Gender Equality, Social Inclusion and Safeguarding Advisor

Development Expertise Center (DEC) is a national non-governmental organization committed to improving the livelihoods and wellbeing of vulnerable communities through integrated development programs. DEC works across Ethiopia in partnership with government institutions, development partners, communities, and the private sector to promote sustainable livelihoods, youth employment, entrepreneurship, agriculture, gender equality, social inclusion, safeguarding, and resilience.

DEC is implementing interventions that create dignified and fulfilling employment opportunities for rural youth, particularly young women, through market systems development, skills development, financial inclusion, enterprise development, and inclusive community engagement.

Job Summary

The GESI and Safeguarding Advisor provides technical leadership to ensure that Gender Equality, Social Inclusion (GESI), safeguarding, and young women’s empowerment are effectively integrated into all aspects of the RAYEE II Program within the Bonga Cluster.

The position leads the implementation of inclusive and gender-responsive programming by strengthening the participation of women, youth, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups. The Advisor promotes safe programming, supports safeguarding systems, builds the capacity of project staff and partners, strengthens community-based safeguarding mechanisms, and ensures that all project activities are implemented in accordance with organizational safeguarding standards and donor requirements.

The position works closely with Cluster Advisors, Woreda Facilitators, government offices, community structures, service providers, and other stakeholders to remove barriers that limit participation and economic opportunities for rural young women.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. Technical Leadership and GESI Mainstreaming

• Lead the integration of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) across all program planning, implementation, monitoring, learning, and reporting activities.
• Ensure that all program interventions are gender-responsive, inclusive, and accessible to women, youth, persons with disabilities, and marginalized groups.
• Conduct gender, inclusion, and safeguarding analyses to identify barriers, risks, and opportunities for improved program implementation.
• Provide technical advice to Cluster staff and Woreda Facilitators on GESI mainstreaming.

2. Young Women’s Empowerment

• Coordinate the implementation of the Rural Young Women (RYW) Empowerment Strategy within the cluster.
• Promote meaningful participation of young women in entrepreneurship, skills development, financial inclusion, and employment opportunities.
• Support interventions that address barriers affecting young women’s participation, including childcare support, mentoring, leadership development, flexible training arrangements, and safe spaces.
• Strengthen peer learning, role model initiatives, youth groups, and women-led enterprises.

3. Safeguarding

• Serve as the Cluster Safeguarding Focal Person.
• Ensure full implementation of DEC’s Safeguarding Policy, Child Protection Policy, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH), and Code of Conduct.
• Promote safeguarding awareness among staff, government partners, service providers, and communities.
• Support confidential, survivor-centered reporting and referral mechanisms.
• Monitor safeguarding risks and recommend appropriate mitigation measures.
• Maintain confidentiality and ensure appropriate handling of safeguarding concerns in accordance with organizational procedures.

4. Capacity Building

• Organize and facilitate training, mentoring, coaching, and technical support for project staff, government partners, Local Service Providers (LSPs), SMEs, and community structures.
• Strengthen the capacity of partners to implement gender-responsive and safe programming.
• Develop practical tools, checklists, guidance notes, and learning materials.

5. Stakeholder Coordination

• Build strong collaboration with regional, zonal, woreda, and kebele government offices.
• Coordinate with Women and Social Affairs Offices, Agriculture Offices, Job Creation Offices, TVET institutions, Financial Service Providers, and other partners.
• Represent DEC in relevant technical working groups, coordination forums, and stakeholder meetings related to gender, inclusion, youth, and safeguarding.

6. Monitoring, Learning and Reporting

• Conduct regular supportive supervision and field monitoring visits.
• Monitor GESI and safeguarding indicators.
• Document best practices, success stories, lessons learned, and innovations.
• Prepare quality technical reports and contribute to donor reports, annual plans, and project reviews.
• Work closely with the MEAL team to ensure quality data collection and analysis.

8. Other Responsibilities

• Carry out any other relevant duties assigned by the Cluster Manager or Program Manager

Duty Station Bonga Cluster Office, South West Ethiopia Regional State (SWEPRS), Ethiopia

Number of Positions One (1)

Employment Type Full-Time, Fixed-Term Contract

Reports To Cluster Manager

Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s degree in Gender Studies, Social Work, Development Studies, Sociology, Psychology, Human Rights,Law ,Public Health or Related fields
• At least 5 years of proven experience in field-level implementation of gender, youth empowerment, or safeguarding programs in Ethiopia with NGOs, INGOs, or development organizations.
• Solid understanding of gender barriers, rural young women’s empowerment, and social norms within the Ethiopian context.
• Demonstrated experience in Gender Equality and Social Inclusion programming.
• Experience in safeguarding, child protection, PSEAH, or protection programming.
• Experience implementing youth empowerment or livelihood projects.
• Experience facilitating training and capacity-building activities.

Required Knowledge and Skills

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• Strong understanding of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding principles and survivor-centered approaches.
• Excellent facilitation and training skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong report writing and documentation skills.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement and coordination.
• Ability to analyze gender and social inclusion issues.
• Ability to work independently and under pressure.
• Willingness to travel frequently to project woredas and kebeles.

Language Requirements

• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Fluency in Amharic.
• Knowledge of local languages spoken in Southwest Ethiopia Regional State is an advantage.