The posting
Your mission
War Child is looking for a: Senior Safeguarding Specialist (Africa Country Cluster) Who strengthens safeguarding systems and drives a culture of safety, accountability, and protection.
About the role
The Senior Safeguarding Specialist provides technical expertise to strengthen safeguarding practice across War Child Alliance, ensuring that safeguarding standards, policies, and approaches are consistently understood, applied, and continuously improved.
The role supports the organisation to identify and manage safeguarding risks, embed safeguarding into programmes and organisational processes, and strengthen systems, capacity, and culture. Working across teams, functions, and contexts, the Safeguarding Specialist contributes to safe, accountable, and ethical ways of working that protect children, communities, and staff..
What you will do
This role sits within the Integrity & Safeguarding function and works across country programmes, and global teams. It supports coordination between HR, safeguarding, investigations, and operational teams to ensure a consistent and effective approach to integrity, safeguarding, ethical behaviour, and misconduct management.
- Provide technical safeguarding advice and guidance to managers and teams, supporting consistent interpretation and application of safeguarding standards, policies, and frameworks.
- Contribute to the development, refinement, and contextualisation of safeguarding approaches, tools, and frameworks to ensure they remain practical, relevant, and aligned with organisational and sector standards.
- Advise on the identification, assessment, and mitigation of safeguarding risks across activities, programmes, and partnerships, supporting informed and risk-aware decision-making.
- Guide the strengthening of safeguarding systems and processes, including reporting mechanisms, community feedback channels, and risk management practices, ensuring consistency and effectiveness.
- Support the integration of safeguarding principles into organisational processes, including programme design, partnerships, recruitment, and operational practices.
- Provide technical input to capacity strengthening efforts, including advising on learning approaches, training content, and capability development for staff, focal points, and partners.
- Contribute to monitoring, analysis, and interpretation of safeguarding data, trends, and risks, providing insight to inform organisational learning, improvement, and decision-making.
- Work across functions (e.g. HR, programmes, MEAL, safeguarding, integrity) to promote alignment and coherence in safeguarding approaches, policies, and practices.
Your profile
Education
- Relevant qualification or equivalent professional experience in safeguarding, social work, psychology, international development, humanitarian action, human rights, or a related field is desirable.
Experience
- Minimum of 2 years’ experience working on protection, PSEA and/or safeguarding with civil society / I/NGOs
- Experience of delivering safeguarding activities in emergency response situations
- Worked on safeguarding, protection, or related risk areas in a complex organisational or programme environment
- Supported or advised on safeguarding concerns, incidents, or risk management processes
- Contributed to the development or application of safeguarding policies, frameworks, or standards
- Worked across teams, functions, or partners to support consistent approaches to safeguarding practice
- Supported integration of safeguarding into programmes, partnerships, or organisational processes
- Contributed to capacity strengthening, learning, or awareness initiatives related to safeguarding or protection
- Worked with sensitive information and situations requiring discretion, sound judgement, and ethical decision-making
- Worked in international, humanitarian, development, or values-led environments
Languages
- Fluency in English is required for this role.
- Fluency in French is also desireable
- Additional languages may be useful for example Swahili, Arabic, Hausa
(Technical) Knowledge
- Knowledge of safeguarding principles, protection standards, and risk management approaches
- Understanding of safeguarding in both organisational and programme contexts, including partnerships and community engagement
- Understanding of relevant international standards (e.g. CHS, PSEA, safeguarding frameworks) and their practical application
- Ability to provide clear, practical, and context-sensitive technical advice
- Ability to assess and interpret safeguarding risks and support appropriate mitigation measures
- Ability to work across functions and build effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders
- Ability to communicate clearly and support shared understanding on sensitive or complex issues
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with a proven ability to build trust, understand client needs, and deliver clear, tailored solutions in client-facing environments.
- Uses judgement to balance policy, context, and organisational values in decision-making
- Ability to support learning, reflection, and continuous improvement in safeguarding practice
- Supports inclusive, respectful, and values-led ways of working
What we offer
- Location: Based in any of the War Child offices across the Africa Cluster.
- Type of Contract : Local contract with salary and secondary labour conditions based on the in-country salary scale, local T&C's will apply.
Why You Should Apply
- Meaningful Impact : Contribute directly to improving the lives of children and families affected by conflict through quality education and long-term, sustainable change.
- Professional Growth: Join a dynamic organisation that values learning, innovation, and professional development, with opportunities for capacity building and growth through the role and War Child’s global network.
- Global Reach : Play a key role in scaling a ground-breaking programme across multiple conflict-affected contexts worldwide.
- Collaborative & Inclusive Culture : Work alongside passionate, mission-driven colleagues in a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace that prioritises safety, fairness and equal opportunity for all.
How to Apply
To apply, please submit your CV and cover letter in English through our career's website by August 12, 2026
Please note that CVs and applications sent by email will not be considered. Applications must be submitted through the official application channel only.
_______________________________________________________________________________ By submitting your application you certify that all of the statements made in your application are true, complete, and correct and are made in good faith. You understand that falsifying, misrepresenting or intentionally withholding information will be grounds for rejection of your application or withdrawal of any offer of appointment or, if an appointment offer has been accepted, this will be ground for employment sanctions, such as, but not limited to, instant dismissal. In addition, you understand that you need to submit a Criminal Record Certificate and that, if you fail to submit it, no employment relationship can be established. Disclaimer
- Only applications received via our website are processed.
- If we appoint a suitable candidate before the given closing date, we reserve the right to remove the vacancy from our website before that date. In such a case, any responses received after that time are not processed.
- It could be that during our selection process the closing date for the vacancy is extended. If so, and you have not yet heard from us, your application will remain active.
