Safeguarding Advisor

Location: Kenya

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: Starting Salary: KES 6,928,645 

Hours of Work: 35 Hours

Closing Date: 03 April 2026

Starting Salary: KES 6,928,645  

Contract: Permanent - Full-time  

Location: Nairobi, Kenya – This is a hybrid role with Hybrid working, with a minimum of 60% of your time in the Nairobi office. 

Job Profile 

The Safeguarding Advisor plays a vital role in strengthening safeguarding across CAFOD and partner organisations in line with our global commitment to create an environment where all individuals, especially children, vulnerable adults and other programme participants are protected from any harm resulting from engagement with us. The post holder plays a key role in supporting CAFOD’s country programmes to ensure that safeguarding is systematically embedded into country operations and programme design, delivery and monitoring.

The Safeguarding Advisor will work closely with staff, safeguarding/SADI focal points, partners, and Catholic Church networks to integrate safeguarding, build capacity, ensure compliance with global standards, and strengthen our safe culture across all aspects of work.

The post holder will report to the Head of Safeguarding (London), with matrix management by the Country Representative for the given location. The post sits within the People, Culture and Change team.

This role requires international travel (e.g. for country office support, training and investigations), occasionally at short notice.

Key Responsibilities 

Development and implementation of the safeguarding framework & action plan 

• Promote deep understanding of CAFOD’s safeguarding framework and associated policies and procedures among staff, supporting them to apply these standards consistently.

• Lead the integration of safeguarding into all programmes through the CAFOD’s Safe, Accessible, Dignified and Inclusive (SADI) programming framework, ensuring that safeguarding risks and SADI principles are incorporated into assessments, design, implementation and monitoring.

• Develop and deliver tailored safeguarding and SADI-related training packages for staff and partners.

• Work with the Head of Safeguarding and governance structures to monitor systems, policies and procedures, ensuring continual learning and improvement.

• Provide technical input on emerging safeguarding initiatives, legislation and donor requirements.

• Continue to build the SADI network as a strong resource for coordination, advice and support, especially through mentoring focal points.

Support and advice to CAFOD Staff 

• Provide expert safeguarding and safe programming advice during programme development (including funding proposals) and implementation.

• Promote and advise on organisational culture change to foster safe, respectful, inclusive and zero-tolerance environments.

• Provide managers with the resources to ensure that staff and volunteers are clear on their rights and responsibilities under CAFOD’s safeguarding policies, and are equipped and supported to promote these and to report or understand how to deal with any concerns or allegations

• Deliver safeguarding case management support in line with organisational policies, maintaining high standards of documentation and confidentiality.

• Lead or support safeguarding investigations as required, using recognised PSEAH investigation standards and trauma-informed approaches.

Supporting CAFOD’s partners 

• Strengthen partners’ safeguarding systems and practices, especially those working with children or vulnerable adults, through training, policy development and technical accompaniment.

• Respond to requests to support Bishops' Conferences and other Church bodies in the development and implementation of their policies and training programmes.

• Support south-south learning and capacity strengthening among partner organisations and safeguarding focal points.

• Provide structured assessment, monitoring and follow up of partners’ safeguarding practice and compliance with CAFOD’s minimum standards.

• Promote safer programming approaches (including SADI) within partner project cycles and community-based initiatives.

Networking, Communications and Information-Sharing 

• Engage in global and regional safeguarding networks, sharing learning and contributing to sector wide initiatives.

• Participate in donor-driven safeguarding initiatives to strengthen compliance and best practice.

• Share learning with Caritas, CIDSE and wider Church networks, promoting opportunities for joint training, collaboration and resource development.

• Ensure visibility of safeguarding and related SADI programming commitments across all platforms, documentation and processes.

Safeguarding 

All CAFOD staff share responsibility to promote and maintain a strong safeguarding culture, including identifying the key actions they should take given their role and responsibilities.

Job Specific Competencies 

• Demonstrated experience in safeguarding, protection or Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse & Harassment (SEAH) roles, including significant case management experience.

• Strong understanding of safeguarding legislation, standards and best practice.

• Experience carrying out safeguarding investigations and producing high-quality reports

• Experience supporting safeguarding in international development or humanitarian contexts.

• Experience building safeguarding capacity across diverse cultural contexts, including facilitation and training.

• Ability to influence, advise and support managers and partners in complex and sensitive situations.

• Strong communication skills, record-keeping abilities, and discretion in handling confidential information.

Desirable Skills 

• Experience in Catholic or faith-based organisational settings.

• Additional languages (French, Spanish or Portuguese).

• Qualification or formal training as a PSEAH investigator.

CAFOD is a welcoming, supportive workplace committed to a safe, inclusive culture where everyone is respected. CAFOD will make reasonable adjustments at every stage of the recruitment process to ensure candidates with disabilities or individual needs are fully supported.  

Safeguarding for Children and Vulnerable Adults  

CAFOD recognises the personal dignity and rights of children and vulnerable adults, towards whom it has a special responsibility and a duty of care and respect. CAFOD, and all its staff and volunteers, undertake to do all in our power to create a safe environment for children, young people and vulnerable adults and to prevent their physical, sexual or emotional abuse. CAFOD is committed to acting at all times in the best interests of children and vulnerable adults, seeing these interests as paramount. Any candidate offered a job with CAFOD will be expected to adhere to CAFOD’s Safeguarding policy and sign CAFOD’s Code of Behaviour as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references, and appropriate screening checks can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. CAFOD also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of, and consent to, these recruitment procedures.