Safeguards Officer - REAP

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit a Safeguards Officer to support the implementation of the Rural Employment through Animal Feed production (REAP), with primary responsibility for prevention, risk management, training, monitoring, accessible reporting and safeguarding response.

ILRI is an international organisation working for better lives and better planet through livestock. ILRI’s mission emphasises the interconnections between people, animals, and the environment, aiming to improve the lives of more than 300 million people in low- and middle-income countries through livestock science that supports equitable and resilient livestock systems, ultimately contributing to food systems transformation with climate and environmental benefits. This mission is delivered through two core strategic objectives: co-designing and deploying sustainable, science-based livestock solutions, and leveraging science to inform and influence policy and investment decisions.

ILRI is a member of the CGIAR, a global research alliance that works to transform food, land and water systems in a climate crisis and is the only CGIAR centre dedicated to addressing multiple development challenges through sustainable livestock solutions.

About the program: REAP is a five-year multi-country initiative intended to advance education and relieve poverty by enabling 1,000,000 financially disadvantaged young women and men, aged 18 to 35 years, to access new work opportunities in sustainable feed and livestock value chains across the seven countries. The Program will equip young people with technical, entrepreneurial, financial; digital and workplace capabilities linked to real economic opportunities and enable financially disadvantaged young people to access work, finance, productive assets, markets and income-generating opportunities that improve household resilience and wellbeing. Among its participants, the Program shall target 70% young women and at least 5% youth with disabilities and 20,000 refugees and displaced young people.

The programme will support youth-led and youth-inclusive enterprises to enter, stabilise and grow in feed and livestock markets; strengthen market systems, services, and commercial relationships; and improve policy, finance, innovation, extension, and other enabling systems required for youth-led enterprises to succeed and generate additional employment opportunities. Across these areas, it applies gender-transformative and inclusive approaches to address restrictive gender and social norms, reduce barriers to young women’s participation, and strengthen their agency, voice, leadership and access to resources and opportunities. Safeguarding measures are embedded throughout the programme to protect young people from harm and support their safe participation.

Led by ILRI, the consortium includes ICARDA, IITA, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, and icipe, working with downstream delivery partners, enterprise-support organisations, financial institutions, government and private sector actors. The Director draws on partners’ expertise in feed and livestock systems, enterprise development, market systems, inclusive finance, digital innovation, policy, and gender and social inclusion to guide country delivery and achieve measurable youth work outcomes, adapting implementation in response to evidence.

Key Responsibilities:

The Safeguards Officer supports the implementation of the REAP Safeguarding Strategy and is part of the Ethics and Business Conduct function, reporting to the Senior Manager, Ethics and Business Conduct.

The role supports country safeguarding structures and partners, coordinates follow up on safeguarding concerns and provides investigation support when formally assigned. Decisions on investigation findings, disciplinary action and formal donor notification remain with the authorized ILRI functions and decision makers.

Prevention and safeguarding risk management

• Coordinate safeguarding risk assessments with country teams and focal points and support the preparation, updating and follow up of country specific safeguarding action plans.
• Support programme teams to include safeguarding measures in programme design, field activities, research, travel, events, community engagement, digital activities, photography, use of personal information and other participant interactions.
• Work with People and Culture, Supply Chain and relevant programme teams to support safe recruitment, appropriate screening, codes of conduct and safeguarding requirements for staff, consultants, partners, contractors and service providers.
• Maintain practical safeguarding guidance, referral information and tools for use by programme teams, country teams and partners.

Reporting, response and case coordination

• Support safe, accessible and confidential reporting channels for staff, programme participants, communities and partners, including anonymous options where appropriate.
• Receive and document safeguarding concerns raised through programme channels, identify immediate safety needs and escalate concerns promptly to the Senior Manager, Ethics and Business Conduct through the approved reporting process.
• Support survivor centred and trauma informed referral arrangements, including access to appropriate health, psychosocial, legal or protection services where relevant.
• Maintain secure safeguarding records and track agreed actions, referrals and follow up in line with confidentiality and data protection requirements.
• Provide accurate and timely information needed for institutional, country and donor reporting through approved internal channels and within applicable reporting timelines.
• Support investigations when formally assigned, including logistics, document collection, interview coordination, evidence preservation and follow up actions. The role does not independently determine findings or disciplinary outcomes unless formally appointed under the applicable procedure.

Training, focal points and awareness

• Coordinate safeguarding induction, refresher training and role specific awareness for programme staff, consultants, field teams, researchers, partners, focal points and other relevant stakeholders.
• Support country safeguarding teams and focal points to maintain regular coordination, awareness activities, grievance review and escalation arrangements.
• Develop or adapt clear and context appropriate safeguarding materials for programme participants, communities and partners, including information on rights and reporting options.

Monitoring, partner compliance and reporting

• Monitor safeguarding requirements for implementing partners, contractors and service providers, including agreed clauses, codes of conduct, reporting obligations and corrective actions.
• Coordinate or conduct safeguarding monitoring visits, participant feedback sessions and periodic checks of risk mitigation measures, and follow up identified gaps.
• Maintain quarterly safeguarding monitoring logs and track concerns, mitigation actions and corrective measures for management review.
• Work with monitoring and evaluation colleagues to track agreed safeguarding indicators and contribute to annual safeguarding reviews and improvement actions.
• Prepare draft inputs for internal safeguarding updates and donor compliance reports and support follow up of agreed actions.
• Perform any other related duties as may be required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, gender studies, human rights, law, social work, development studies, public health or another relevant field.
• Relevant professional training in safeguarding, PSEAH, child and youth protection, GBV, survivor centred response or a related area. A relevant postgraduate qualification is an advantage.
• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in safeguarding, PSEAH, child or youth protection, GBV prevention and response, accountability, ethics or a closely related area.
• Practical experience supporting safeguarding risk assessments, mitigation plans, training and programme implementation.
• Experience handling sensitive information, supporting confidential reporting or referral mechanisms and escalating concerns appropriately.
• Experience monitoring partner or service provider compliance and following up corrective actions.
• Experience in donor funded or multi partner programmes is an advantage. The minimum years of experience will be confirmed through People and Culture job evaluation.
• Sound judgement, discretion and a strong commitment to confidentiality and protection from retaliation.
• Working knowledge of survivor centred and trauma informed safeguarding practice.
• Strong facilitation and training skills, with the ability to explain safeguarding requirements in practical language.
• Strong written documentation, monitoring and follow up skills.
• Ability to work constructively with programme teams, researchers, partners, service providers, focal points and community-based structures.
• Ability to identify safeguarding risks early, follow up corrective actions and escalate concerns without delay.

Post location: The position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya

Terms of Appointment

This position is at job level HG15 and it is only open to Kenyan nationals. The position is a 3-year contract, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding. ILRI offers a competitive salary and benefits package which includes pension, medical and other insurances.

How to apply: Applicants should send a cover letter and CV expressing their interest in the position, what they can bring to the job and the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to the Head of People and Culture through our recruitment portal by clicking on "Apply Now" on or before 17 November 2026. The position title and reference number REAP/04/2026 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the cover letter.

We thank all applicants for their interest in working for ILRI. Due to the volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

ILRI does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing or training). ILRI also does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.

To find out more about ILRI, visit our websites at http://www.ilri.org/