Gender Mainstreaming & Safeguarding Associate

Gender Mainstreaming & Safeguarding Associate

Job Summary

We are seeking a skilled and experienced Gender Mainstreaming & Safeguarding Associate to lead the integration of gender equality, social inclusion, and participant protection across a multi-country programme. In this role, you will develop and implement strategies that ensure all programme activities are accessible, safe, and responsive to the needs of women, people with disabilities, displaced youth, and other underserved groups. You will work closely with programme teams, partners, and donors to embed gender-responsive approaches, strengthen safeguarding systems, and report on key performance indicators.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategy Development & Adaptation: Develop, adapt, and support the implementation of the programme's gender mainstreaming, inclusion, and participant protection approaches, ensuring alignment with GrowthAfrica, donor, and partner requirements.
• Analysis & Evidence Building: Conduct gender and inclusion analysis at programme inception and periodically thereafter to identify and address barriers to participation.
• Programme Improvement: Review programme content, facilitation approaches, and selection processes, and provide practical recommendations to strengthen gender-responsive and inclusive delivery for women, people with disabilities, displaced youth, and other underserved groups.
• Safeguarding Systems: Develop, strengthen, and support safe, accessible, and confidential reporting and referral pathways for safeguarding concerns across all four countries, in line with programme policies and escalation procedures.
• Capacity Building: Build awareness among programme staff and key partners on gender mainstreaming, inclusion principles, and safeguarding responsibilities.
• Monitoring & Reporting: Track and report on gender and inclusion KPIs (e.g., percentage of female participants at each stage; gender disaggregation of outcomes) in coordination with the M&E Coordinator.
• Case Management & Referral: Maintain appropriate documentation and support timely referral or escalation of safeguarding concerns, working within approved policies, survivor-centred practice, confidentiality requirements, and delegated authority.
• Donor Reporting: Contribute gender and safeguarding sections to quarterly and annual donor reports.

Qualifications and Requirements

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Gender Studies, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Social Work, Law, or another relevant discipline. A recognised professional qualification in gender, safeguarding, or inclusion is an added advantage.

Experience

• Minimum 5 to 7 years of progressive professional experience in gender mainstreaming, inclusion, safeguarding, social protection, or related work within development, entrepreneurship, education, or similar programmes.
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing gender-responsive and inclusive programme approaches, including translating policies, tools, or technical guidance into practical implementation.
• Strong working knowledge of safeguarding principles, safe reporting and referral pathways, confidentiality requirements, and donor expectations.
• Proven experience conducting gender and inclusion analyses and using evidence to strengthen programme design, participant engagement, and implementation quality.
• Experience designing and delivering training (including training of trainers), coaching, and capacity building initiatives for multidisciplinary teams and programme partners.
• Strong understanding of the barriers affecting women's economic empowerment and the participation of underserved groups, with demonstrated experience designing practical solutions within African contexts.

Skills & Competencies

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to prepare high-quality technical guidance, policy documents, and donor reporting inputs.
• Excellent knowledge of gender-responsive programme design, inclusive facilitation approaches, and safeguarding good practice.
• Ability to navigate sensitive issues with discretion, empathy, and cultural competence across diverse African contexts.