HEAD OF PEOPLE SAFEGUARDING AND INCLUSION

Médecins Sans Frontières, founded in 1971, is an international medical humanitarian organization that provides emergency medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters or exclusion from health care. Our teams are made up of tens of thousands of medical professionals, logistics, administrative and various other professions, all guided by our medical ethics and our principles of impartiality, independence and neutrality.

MSF WaCA, created in 2019, is the first MSF headquarters in Africa, and responds to the desire to reinvent the MSF movement after 50 years of humanitarian actions in the world, for more access to care, more reactivity and proactivity for greater medical coverage of affected populations in the world.

Why join us?

You are preparing to become a member of the MSF family, with over 50 years of emergency medical action that earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999.

We are an inclusive organization that considers social and professional well-being a right for all and provides an environment that considers the diversity of each member.

MSF WaCA claims an African anchorage that considers the local expertise with which it contributes to the implementation of its activities and makes each member, a key actor of the new dynamics of the humanitarian action in the world.

Diversity, Inclusion & Safe Recruitment

MSF offers equal recruitment and development opportunities without any form of discrimination based on gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, geographical origin, physical disability or any other discriminatory ground.

Female candidates who meet the requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.

Persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply, and reasonable accommodations are available upon request.

MSF is committed to applying Safe Recruitment principles, ensuring transparent, fair, and respectful recruitment processes that protect candidates, the organization, and its beneficiaries.

Missions

Under the leadership of the Deputy General Director, the Head of People Safeguarding and Inclusion provides strategic leadership and organizational assurance on safeguarding, including the inclusion and the protection of people across MSF WaCA. The position is accountable for ensuring that appropriate safeguarding and inclusion systems, standards, risk management mechanisms and reporting arrangements are in place and effectively implemented across MSF WaCA. The Head of People Safeguarding and Inclusion acts as an independent source of expertise, advice and challenge leadership, management and operational teams, while working closely with Human Resources, Operations, Medical and other relevant functions. The role does not replace the respective accountabilities of HR, Medical or Operations, but ensures that safeguarding and inclusion risks are identified, addressed and appropriately escalated across the organization.

Objectives

Provide strategic leadership on safeguarding and inclusion across MSF WaCA. Ensure safeguarding risks are systematically identified, assessed, monitored and mitigated. Promote a culture based on respect, dignity, equity, accountability and inclusion. Ensure accessible and trusted reporting and feedback mechanisms for staff, patients and communities. Oversee the appropriate management and governance of safeguarding concerns and investigations. Ensure that learning from cases, investigations and risks informs organisational improvement. Support Operations and other departments in integrating safeguarding and inclusion into their strategies, plans and practices. Provide strategic advice to the General Director, Leadership Team and Board on safeguarding, inclusion and related organisational risks. Ensure appropriate coordination with HR, Medical, Operations and SHU on matters falling within their respective mandates.

Main responsibilities

1.        Safeguarding Strategy, Prevention and Mainstreaming:

Develop, maintain and oversee the implementation of the MSF WaCA safeguarding strategy and annual priorities; define safeguarding objectives, milestones and key results; ensure integration into safer recruitment, emergency response, safer programming, prevention and awareness, risk management and Safeguarding Focal Points; establish and maintain safeguarding risk management framework; represent MSF WaCA in movement forums; ensure standards, policies and training are implemented; promote safe reporting culture.

Ensure all relevant materials including safeguarding policy, local reporting procedure, training manuals, publication and related tools are in place and properly disseminated to staff, partners and representatives.

2.        Safeguarding Case Management, Investigations and Accountability:

Ensure reporting mechanisms; oversee case management framework; ensure investigation governance, investigator selection and conflict management; oversee investigations; ensure confidentiality, fairness and protection from retaliation; communicate findings; monitor recommendations; escalate high-risk cases; maintain reporting to Leadership Team and Board; ensure donor/movement reporting requirements.

3.        Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and People Voice:

Lead inclusion and DEI agenda; advise leadership on barriers; promote inclusive leadership; monitor indicators; integrate gender/diversity/equity/inclusion into HR processes; address barriers for under-represented groups; promote staff feedback mechanisms; support patient/community voice and accountability mechanisms; liaise with movement structures.

4.        Safeguarding and Protection of People in Operations:

Provide safeguarding expertise to Operations; support risk identification in programme design and emergency response; integrate safeguarding standards into field and emergency operations; participate in field missions; ensure risks from visits/audits/reviews are documented and followed up.

5.        Staff Protection, Psychosocial Support and Wellbeing:

Provide oversight on staff protection and psychosocial support; ensure support mechanisms with HR/medical functions; ensure access to information/support/referrals; promote psychological safety, dignity and respect; ensure coordination across safeguarding, HR and staff health; support operational/medical responses for staff wellbeing implications.

6.        Medical and Other Professional Governance Interfaces:

Ensure referral of medical errors/quality-of-care concerns to medical governance; address safeguarding implications from medical incidents; coordinate with Medical teams; contribute to organisational learning.

7.        Data Protection and Confidentiality:

Oversee safeguarding aspects of people-related data protection; ensure case information handling per confidentiality and data protection requirements; work with HR/Medical/IT; ensure records and systems are fit for purpose.

8.        Governance, Reporting and Risk Management:

Provide strategic analysis and recommendations; maintain safeguarding and inclusion dashboard; report to Board; reflect risks in organisational risk management; monitor corrective/preventive actions; contribute to audits/reviews/assessments; ensure documentation and compliance evidence; track movement-wide developments and standards.

Education

Essential

·       University degree in Law, Psychology, Social Sciences, International Development, Risk Management, Human Resources, Protection, or another relevant field.

·       Specialized training and/or certification in Safeguarding, PSEA, Protection, Investigations, or a related field.

Desirable

·       Certification in investigation, safeguarding, or protection.

·       Training in psychosocial support or trauma-informed approaches.

·       Training in risk management or compliance.

Competencies

·       Excellent understanding of international principles and standards regarding safeguarding, PSEA, and the prevention and protection against abuse.

·       Proficiency in survivor-centered and victim-centered approaches, the “do no harm” principle, and confidentiality.

·       Strong skills in case management and risk management.

·       Ability to develop and maintain safe, accessible, and confidential reporting mechanisms.

·       Ability to conduct risk assessments and implement mitigation measures.

·       Good knowledge of the principles of investigation, due process, evidence management, and documentation.

·       Ability to analyze data and identify trends and systemic risks.

·       Excellent skills in drafting policies, procedures, reports, and recommendations.

·       Ability to develop safeguarding KPIs and dashboards.

·       Good understanding of the interactions between Safeguarding, HR, Legal, Risk, Operations, and Senior Management.

·       Very strong training, facilitation, and communication skills.

Professional experience required

·       Minimum 7 years of relevant professional experience, preferably including substantial experience within a humanitarian or international organisation;

·       Significant experience in safeguarding, protection, investigations, prevention or related fields;

·       Experience designing and implementing safeguarding systems and strategies;

·       Experience in complex humanitarian or operational environments;

·       Risk management and organisational change; Cross-department work and senior stakeholder influence;

·       Managing sensitive and confidential cases;

·       Minimum 3 years of people management experience, preferably in senior/strategic position; DEI/inclusion/organisational culture experience highly desirable;

·       Medical, protection or social work experience

·       Experience in conducting investigations

·       MSF movement experience is an asset.

Languages Skills

·       Working proficiency in English and French (Required)

Computer Skills

·       MS Office suite (mainly MS Word, Excel and Powerpoint)

·       Familiarity with online communication and collaboration platforms, including Microsoft Teams, Zoom, SharePoint, etc.

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N.B.: This job description provides a framework for the main responsibilities and primary activities of the position. It is not exhaustive. Therefore, the responsibilities and activities of the position may differ from those described in this job description due to organizational and operational needs.

Deadline: 09th October 2026 18:00 GMT
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.