Project Officer - Safeguarding (Nigerian Nationals Only)

Background

The Faith and Community Initiative (FCI) is a large, multi-country global health program being implemented under a World Vision–led consortium, with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) slated to lead implementation in Nigeria, Cameroon, and Liberia.   FCI’s goal is to support countries in building resilient, nationally owned health systems that sustainably deliver integrated HIV, TB, malaria, MCH, and nutrition services through strengthened community and frontline health worker platforms.  To achieve this goal, FCI has three key objectives: 1) Strengthen Community and Frontline Health Worker Networks; 2) Ensure that Existing Faith and Community-based Services are Well Coordinated and Integrated into Government Systems; and 3) Transition to National and Sub-national Systems.  To expand the availability and utilization of integrated health services, FCI will adapt and replicate a hub-and-spoke model using tools developed by Circle of Hope’s Community Post model established in Zambia, rapidly establishing and supporting hub-and-spoke facility networks to deliver integrated health services. Hub-and-spoke models will be expanded, and integrated into, existing health service delivery systems supported through national governments, faith-based organizations, and other civil society partners to strengthen local ownership, cascade MOH guidance and protocols to CHWs and FHWs, and ensure CHW and FLW are recruited, trained, and supervised through transition-ready health systems. Across countries, FCI emphasizes strengthening health systems (including digital data use and supply chains) and an intentional transition to sustainable, country-led ownership over time.

Job Summary:

The Safeguarding Officer will support safeguarding and accountability implementation for the Faith and Community Initiative (FCI) in Nigeria. Working within CRS’ country office structure and in coordination with project, MEAL, partner, and government-facing teams, s/he will help ensure that FCI’s community-based health systems strengthening activities are delivered safely, respectfully, and accountably. The role will support safeguarding awareness, safe reporting channels, feedback and complaint tracking, documentation of safeguarding-related concerns, and timely referral or follow-up in line with CRS policies and procedures. In the context of FCI’s hub-and-spoke health service delivery model, faith and community-based partnerships, and work with community and frontline health worker networks, the Safeguarding Officer will help strengthen community trust, protect children and vulnerable adults, and promote learning that improves program quality and local ownership.

Roles and Key Responsibilities: 

Safeguarding Prevention, Reporting and Response Support

• Support implementation of CRS safeguarding policies, standards, and procedures across FCI-supported hub-and-spoke health service delivery activities, partner sites, and community platforms.
• Receive, document, and refer safeguarding-related concerns from FCI program participants, community members, CHWs/frontline health workers, staff, and partners in line with approved reporting, confidentiality, and escalation protocols.
• Maintain safeguarding records, trackers, and follow-up documentation for assigned FCI activities as directed by the supervisor.
• Prepare concise safeguarding updates and reports that support FCI implementation, risk monitoring, and management review.

Feedback, Accountability and Community Reporting Mechanisms

• Support safe, confidential, inclusive, and accessible feedback and reporting channels for FCI program participants, communities, CHWs/frontline health workers, faith-based and community-based partners, staff, and volunteers.
• Work with project teams and partner focal points to ensure communities understand how to raise safeguarding concerns, complaints, and general feedback within FCI-supported service delivery platforms.
• Maintain FCI feedback and complaint logs, ensuring safeguarding-related entries are referred promptly, handled confidentially, and tracked for follow-up.
• Support periodic review of feedback trends to inform program improvement, risk mitigation, and transition-ready community health systems.

Training, Awareness and Capacity Strengthening

• Support safeguarding and accountability awareness sessions for CRS staff, FCI consortium and implementing partners, volunteers, CHWs/frontline health workers, and program participants.
• Assist in adapting simple training, refresher, and information materials on safeguarding, safe reporting, confidentiality, and accountability standards for use across FCI community and facility-linked platforms.
• Maintain records of training, awareness, and community sensitization activities and submit periodic summaries to the supervisor.

Compliance and Relationships

• Work closely with Program, MEAL, HR, Risk and Compliance, consortium, faith-based, community-based, and government-facing teams to promote safe programming and accountability within FCI implementation.
• Support periodic reviews of safeguarding and accountability practices across FCI project locations and recommend practical improvements that support integration into national and sub-national systems.
• Contribute to periodic reports summarizing safeguarding/accountability trends, response status, and lessons learned to support adaptive management and sustainable country-led ownership.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (SKAs)

• Working knowledge of safeguarding, accountability, feedback mechanisms, and community engagement in humanitarian or development programming.
• Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion, confidentiality, and respect for survivor-centered principles.
• Strong interpersonal, listening, and communication skills, with the ability to engage respectfully with diverse stakeholders.
• Good documentation, data management, and basic report writing skills.
• Proactive, organized, service-oriented, and able to work effectively in a team environment.

Required Languages: Fluency in English is required. Fluency in Hausa, Pidgin, or other relevant local languages will be an added advantage.

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 25% to project locations and partner sites, as required.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, psychology, law, counseling or similar. 
• Minimum of 4 years of relevant work experience in safeguarding, accountability, protection, MEAL, community engagement, complaints handling, or related program support. Experience with an NGO or humanitarian/development organization is preferred.

Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions. 
• Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

What we offer

CRS offers U.S. based staff a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan.  Benefits packages for successful candidates employed outside the U.S. are based on the country of employment/in-country office where the candidate will perform the role.  CRS´ work culture is a collaborative, mission-driven culture committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.  Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.  We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.  The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.

CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position. 

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.