Gender And Safeguarding Technical Associate job at Development Links Consult (DLC)

Job Title: Gender And Safeguarding Technical Associate
Organization: Development Links Consult (DLC)
Contract Type: Fixed-Term (12 Months - Renewable)
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
Accountable to: Resident Director
Immediate Supervisor: Operations Manager

About Organization:
Development Links Consult (DLC) is a growing consultancy firm registered in Uganda, operating on a wide scale across Africa. DLC’s mission is to enhance the scale and effectiveness of development interventions that target vulnerable groups. Our consultancy services include, among others, safeguarding (keeping people and organizations safe), Gender, operational research, measurement (baselines and end-line evaluations), Technical Assistance, and Organizational capacity development.

Job Summary:
The Gender and Safeguarding Technical Associate will be a crucial member of our team, providing dual expertise to support the core technical work of gender integration and safeguarding. This role involves ensuring that gender analysis translates into tangible, equitable, and inclusive strategies, while strengthening the safeguarding capacity of DLC and its partners to prevent and respond to harm. The successful candidate will play a key role in bridging these two critical areas to ensure that all interventions are safe, inclusive, and effective.

We are looking for a mid-career professional with a strong foundation in gender and development who can translate research and assessment results into practical, real-world strategies/action plans. The ideal candidate will also have a demonstrable understanding of safeguarding principles and the ability to support partners in developing robust systems.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Gender Specific Duties:

1. Gender Analysis and Assessment:Conduct comprehensive desk reviews, develop and roll out data collection tools (KIIs, FGDs) for gender analysis in consultations with key stakeholders to support data collection and analysis for the production of Gender Assessment Reports.
2. Strategy and Action Planning:Support the preparation and validation of a cohesive Gender Action Plan (GAP) and Gender Mainstreaming Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) based on assessment findings.
3. Capacity Development and Training:Support the development of training courses and materials, and facilitate "Gender Transformative Strategies" sessions for clients and partner organizations.
4. Integrated Programming:Support in making our programs more gender-inclusive through the inclusion of sensitive gender indicators in MEL frameworks, policies, and key clients' and organizations' documents.
5. Stakeholder Engagement:Coordinate with a wide array of clients and partner organizations to align plans, gather input, and mutually implement gender-focused initiatives.

Safeguarding Specific Duties:

6. Safeguarding Assessments:Design and undertake partner safeguarding organizational and risk assessments and support the development and implementation of risk mitigation plans and actions.
7. Safeguarding Capacity Development:Based on partner needs, develop and co-create appropriate and relevant safeguarding training and capacity development packages, content, and tools. Deliver high-quality training programmes on various safeguarding themes and dimensions.
8. Policy and Systems Strengthening:Support and mentor partners in the development and updating of comprehensive but contextualized safeguarding policies, systems, and procedures.
9. Incident Management:Support partners in establishing and implementing incident reporting, investigation, and management processes.
10. Learning and Knowledge Management:Initiate and coordinate appropriate partner learning and knowledge improvement platforms for diverse categories of partner actors.

Cross-cutting  Responsibilities:

11. Monitoring and Reporting:Work with other technical team members to co-develop mechanisms for monitoring the progress of support interventions and measurement of outcomes and impact of DLC's technical support. Document good practices across partners to inform peer learning and improvement. Prepare regular high-quality progress and other reports as required by Management.
12. Internal Compliance:Act as a DLC Focal Person for both Gender and Safeguarding, responsible for ensuring internal compliance with organizational standards in both areas.
13. Business Development: Participate in sourcing consulting opportunities and support preparation of competitive consulting bids and proposals.
14. General Support:Undertake any other consulting tasks and responsibilities as may be assigned to you by Management.

Qualifications, Skills, and Experience:

Education:

• A bachelor's degree in social sciences, Development Studies, Gender and Development Studies, Law, or related field.

Experience:

• 3-5 years of practical, mid-level experience in gender programming, research, or policy development in a credible, dynamic, fast-paced, result-oriented, and multi-stakeholder organization/environment.
• Specific Experience:Demonstrable experience in conducting gender analysis and developing gender action plans.
• Safeguarding Experience:A strong advantage will be given to candidates with proven experience in conducting organizational safeguarding assessments, developing safeguarding policies, and delivering safeguarding training.

Core Competencies:

• Technical Skills:Demonstrable experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection tools (e.g., conducting KIIs, FGDs) and report writing.
• Content Development:Proven ability to support the development of training materials, action plans, or strategic frameworks for both gender and safeguarding.
• Core Values:A deep commitment to the principles of gender equality, social inclusion, and safeguarding (including PSEA - Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse).
• Analytical Skills:Strong analytical skills with the ability to synthesize complex information from both gender and safeguarding perspectives into clear, actionable insights.
• Personal Attributes:Proactive, organized, and able to manage multiple tasks efficiently in a fast-paced environment. A collaborative team player who is also able to work independently on defined deliverables.
• Communication:Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse teams and partners.

• Conduct comprehensive desk reviews, develop and roll out data collection tools (KIIs, FGDs) for gender analysis in consultations with key stakeholders to support data collection and analysis for the production of Gender Assessment Reports.
• Support the preparation and validation of a cohesive Gender Action Plan (GAP) and Gender Mainstreaming Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) based on assessment findings.
• Support the development of training courses and materials, and facilitate "Gender Transformative Strategies" sessions for clients and partner organizations.
• Support in making our programs more gender-inclusive through the inclusion of sensitive gender indicators in MEL frameworks, policies, and key clients' and organizations' documents.
• Coordinate with a wide array of clients and partner organizations to align plans, gather input, and mutually implement gender-focused initiatives.
• Design and undertake partner safeguarding organizational and risk assessments and support the development and implementation of risk mitigation plans and actions.
• Based on partner needs, develop and co-create appropriate and relevant safeguarding training and capacity development packages, content, and tools. Deliver high-quality training programmes on various safeguarding themes and dimensions.
• Support and mentor partners in the development and updating of comprehensive but contextualized safeguarding policies, systems, and procedures.
• Support partners in establishing and implementing incident reporting, investigation, and management processes.
• Initiate and coordinate appropriate partner learning and knowledge improvement platforms for diverse categories of partner actors.
• Work with other technical team members to co-develop mechanisms for monitoring the progress of support interventions and measurement of outcomes and impact of DLC's technical support. Document good practices across partners to inform peer learning and improvement. Prepare regular high-quality progress and other reports as required by Management.
• Act as a DLC Focal Person for both Gender and Safeguarding, responsible for ensuring internal compliance with organizational standards in both areas.
• Participate in sourcing consulting opportunities and support preparation of competitive consulting bids and proposals.
• Undertake any other consulting tasks and responsibilities as may be assigned to you by Management.

• Demonstrable experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection tools (e.g., conducting KIIs, FGDs) and report writing.
• Proven ability to support the development of training materials, action plans, or strategic frameworks for both gender and safeguarding.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to synthesize complex information from both gender and safeguarding perspectives into clear, actionable insights.
• Proactive, organized, and able to manage multiple tasks efficiently in a fast-paced environment. A collaborative team player who is also able to work independently on defined deliverables.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse teams and partners.

• A bachelor's degree in social sciences, Development Studies, Gender and Development Studies, Law, or related field.
• 3-5 years of practical, mid-level experience in gender programming, research, or policy development in a credible, dynamic, fast-paced, result-oriented, and multi-stakeholder organization/environment.
• Demonstrable experience in conducting gender analysis and developing gender action plans.
• A strong advantage will be given to candidates with proven experience in conducting organizational safeguarding assessments, developing safeguarding policies, and delivering safeguarding training.
• A deep commitment to the principles of gender equality, social inclusion, and safeguarding (including PSEA - Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse).