The Safeguarding Officer is responsible for promoting and upholding the highest standards of child and youth protection across all JA Africa in Rwanda programmes. The role ensures that all programme activities, staff, and partners adhere to safeguarding policies and practices, mitigating any risks of harm or abuse to children, youth, and vulnerable adults. The Officer will lead prevention, training, reporting, and compliance efforts to create a safe, inclusive, and protective environment for all participants, with the authority to escalate or pause programme activities where safeguarding risks cannot be adequately mitigated.
Key Responsibilities
Safeguarding Leadership & Implementation
● Lead the implementation of JA Africa in Rwanda safeguarding policies and frameworks across all Rwanda programmes, ensuring consistent compliance and accountability at all levels.
● Provide independent safeguarding oversight and exercise authority to escalate concerns or recommend suspension of programme activities where risks remain unmitigated.
Risk Assessment & Prevention
● Identify potential safeguarding risks in programmes and operations and develop practical mitigation strategies to prevent incidents of harm or abuse.
● Integrate safeguarding risk assessments into programme planning and delivery processes.
Capacity Building & Training
● Design and facilitate safeguarding training for staff, volunteers, and partners to strengthen awareness, reporting compliance, and a culture of safety.
Case Management & Reporting
● Manage the reporting, documentation, and resolution of safeguarding concerns, ensuring confidentiality, adherence to due process, and timely communication with relevant leadership.
Stakeholder Engagement & Coordination
● Act as the safeguarding focal point for engagement with district authorities, Police Gender Desks, schools, and other relevant local structures to ensure coordinated and effective safeguarding response.
Monitoring & Evaluation
● Track safeguarding indicators, analyse incident trends, and prepare periodic reports to inform continuous improvement and strengthen preventive measures.
Policy Review & Documentation
● Maintain up-to-date safeguarding records, case files, and policy documents, and support regular reviews of safeguarding procedures in line with global best practices.
Education & Qualifications
● Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Education, Human Rights, Child Protection, or a related field.
● A Master’s degree in a relevant field is an added advantage.
● Certification or formal training in Safeguarding, Child Protection, or Risk Management is highly desirable.
Experience Requirements
● Minimum of 3–5 years’ experience in safeguarding, child protection, youth development, or related work within NGO, development, or education environments.
● Demonstrable experience in child and/or youth protection work, even without holding a formal safeguarding job title.
● Experience working with community-based structures such as district authorities, Police Gender Desks, schools, or similar local institutions.
● Proven experience in developing and implementing safeguarding frameworks and risk mitigation strategies.
● Experience conducting safeguarding or child protection training and awareness sessions.
● Demonstrated ability to manage sensitive safeguarding cases with professionalism and confidentiality.
Key Skills & Competencies
● Strong understanding of safeguarding principles, child protection laws, and ethical standards.
● Excellent facilitation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
● Ability to assess risks and make sound, ethical decisions in sensitive situations.
● High levels of integrity, empathy, and discretion.
● Strong organisational and reporting skills with attention to detail.
● Ability to build trust and work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.
● Proficiency in English and Kinyarwanda (written and spoken) is essential.
● Proficiency in French or Swahili is an added advantage.
Personal Attributes
● Deep commitment to protecting children, youth, and vulnerable persons.
● Emotionally mature and able to handle sensitive issues calmly and professionally.
● Approachable, trustworthy, and able to model JA Africa in Rwanda’s values of respect, transparency, and accountability.
Safeguarding Support & Protection
● The Safeguarding Officer will have access to appropriate supervision and peer support mechanisms to safeguard their own psychological wellbeing.
● The role is protected under JA Africa’s whistleblower and non-retaliation policy, ensuring safety and organisational backing when escalating safeguarding concerns.
Reporting Line
● Functionally reports to JA Africa’s General Counsel / Head, Risk.
● Operationally reports to the Executive Director, Rwanda.
TO APPLY:
Please send your CV and a cover letter to recruitment@ja-africa.org with the subject line: “Application for Legal Intern position– Your Name”
(e.g., Application for Legal Intern Position – Mary Johnson). Please use the following naming convention for your application documents: “CV – Applicant’s Name” and “Cover Letter – Applicant’s Name”
Application Deadline: December 12, 2025 (Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted)
