Safeguards Officer

JOB OVERVIEW:

African Parks is committed to fully recognizing and respecting the human rights of all individuals and to complying with social safeguard standards across all its operations and in all protected areas it manages. The main objective of the Safeguards Officer within Gambelia National Park is to lead APN efforts in supporting the implementation of social safeguard and human rights policies across all management activities. Particular attention will be given to supervising an external grievance mechanism and conflict monitoring, while ensuring training and coaching of field staff responsible for the mechanism.

The Safeguards Officer will report directly to the Safeguard Manager and will work in close coordination with other departments. He/she will be based in Gambella and undertake regular travel within the region.

MAIN ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support the planning and organizing and ensure capacity building and training on human rights and social safeguards for all park staff, prioritizing human rights in law enforcement, through the development of adapted training modules.
• Support integration of social safeguards and human rights policies and processes, as well as risk monitoring and evaluation systems, into activity planning.
• Support teams in implementing Social Safeguard Plans and Social and Environmental Impact Assessments.
• Support in identifying activities that are likely to present risks and proactively support the designing/implementation of mitigation strategies with park management.
• Support field teams in establishing an operational grievance mechanism and ensure timely review of all grievances and preparation of mitigation/follow-up measures in close coordination with the safeguards manager and park management unit.
• Conduct internal investigations of sensitive complaints and documents and report results.
• Ensure safeguard measures are applied to key projects and complex initiatives, with special attention to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) guidelines, and assist field teams in implementing and documenting the process.
• Ensure compliance of social safeguard and human rights policies with applicable laws, SOPs, and donor requirements.
• Support teams in socio‑economic surveys and evaluations, ensuring ethical and representative data collection processes.
• Participate in meetings and develop relevant partnerships nationally and locally on social security and human rights.
• Provide periodic reports to the safeguards manager and/or park management unit.
• Prepare or contribute to reports, briefings, analyses, and communications required by donors, partners, or AP departments.
• Foster an environment of excellence, teamwork, integrity, and professionalism.
• Mentor and support development of the next generation of APN leaders.
• Perform other required tasks contributing to APN operations and programming success.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Educational Qualification:

• BA degree, preferably in law, human rights, and other legal studies; conflict and peace studies, agroforestry/biodiversity fields.
• Demonstrated conservation understanding/experience.

Experience:

• Minimum 6 years’ professional experience in legal/human rights, development, agroforestry/biodiversity, or corporate social responsibility with strong knowledge of human rights issues.
• Practical experience in safeguards or human rights grievance mechanisms
• Experience in conservation is an asset.

Skills Required

• A high level of initiative.
• Strong analytical, research, fact‑finding, monitoring, reporting, and communication skills.
• Experience as a trainer preferred.
• Ability to work autonomously and in remote areas.
• Strong personal integrity, ethics, and reliability.
• Willingness to travel, if necessary, to support conference