Program Officer –Safeguarding & ISO Certification job at Kilimo Trust

Kilimo Trust is hiring a Program Officer –Safeguarding & ISO Certification for Women & Youth Economic Empowerment in Fisheries through Inclusive Market Access Programme with the following duties and responsibilities;

Job Title: Program Officer –Safeguarding & ISO Certification (01) Position

Program: Regional East Africa Women and Youth Economic Empowerment in Fisheries project

Job Grade: KT4

Reports To: Country Team Leader Uganda

Employment Category: Contract

Duty Station: Kampala -Uganda

Coverage: Regional – Supporting KT safeguarding agenda in all areas of operations   

Purpose of the Job

• The Regional Safeguarding Officer will lead the implementation, monitoring, and strengthening of safeguarding systems across the KT operations.
• Continuous review of the Standard Operating Procedures of our ISO 45001, 9001, 14001 standards.
• To ensure that all project activities comply to the ISO Standard 450001 on occupational health and safety for participants engaged in the WYEEFIMA and other KT projects.
• Provide strategic guidance, technical support, and oversight to ensure safeguarding principles are integrated into all aspects of project planning, implementation, and monitoring across the participating countries.
• The Safeguarding Officer will promote safe participation, prevent abuse, exploitation, harassment, and discrimination, and ensure accessible reporting and response mechanisms for safeguarding concerns.
• Implement the KT safeguarding policy and ensure compliance in collaboration with all CTLs, Program Leads and Staff

Responsibilities:

a) Safeguarding Strategy and Leadership :

• Lead the implementation of safeguarding policies and frameworks across the project’s operations in the three participating EAC countries.
• Provide strategic guidance to project leadership and country teams on safeguarding risks and mitigation measures.
• Ensure safeguarding principles are mainstreamed into project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• Develop and periodically update safeguarding action plans aligned with organizational and donor safeguarding standards.
• Operationalize the KT safeguarding policy and strategy

b) ISO Certification Compliance

• Ensure KT ISO Certification is communicated, tracked and incidents reported
• Develop appropriate tracking mechanisms for ISO compliance across KT operations
• Periodically train staff, suppliers and partners on best practices to ensure compliance
• Maintain appropriate records for ISO compliance across KT projects
• Develop ISO compliance analytics and reports for KT management and KT Board of Trustees.

c) Risk Assessment and Mitigation:

• Conduct safeguarding risk assessments across project sites including fish landing sites, markets, border points, and trade corridors.
• Identify risks particularly affecting women and youth engaged in cross-border fish trade.
• Develop mitigation strategies and integrate safeguarding risk management into operational plans.
• Monitor emerging safeguarding risks within cross-border trade environments and recommend corrective actions.
• Assess safeguarding risks for all other KT operations and develop action plans to mitigate them

d) Policy Implementation and Compliance

• Ensure compliance with organizational safeguarding policies, including prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), protection from harassment, and child protection where applicable.
• Support country teams and partners to operationalize safeguarding standards in project implementation.
• Ensure that all staff, consultants, partners, and volunteers understand and adhere to safeguarding obligations.

e) Safeguarding Training and Capacity Building:

• Design and deliver safeguarding training programs for staff, implementing partners, community leaders, and project participants.
• Strengthen safeguarding awareness among women and youth involved in fish trade across border markets and landing sites.
• Develop and disseminate safeguarding awareness materials tailored to the cross-border trading context.
• Build the capacity of country-level safeguarding focal points to support implementation and monitoring.

f) Reporting, Case Management, and Survivor Support:

• Establish and strengthen confidential and accessible safeguarding reporting mechanisms across project locations.
• Receive and manage safeguarding complaints in line with survivor-centered principles and confidentiality standards.
• Coordinate appropriate referrals to relevant service providers, including psychosocial, legal, and protection services.
• Ensure timely documentation, investigation support, and follow-up of safeguarding concerns in accordance with policy.

g) Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning:

• Monitor safeguarding compliance across KT operational areas, activities, partners, and field operations.
• Conduct regular safeguarding field visits and compliance assessments across KT countries.
• Integrate safeguarding indicators into project monitoring and reporting mechanisms including donor reports, Board reports and internal audit reports.
• Document lessons learned and best practices to improve safeguarding systems across KT projects including WYEEFIMA project.

h) Coordination and Partnerships:

• Work closely with project teams, government agencies, and cross-border authorities to strengthen safeguarding standards in alignment with KT policy
• Collaborate with women’s groups, youth networks, fisheries associations, and community organizations to promote safe participation in trade.
• Engage with regional safeguarding and protection networks where relevant
• Support safeguarding coordination with relevant national institutions and regulatory authorities.

i) Safeguarding in Partner and Vendor Management

• Support due diligence processes to ensure safeguarding standards are integrated into partner agreements.
• Provide technical support to implementing partners to strengthen their safeguarding systems.
• Ensure safeguarding compliance in procurement processes and contractual agreements.

Expected Outputs

1. At least 1 Regional safeguarding implementation plan developed.
2. Risk assessment reports for all KT programs and projects, developed and published among country teams.
3. ISO compliance reports submitted to KT management and Board of Trustees
4. At least 1 Safeguarding training session held in each of the KT countries for staff, partners, and beneficiaries.
5. At least 1 ISO Certification training session held in each of the KT countries for staff, partners, and beneficiaries.
6. ISO compliance assessments routinely conducted
7. The KT safeguarding tracking and reporting mechanism established.
8. The KT ISO Compliance tracking and reporting mechanism established.
9. Safeguarding compliance monitoring reports developed and submitted.
10. Documentation of safeguarding incidents and follow-up actions in line with KT policy.

Educational Qualifications and Experience Required

1. Master’s degree in business process engineering, business management, environmental science, IT, Gender Studies & Development Studies, Law, or a related field.
2. Minimum 5 years of professional experience in ISO Certification, safeguarding, protection, gender equality, or social development programming.
3. Demonstrated experience managing safeguarding or protection systems within regional or multi-country development programs is a MUST.
4. Professional training or In-depth knowledge of the ISO 9001 for Quality Management, ISO 45001 on Occupational Health and Safety and ISO 14001; is highly desired.
5. Experience working with economic empowerment programs, particularly in fisheries, agriculture, or trade sectors is an added advantage.
6. Strong knowledge of safeguarding standards including PSEA, gender-based violence prevention, and protection principles.
7. Experience working with international NGOs, regional organizations, or donor-funded programs is highly desirable.
8. Demonstrated experience tracking, reporting and managing safeguarding programs under similar conditions.
9. Practical Work experience in EAC countries is an added advantage

• Lead the implementation of safeguarding policies and frameworks across the project’s operations in the three participating EAC countries.
• Provide strategic guidance to project leadership and country teams on safeguarding risks and mitigation measures.
• Ensure safeguarding principles are mainstreamed into project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• Develop and periodically update safeguarding action plans aligned with organizational and donor safeguarding standards.
• Operationalize the KT safeguarding policy and strategy
• Ensure KT ISO Certification is communicated, tracked and incidents reported
• Develop appropriate tracking mechanisms for ISO compliance across KT operations
• Periodically train staff, suppliers and partners on best practices to ensure compliance
• Maintain appropriate records for ISO compliance across KT projects
• Develop ISO compliance analytics and reports for KT management and KT Board of Trustees.
• Conduct safeguarding risk assessments across project sites including fish landing sites, markets, border points, and trade corridors.
• Identify risks particularly affecting women and youth engaged in cross-border fish trade.
• Develop mitigation strategies and integrate safeguarding risk management into operational plans.
• Monitor emerging safeguarding risks within cross-border trade environments and recommend corrective actions.
• Assess safeguarding risks for all other KT operations and develop action plans to mitigate them
• Ensure compliance with organizational safeguarding policies, including prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), protection from harassment, and child protection where applicable.
• Support country teams and partners to operationalize safeguarding standards in project implementation.
• Ensure that all staff, consultants, partners, and volunteers understand and adhere to safeguarding obligations.
• Design and deliver safeguarding training programs for staff, implementing partners, community leaders, and project participants.
• Strengthen safeguarding awareness among women and youth involved in fish trade across border markets and landing sites.
• Develop and disseminate safeguarding awareness materials tailored to the cross-border trading context.
• Build the capacity of country-level safeguarding focal points to support implementation and monitoring.
• Establish and strengthen confidential and accessible safeguarding reporting mechanisms across project locations.
• Receive and manage safeguarding complaints in line with survivor-centered principles and confidentiality standards.
• Coordinate appropriate referrals to relevant service providers, including psychosocial, legal, and protection services.
• Ensure timely documentation, investigation support, and follow-up of safeguarding concerns in accordance with policy.
• Monitor safeguarding compliance across KT operational areas, activities, partners, and field operations.
• Conduct regular safeguarding field visits and compliance assessments across KT countries.
• Integrate safeguarding indicators into project monitoring and reporting mechanisms including donor reports, Board reports and internal audit reports.
• Document lessons learned and best practices to improve safeguarding systems across KT projects including WYEEFIMA project.
• Work closely with project teams, government agencies, and cross-border authorities to strengthen safeguarding standards in alignment with KT policy
• Collaborate with women’s groups, youth networks, fisheries associations, and community organizations to promote safe participation in trade.
• Engage with regional safeguarding and protection networks where relevant
• Support safeguarding coordination with relevant national institutions and regulatory authorities.
• Support due diligence processes to ensure safeguarding standards are integrated into partner agreements.
• Provide technical support to implementing partners to strengthen their safeguarding systems.
• Ensure safeguarding compliance in procurement processes and contractual agreements.

• communication skills

• Master’s degree in business process engineering, business management, environmental science, IT, Gender Studies & Development Studies, Law, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in ISO Certification, safeguarding, protection, gender equality, or social development programming.
• Demonstrated experience managing safeguarding or protection systems within regional or multi-country development programs is a MUST.
• Professional training or In-depth knowledge of the ISO 9001 for Quality Management, ISO 45001 on Occupational Health and Safety and ISO 14001; is highly desired.
• Experience working with economic empowerment programs, particularly in fisheries, agriculture, or trade sectors is a