Terms of Reference: Consultant on Safeguarding Programming in CARE Yemen

Position Title: Consultant on Safeguarding Programming in CARE Yemen 

Location: Aden

Duration: 3 months

Reports to: Gender Advisor and HR Manager 

Background

CARE Yemen is dedicated to providing humanitarian aid and development support in one of the most complex and challenging environments in the world. With the ongoing conflict and instability, the safety and protection of vulnerable populations, including women, children, and marginalized groups, are of utmost priority. Recognizing the critical need to enhance safeguarding measures across all programs and operations, CARE Yemen has developed a comprehensive Safeguarding Action Plan. This plan outlines the necessary steps to protect individuals from exploitation, abuse, and harm, ensuring that all activities are conducted with the highest standards of integrity and safety, and support the The Building Resilience through integrated community-based and humanitarian systems transformation and leadership in Yemen (BRIGHTLY) Consortium safeguarding commitments. The BRIGHTLY Consortium brings together national and international organizations with a common commitment to provide lifesaving humanitarian and early-recovery assistance whilst contributing to systemic improvements in Yemen’s social protection systems at multiple levels.   The BRIGHTLY is centred around 3 Pillars of Action: (1) Household resilience; (2) Community empowerment; and (3) System transformation. Two cross-cutting approaches are woven through each of the pillars, strengthening the quality and effectiveness of programme delivery: (4) Evidence and learning and (5) Protection mainstreaming including safeguarding.

Given the urgency and importance of implementing this Safeguarding Action Plan in CARE and support the BRIGHTLY Consortium safeguarding commitments, CARE Yemen has decided to engage a local consultant who will be solely focused on safeguarding. This approach aims to leverage local expertise and ensure that safeguarding measures are effectively integrated into all facets of CARE Yemen’s work and BRIGHTLY Consortium. The consultant will be tasked with actioning specific deliverables within a fixed three-month period, providing the organization with the expertise needed to operationalize and embed safeguarding practices quickly and effectively both at CARE in Yemen and BRIGHTLY Consortium.

Objective

The primary objective of the Safeguarding Local Consultant is to drive the effective implementation of CARE Yemen’s Safeguarding Action Plan within a defined three-month period and support the BRIGHTLY Consortium safeguarding commitments implementation. The consultant’s role is crucial in ensuring that safeguarding policies are not only developed but also practically integrated into CARE Yemen’s daily operations. By collaborating closely with CARE Yemen’s program teams, partners, and stakeholders including BRIGHTLY Consortium members, the consultant will facilitate the seamless adoption of safeguarding practices, creating a safer environment for all beneficiaries and staff.

Key objectives include:

1.    Conducting a thorough review and assessment of the current safeguarding practices and identifying areas for improvement.
2.    Developing and delivering comprehensive training programs tailored to CARE Yemen staff, partners, and community members on safeguarding policies and procedures.
3.    Creating and rolling out robust safeguarding policies and procedures that are culturally appropriate and aligned with CARE’s global standards and donor requirements.
4.    Performing safeguarding and protection risk assessments for all projects and partners, and developing risk mitigation strategies.
5.    Establishing a monitoring and evaluation framework to track the implementation and effectiveness of safeguarding measures.
6.    Providing guidance and support on managing safeguarding incidents, ensuring proper documentation, confidentiality, and follow-up.
7.    Developing and disseminating safeguarding messages and organizing awareness campaigns to promote safeguarding principles among stakeholders.
8.    Support BRIGHTLY Consortium safeguarding commitments implementation. 

The ultimate goal is to ensure that within the three-month consultancy period, all aspects of the Safeguarding Action Plan are operationalized and embedded into CARE Yemen’s programs and BRIGHTLY Consortium safeguarding commitments implementation. This focused effort aims to significantly enhance the organization’s capacity to protect those it serves, aligning with CARE Yemen’s commitment to humanitarian principles and safeguarding excellence.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The Safeguarding Local Consultant will be responsible for driving the effective implementation of CARE Yemen’s Safeguarding Action Plan and BRIGHTLY Consortium safeguarding commitments implementation. This includes conducting an in-depth review of the current plan, providing detailed recommendations for improvement, and developing comprehensive training programs for staff, partners, and community members. The consultant will also facilitate the finalization and roll-out of safeguarding policies and procedures, ensuring they are culturally appropriate and aligned with CARE’s global standards and donor requirements. Additionally, the consultant will conduct safeguarding risk assessments for all projects and partners, developing and implementing risk mitigation strategies as outlined in the action plan.

Furthermore, the consultant will establish a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to track the progress and effectiveness of safeguarding activities, providing regular and detailed reports to CARE Yemen’s leadership. The consultant will act as a focal point for safeguarding issues, engaging with relevant stakeholders to enhance collaboration and share best practices. They will provide expert guidance on managing safeguarding incidents, ensuring proper documentation and adherence to CARE’s guidelines. Finally, the consultant will develop and disseminate safeguarding messages, organizing awareness campaigns to promote safeguarding principles among various stakeholders, ensuring that the action plan is thoroughly embedded within CARE Yemen’s operations and BRIGHTLY Consortium partners.

Key Deliverables:

1.    Action Plan Review and Enhancement:

• Conduct a comprehensive review of CARE Yemen’s Safeguarding Action Plan.
• Provide detailed recommendations to address any identified gaps and areas for improvement.
• Review the BRIGHTLY Consortium safeguarding commitments and Partners Assessment and Action Plan. 

2.    Capacity Building:

• Develop and deliver intensive training sessions for CARE Yemen staff, partners, and community members on safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Create comprehensive training materials and guidelines that can be used for future safeguarding education.
• Provide a training to BRIGHTLY Consortium partners on safeguarding commitments aligned with donor guidelines. 

3.    Policy Implementation:

• Assist in the finalization and roll-out of safeguarding policies and procedures outlined in the Safeguarding Action Plan.
• Ensure all projects and activities comply with CARE’s Safeguarding Policy and donor guidelines.
• Prepare a short policy/brief with key messages on BRIGHTLY Consortium safeguarding commitments for all partners and communities and safer programming approach.

4.    Risk Management:

• Conduct safeguarding and protection risk assessments for all projects and partners including BRIGHTLY Consortium partners as outlined in the action plan.
• Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies and action plans to address identified risks for CARE in Yemen.
• Review the BRIGHTLY Consortium safeguarding risk register and provide plan of action with key activities

5.    Monitoring and Reporting Framework:

• Establish a monitoring and evaluation framework to track the implementation and effectiveness of the Safeguarding Action Plan.
• Prepare comprehensive reports on the progress of safeguarding activities, highlighting successes and areas needing attention.
• Prepare a short report for BRIGHTLY Consortium safeguarding commitments implementation.

6.    Stakeholder Engagement:

• Coordinate with relevant stakeholders, including Protection Clusters and PSEA networks, to enhance collaboration and share best practices as outlined in the action plan.
• Serve as a focal point for safeguarding issues within CARE Yemen during the consultancy period for BRIGHTLY Consortium.
• Support BRIGHTLY Consortium Technical Working Groups (TWGs) discussion and provide inputs needed on safeguarding. Support BRIGHTLY Consortium in coordination with other stakeholders e.g: Social Fund for Development and 

7.    Incident Management Support:

• Provide guidance on managing safeguarding incidents, ensuring proper documentation and follow-up according to the action plan.
• Assist in investigations of reported safeguarding and PSEA incidents, maintaining confidentiality and adherence to CARE’s guidelines.

8.    Awareness and Advocacy:

• Develop and disseminate safeguarding messages to various stakeholders, including community members and partners, in line with the action plan.
• Organize awareness campaigns to promote safeguarding and protection principles.

Support BRIGHTLY Consortium partners on awareness rising efforts by developing Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials in English and Arabic. 

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Gender Studies, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in safeguarding and protection, preferably in a humanitarian or development context.
• Proven experience in conducting trainings and capacity-building initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of Core Humanitarian Standards and safeguarding principles including some key donors.
• Excellent communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders in a multicultural environment.
• Fluency in Arabic and English.