Mobile Implementation Officer Safeguarding – Safeguarding Unit

CONTEXT

MSF's mission is to alleviate suffering, promote health, and save lives. To achieve these goals, it is essential to uphold the highest standards of ethics and behavior. Staff, while providing aid to vulnerable populations, are expected to adhere to a common framework of value and Responsible Behavior: which is concerned with people's actions on an individual level as per MSF Behavioral Commitments.

In 2023, the MSF Operational Center Brussels (OCB) resolved, as per the OCB General Assembly's, OCB Strategic Orientations 2020 – 2023 and as per the “Review of OCB Behavior systems” finalized in December 2023 and approved in March 2024 by the OCB Committee of Directors and in June 2024 by the Board, to evolve its ethics and behavior management carried out by the Group for Advice and Research in Ethics and Conduct into a Safeguarding Unit, in synchronization with the advancement of Safeguarding across the MSF movement.

Following this decision, the project “Safeguarding Unit Transition” initiated in September 2024 supported by a Project Manager and kicked off in December 2024 with two objectives:

The main objective is to develop a Safeguarding Unit, a structure that is embedded in the General Directorate of the Operational Center Brussels and accountable towards the MSF Board with the following areas of responsibilities: Prevention, Case Management & Investigation, Policies and Strategies for both Headquarter and Projects.

The specific objective is to transition from the Group for Advice and Research in Ethics and Conduct, which is the entity that since 2001 works as a multidisciplinary and independent group of associative and executive volunteers who receive and investigate complaints related to behavior and abuse in the projects, to the Safeguarding Unit, in alignment with MSF Forms of Abuses and Inappropriate Behaviors IPOB July 2021 and Safeguarding Standards.

The development of the OCB Safeguarding Unit is and will be an ongoing process, foreseen to continue throughout the MSF OCB 2026-2031 Strategic Orientations with the ambition to include a phased integration in OCB to increase synergies and reinforce processes and procedures.

As OCB Mobile Implementation Safeguarding Officer, you bring an in-depth understanding of Safeguarding in the countries of operations and projects, providing hands-on technical support and knowledge sharing. You will play a crucial role in promoting cultural change within MSF to better align with the organization’s values and principles, supporting the implementation of MSF OCB Safeguarding strategy minimum standards, and contributing to the overall development of the Safeguarding Unit alongside the Safeguarding Officer and Country or projects Safeguarding Focal Points (when in place).You will report to the Safeguarding Manager and work closely with the Safeguarding Team.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Strengthening the Safeguarding framework and accountability at mission/project level – in particular support:

• Project manager and coordinators to understand the MSF OCB Safeguarding framework and standards (pillars); and their role and responsibilities on Safeguarding and their implications.
• The safeguarding risk/gaps management within the project with necessary discussions with all stakeholders in the projects team to identify risks/gaps and develop mitigating action plan within secured resources.
• Enhancing the safeguarding approach in specific contexts (revise contractual documentation and clauses, advise on safe programming matters etc.)
• Ensuring the safeguarding framework and related policies/procedures are accessible, translated (if necessary), and well understood by project staff and affected communities.

Capacity building (including of staff, partners, patients/caretakers and community members) – in particular support:

• Empowering MSF staff (such as HR Coordinators and Safeguarding Focal Points) on how to act as safeguarding advocates in the mission.
• Developing and conducting Training of Trainers (TOT) trainings on raising awareness and sensitize the teams in the projects
• The design/development, testing & adaptation, dissemination of tools, material, methodologies (videos, leaflets, posters etc.) for staff, patients and caretakers, Ministry of Health (MOH) staff within project locations.
• Coordinating and conducting safeguarding awareness activities for patients and caretakers, ensuring they understand their rights, and evaluating how they relate to MSF staff.
• Analyzing existing sensitivity, knowledge, barriers, and awareness in relation to Safeguarding, the current weaknesses in the mission and to adapt the awareness sessions to the context.

Reinforcing community engagement and reporting channels for vulnerable staff, patients and community members – in particular support:

• The Country Coordinator and the projects management team to engage with communities and establish more secure and accessible feedback for staff, community, and patients and design complaint procedures.
• Raising staff awareness on how to welcome a concern/complainant in a sensitive and how to provide or raise a safeguarding concern, including where to refer complaints.
• Mapping of available services for survivors and referral pathways and adapt protocols for referral in coordination with the relevant project coordination departments.
• The design of accessible, culturally sensitive community feedback and response mechanisms (CFRMs).

Supporting risk awareness and mitigation (within project teams) – in particular support:

• Conducting SEAH prevention sessions with MSF staff both in the projects and in MSF OCB offices
• Rollout of the patients’ charter— including the right to be safe, treated with respect, informed about their care, and to report concerns without fear. Provide clear information on how and where to report
• Producing regular reporting including assessment of the context related to barriers, weaknesses and strengths of the mission, main topics of discussion and problems encountered, sessions and trainings done, reporting and communication systems that are in place or in need to be established/ to change.

Networking (internal/external) in collaboration with country coordinator and teams and Safeguarding Manager - support:

• Identifying opportunities to connect MSF with relevant networks/taskforces (such as GBV cluster or child protection Cluster, Inter-agency PSEA network)
• Collaborating, when possible, with other MSF sections and NGOs.
• Participating in team discussions and working within the Safeguarding Unit.
• Collaborating and networking with*:* Country Coordinator, HR Coordinator, Safeguarding Focal Points, Learning and Development Unit, HQ Staff Health to ensure ad hoc punctual support.

REQUIREMENTS

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in law, social sciences, social work, education, development studies, gender studies, psychology or any other relevant field of study
• Minimum 2 years’ experience of working in a safeguarding position, preferably in an international NGO setting and humanitarian context
• Minimum 2 years’ experience demonstrated experience of having managed and developed (safeguarding), learning and raising awareness activities to diverse audiences in the humanitarian sector
• Track record safeguarding or related fields such as child protection, gender-based violence or community engagement, preferably in international non-profit organizations
• Knowledge of the current trends in Safeguarding in the humanitarian sector or applicable to humanitarian contexts
• Demonstrated ability to be self-motivated and work independently with a high degree of professionalism, to achieve objectives, as well as work collaboratively within a team
• Demonstrated ability to influence strategic decisions on safeguarding through evidence-based advocacy and strategic (internal & external networking)

Competencies

• Safeguarding Trainings (Protection from Sexual Exploitation Abuse & Harassment (PSEAH), types and signs of abuse)
• Knowledge on safeguarding related legislations
• Ability to think critically and analytically enabling excellent decision-making abilities around the protection of vulnerable people
• Excellent communication skills, and demonstrated ability to produce professional materials, communication, and written reports, online and face to face trainings or workshops to a wide variety of audience
• Strong people skills and team-oriented with the ability to navigate complex organisational culture
• Confident and engaging, strong cross-cultural communication abilities
• Experience in multicultural transversal settings
• Strong organization and time management skills
• Discreet and able to handle information sensitively
• Strong motivation to ensure MSF OCB is a safe work environment where people are heard, and concerns are addressed
• Integrity and Ethical Judgment

Languages

• Proficiency in English and French or Arabic, both written and spoken is mandatory
• Good working knowledge Spanish, and/or Portuguese is an asset

Other

• Willingness and capacity to travel frequently to various contexts for periods ranging from a minimum of 3 weeks up to 2 months at a time, sometimes under challenging conditions

CONDITIONS

• Expected starting date: As soon as possible
• Location:Mainly carried out in the countries of intervention - Based in the country of residence in between assignments
• Mobility: 70% in MSF countries of intervention
• Contract type: Fixed-term contract – full-time
• Contract duration: 12 months (extendable)
• Salary according to MSF international grid
• The contractual terms and conditions will be established according to the place of work, legal constraints and in respect of MSF standard function and salary grids
• Medical Insurance 100% covered as per international package; 45 days of paid annual leave
• Adhere to the MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment
• Adhere to the MSF Behavioral Commitments

Deadline for applications: 15th of October 2025

How to apply

➢ Submit your application via the 'Apply here' button

➢ You will be directed to the online application form for this position

➢ It should take 5-10 minutes to complete. Thank you in advance for having your CV and motivation letter ready to upload

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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