on merit and qualifications. 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. 

Safeguarding Commitment

We are committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment and have a zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of violence, sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. All staff are expected to uphold these standards and contribute to a culture of respect and protection.

For More Information:

 For further details or to apply, please contact collaborate@prevention-platform.org or visit www.prevention-platform.org. 

Join us in driving impactful GBV prevention efforts in Southeast Asia! 

 
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.