(THIS POSITION IS OPEN FOR FEMALE CANDIDATES ONLY) Position Title: Advisor – Safeguarding and Investigations Number of Positions: 01 Location: Based at CARE Bangladesh Dhaka Office Duration: Contract duration will be 2 years
I. Job Summary: CARE is one of the world’s leading international humanitarian and development organizations, committed to helping people in poor communities improve their lives and alleviate poverty. Founded in 1945, CARE is working over 121 countries to fight global poverty and marginalization. CARE has been active in Bangladesh since 1949 and is one of the largest programs in CARE confederation. Women and girls are at the core of all CARE programs because they represent half of the marginalized group and it is not possible to overcome poverty until all people have equal rights and opportunities. CARE Bangladesh works to implement programs with long-term impacts that result in sustainable changes for the extreme poor and marginalized communities. This is a new role that has been created to underpin the culture of accountability at CARE Bangladesh. Reporting to the CD/DCD, this post holder will be responsible for managing Safeguarding across the operations of CARE Bangladesh. These are critical skills that are required by CARE Bangladesh given the scale and scope of our work. The role is the technical expert in Safeguarding and a specialist in planning, conducting and managing investigations to ensure that CARE Bangladesh staff and related personnel are able to prevent Safeguarding issues from occurring, and, where they do occur, the organization is able to respond to a high standard protecting survivors and the most vulnerable from harm. To be successful in this role the post holder will be responsible for 2 key areas of work- 1. Prevention of safeguarding concerns from occurring – ensuring the continued integration of our policy, sector guidelines and safer programs strategy, this includes awareness raising with staff, related personnel and program participants, and integration of safer programs standards with senior program managers and staff at CARE Bangladesh
2. Responding to safeguarding concerns- Coordination and Investigation of safeguarding concerns that are reported to the organization through local channels and through the CARE reporting mechanism (CAREline www.care.ethicspoint.com ) The post holder will carry out investigations and will also supervise and direct the work and activities of internal investigators to ensure all HR processes and procedures are followed and that misconduct is dealt with in a professional, fair and timely manner. It is critical to evaluate all support mechanisms are in place for all those implicated, and that all actions are consistent with our values policies and procedures. All cases should be closed out in a timely manner and communicated to the appropriate stakeholders. The post holder will be responsible for coordinating their work with CARE’s Safeguarding team, ensuring that all protocols and practices are aligned.
II. Responsibilities and Tasks: % of Time
Responsibility # 1: Management of Safeguarding Investigations (response) 40% · Manage all cases that come through in line with CARE’s investigation standards, timescales (60 days) and the local statutory framework. · Carry out survivor centered investigations using CHS investigation principles and best practices ensuring that these are fair, robust, professional, and aligned with our values and policy framework, producing evidence-based reports and recommendations. · Work closely and in partnership with People and Culture and local lawyers (where required) to ensure that misconduct is addressed consistently across operations through prescribed disciplinary processes to provide a safe working environment · Working in tandem with People and Culture to ensure CARE staff are held accountable in upholding our values and policy requirements. · Supervise and direct the work and activities of local Safeguarding staff and SHEA Investigators. · Act as a key contact of the CARE USA Investigation Manager notifying them of cases and updating on progress on a weekly basis. · Be responsible for oversight and completeness of investigation reports- review work for accuracy and completeness, and return assignments delivered by internal investigators with recommendations and feedback for proper completion. · Resolve problems encountered during daily operations and determine appropriate solutions. · Analyse and report on key findings to track trends, and share the information with CD/ DCD-Program Support. · Input and update cases in CAREline so that they can be tracked at a global level. Maintain local systems ensuring confidentiality.
Responsibility # 2: Safeguarding prevention mechanisms (including safer programs) 40% · Ensure that the CARE International Safeguarding policy is embedded at all levels of the organization, and that all staff and related personnel understand their obligation to abide with the Safeguarding code of conduct and policy. · Design and deliver Safeguarding awareness training in coordination with the Regional Safeguarding Adviser and CARE Bangladesh People and Culture team. · Ensure that CARE’s safer program standards are understood, and embedded in the work of CARE Bangladesh, working with Program Management teams and leadership to raise awareness of these standards and to embed the safer programs framework into projects and programs. This will include risk assessments for all programs, ensuring that program participants understand how staff and related personnel should conduct themselves, and that program participants and community members have access to robust and confidential reporting mechanisms. · Work with Partners to ensure that they understand the requirements of the CARE International Safeguarding policy, sector standards and donor requirements, help with partner due diligence and capacity planning development · Work with program teams to access resources for safeguarding through project proposals and grants. Responsibility # 3: Management reporting and coordination 15% Monitoring and evaluation: · Ensuring that senior leadership are regularly updated on safeguarding activities by developing monthly/ quarterly reports that detail Safeguarding prevention activities including awareness raising and feedback on safer programs implementation. · Working with the Regional safeguarding adviser to develop a dashboard for management reporting. · Prepare Annual Transparency Reports as per prevailing practice on a semi – annual / annual basis. Critical incident reporting: · Ensuring that CARE Bangladesh CD and DCD-Program Support are briefed on serious issues that are reported, ensuring that serious cases are included on CARELine and the Regional Safeguarding Adviser is notified. · Develop an internal crisis management process for safeguarding incidents in liaison with CARE Bangladesh SMT and Safety and Security. This will include prepare responsive communications in collaboration with Strategic Communications Unit against potentially volatile incidents that can damage CARE reputation. OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES AS ASSIGNED 5% Responsibility: Responsibilities on Safety and Security, Gender and Inclusion and Safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults As part of this role, the job holder must adhere to and support CARE Bangladesh’s Safety and Security policy and systems as part of their day-to-day duties and comply with safety & security protocols and directives, including reporting. Staff must maintain situational and self–awareness and be aware of the safety – security-related consequences of their actions upon themselves, their team, and the organization. CARE is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behavior at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity, and financial misconduct, and expects staff to promote the welfare of children, young people, and adults always. CARE expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our Code of Conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate this commitment are recruited to work with us. Gender equality and inclusion are fundamental at CARE, promoting equal rights and challenging discriminatory norms to achieve social justice. We foster an inclusive workplace respecting diverse gender identities, abilities, backgrounds, and experiences through dialogue, training, and diversity initiatives. All CARE staff must uphold ethical standards, following codes of conduct to prevent abuse, including sexual harassment, exploitation, and neglect. Regular monitoring ensures accountability to uphold these principles and support our mission of social justice and poverty alleviation.
III. Reporting to: Deputy Country Director – Program Support IV. Working Conditions: CARE Bangladesh Dhaka Office V. Qualification: · 8-10 years of relevant professional experience. · 3-5 years of investigation management experience including complex cases. · Masters Degree level of education (preference in Human Resources and Law). · Two (2) years experience supervising a team. · Background / technical expertise in managing safeguarding operations in a large organization, including People and Culture and Operations. · Superlative Fluency in English with thorough understanding of nuances of language in report writing · Excellent interviewing and analytical skills. · Experience of complex misconduct investigations. · Ability to run a number of complex processes concurrently while adhering to a demanding time schedule. · Highly organized with excellent time management skills. · Training / qualification in managing complex and sensitive investigations. · Training in interview skills and techniques and/ or mediation techniques. · Thorough understanding of legal aspects of Safe guarding investigations. · Confident and self-assured but acts with humility. · Excellent analytical skills. · Calm under pressure. · Experience of working in an international NGO. · Ability to build rapport with people at all levels. · Able to take tough decisions.