Position Summary: 

The Safeguarding Specialist is responsible for ensuring consistent implementation of Abt Global’s Child Protection (CP), Prevention of Sexual Exploitation Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) and Fraud policies and procedures across the Platform sectors. The Safeguarding Specialist will ensure partners, including sub-contractors, grant partners and contracted service providers engaged in Program activities understand and comply with safeguarding requirements as they relate to them. 

Key Responsibilities: 

Risk assessment and mitigation 

• Ensure all partners are logged into Abt Global’s partner risk and compliance management portal – Partner Portal. 
• Conduct safeguarding (child protection, PSEAH and fraud) risk assessments on partners, including sub-contractors, grant partners and service providers). 
• Ensure appropriate safeguarding compliance requirements and mitigating actions are incorporated into contracts and service agreements. 
• Support the implementation of risk assessment processes by staff across all Platform sector programs.  
• Develop and enable comprehensive reporting mechanisms for all program partners for misconduct allegations. 
• Work with Abt Global Safeguarding and Risk and Assurance staff to ensure continuous improvements in the Safeguarding Risk assessment systems, including the Partner Portal. 

Compliance 

• Ensure all changes to the safeguarding policy and associated procedures, are effectively communicated to all staff and partners to ensure awareness, understanding and consistency of application of the policies. 
• Monitor staff (including national and international staff and advisers) completion of safeguarding training and compliance with Safeguarding policies and Code of Conduct. 
• Review and assess partners’ safeguarding policies and procedures and develop Corrective Action Plans to ensure compliance with minimum standards. 
• Support partners to develop and maintain safeguarding procedures that meet minimum standards as needed.  
• Maintain and monitor register of grant agreements and contracts assessed as medium or high Safeguarding risks, including maintaining compliance evidence for audits.  
• Respond to any reports or disclosures of child exploitation and abuse, sexual exploitation and abuse, or policy/code of conduct non-compliance in accordance with established procedures in liaison with the GEDSI and Safeguarding Manager and Cross-cutting Priorities Lead.  

Training and Capacity Building  

• Develop safeguarding training materials for both face-to-face and online training modalities, including minimum orientation training for all staff and specialised training for appointed sector program safeguarding focal points collaboratively with the Safeguarding Centre of Expertise. 
• Conduct specialised training for appointed sector program safeguarding focal points in delivery of induction training, risk assessment processes, and assessing and monitoring partner compliance; and participate in Abt train the trainer sessions. 
• Deliver CP, PSEAH, Fraud and incident management training for partners tailored to program activities and context. 
• Monitor and mentor staff to ensure consistent implementation of safeguarding procedures across all programs. 
• Be part of the Abt Global Safeguarding Community of Practice to share knowledge, identify emerging trends and challenges, and implement continuous improvement to safeguarding systems across Abt programs in Fiji. 

Incident Management:  

• Serve as the central contact point and respond to any reports or disclosures of child exploitation, sexual exploitation and/or abuse, including potential non-compliance with Safeguarding Policy or Code of Conduct by staff or partners.  
• Support end to end safeguarding incident management process with a victim/survivor-centered approach and provide referral to in-country support services. 
• Support the GEDSI and Safeguarding Manager, Cross-cutting Priorities Lead and Safeguarding Officer (corporate office) to ensure timely reporting to DFAT within required timeframes (48 hours for potential child abuse, sexual abuse, exploitation and/or harassment of children or adults, within 5 business days for safeguarding policy non-compliance); in accordance with the Abt Incident Management Procedure Safeguarding. 

General:  

• Provide information and advice on the Abt Global safeguarding management system. 
• Maintain and provide safeguarding data for internal and external audits and other reporting as required in collaboration with the Safeguarding Officer (corporate). 
• Other reasonable duties as required by GEDSI and Safeguarding Manager. 

Key Deliverables:

• All partners, including sub-contractors, grant partners and contracted service providers registered in the Partner Portal.  
• Continuous review and maintenance of Partner Portal to ensure up-to-date records and accurate compliance data.   
• Risk assessments for CP, PSEAH and Fraud for all Platform partners.  
• Corrective Action Plans for partners rated as medium or high risk for CP, PSEAH and Fraud.  
• Training sessions with partners rated as medium and high risk to enable meaningful compliance. 
• Implementation of corrective actions and lessons learned from incidents.  

Key Working Relationships: 

• GEDSI and Safeguarding Manager and Cross-cutting Priorities Lead 
• Platform Leadership Team 
• Operations and Procurement Team 
• Abt Risk Management Specialist & Abt Safeguarding Specialist  
• Abt Safeguarding Centre of Expertise 
• Abt Safeguarding Community of Practice  
• Appointed Sector Program Safeguarding Focal Points  
• Sector Program Leads  
• Relevant Australian High Commission Representatives  
• Relevant Government of Fiji representatives 
• Platform Partners  
• Abt Safeguarding Office Staff (corporate office)

Selection Criteria:

• Demonstrable experience related to social and environmental safeguards risk assessment; and implementing safeguards focused on child protection and/or prevention or sexual exploitation abuse and harassment.
• Significant demonstrated experience in supporting safeguarding compliance on large, complex programs, including leading the development and implementation of policy safeguard risk assessments, implementation plans and technical capacity development across a broad range of stakeholders.
• Comprehensive understanding of DFAT’s Environmental and Social Safeguard Policy, including child protection, PSEAH, environmental safeguards and health and safety. 
• Experience managing investigation processes and handling sensitive information with the utmost discretion.
• Commitment to equity-centered, rights-based, intersectional, survivor-centred and trauma informed approaches.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including colleges, partners, government officials, and other key internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent analytical and writing skills including the preparation of reports, briefs and policy analysis for executive audiences and key stakeholders.
• Experience working on DFAT projects is highly desirable.

How to Apply:

Applications close on 4 November 2024 at midday.  

Please apply online by submitting a cover letter addressing how you meet the requirements of this role and an up-to-date comprehensive CV as a single file.