Associate, Safeguarding

Department: MSP (GESI Team)

Reports To: Manager, GESI

About Kifiya:

Kifiya is an AI-powered financial and market infrastructure company advancing inclusive economic growth across Africa. We design and deploy risk decisioning systems, intelligent financial infrastructure, and market linkage platforms that unlock credit, insurance, payments, and capital access for MSMEs and smallholder farmers. We build the AI, data, and financial infrastructure that helps financial institutions serve hard-to-finance segments at scale.

Unit Description

The Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Team within the Market Solutions Practice leads Kifiya’s work on gender equality, social inclusion, youth engagement, disability inclusion, refugee and displaced persons inclusion, and safeguarding. The team ensures that Kifiya’s programs, platforms, partnerships, and operational practices align with international safeguarding standards, donor requirements, and Kifiya’s internal policies and ESG commitments.

Position Summary

The Safeguarding Associate will be responsible for supporting the design, implementation, and monitoring of Kifiya’s safeguarding systems across

programs, partners, and operations. The role focuses on preventing, identifying, reporting, and responding to safeguarding risks, including sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment (SH), child safeguarding, and other forms of abuse, neglect, or misconduct.

Working closely with the GESI team, program teams, HR, MERL, and external partners, the Safeguarding Officer will help strengthen safeguarding culture, ensure safe program delivery, and support compliance with donor, regulatory, and internal safeguarding requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Safeguarding Systems and Implementation

• Support the rollout and institutionalization of Kifiya’s safeguarding policies, procedures, and codes of conduct across MSP programs and partners.
• Ensure safeguarding requirements are integrated into program design, implementation, and partner agreements.
• Support safeguarding risk assessments and mitigation planning for programs, partners, and operational activities.

Incident Management and Response

• Receive, document, and support the management of safeguarding reports in line with internal procedures and confidentiality standards.
• Coordinate internal follow-up on safeguarding cases, including referrals, documentation, and escalation in line with policy.
• Support survivor-centered, ethical, and timely responses to safeguarding concerns.

Capacity Building and Awareness

• Support safeguarding trainings and awareness sessions for staff, partners, service providers, and program participants.
• Contribute to the development of safeguarding guidance materials, tools, and job aids tailored to different audiences.
• Promote a culture of safe reporting, accountability, and zero tolerance for abuse.

Monitoring, Reporting, and Learning

• Support safeguarding data tracking, documentation, and reporting in coordination with MERL and program teams.
• Contribute to donor safeguarding reporting and internal learning processes.
• Support periodic safeguarding reviews, audits, and partner compliance checks.

Coordination and Compliance

• Liaise with HR on staff-related safeguarding matters, onboarding, and code of conduct compliance.
• Coordinate with partners to strengthen safeguarding capacity and alignment with Kifiya standards.
• Support engagement with donors, safeguarding communities of practice, and external advisors as required.

Key Outputs

• Safeguarding policies, procedures, and tools implemented and operationalized across programs and partners.
• Timely, confidential, and well-documented handling of safeguarding reports and follow-up actions.
• Staff, partners, and participants trained and informed on safeguarding principles and reporting mechanisms.
• Safeguarding risks identified, monitored, and mitigated at program and operational levels.
• Accurate safeguarding inputs to donor reports and internal dashboards.

• Minimum of 3–5 years of relevant experience in safeguarding, protection, GESI, or related roles, preferably within development, humanitarian, or private-sector programs.
• Demonstrated experience handling safeguarding cases using survivor-centered and confidential approaches.
• Familiarity with international safeguarding standards and donor requirements.
• Experience working with partners, service providers, or community-based actors is an asset.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English; Amharic required, other local languages an advantage.

Core Competencies

• Strong understanding of safeguarding principles and ethical practice
• High level of integrity, discretion, and professionalism
• Ability to handle sensitive issues with empathy and confidentiality
• Strong coordination and relationship-management skills
• Attention to detail and strong documentation skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a cross-functional team
• Commitment to gender equality, social inclusion, and survivor-centered approaches