Brief Guidance and Scope of Work for Safeguarding Focal Points

Preventing harm to people, especially children, youth, and vulnerable adults, is a top priority. This includes protecting program participants from all types of harm, including sexual exploitation and abuse, child abuse/neglect, and human trafficking-related activities committed by FHI 360 staff, volunteers, or partner staff. FHI 360's safeguarding policies include expectations and a framework for interacting with program participants. To meet donor and FHI 360 policy requirements, Project Directors/Chiefs of Party are responsible for ensuring that systems are in place to protect program participants from harm. Safeguarding Focal Points (FPs) are needed for projects that provide direct services or implement activities with program participants. Safeguarding FPs are responsible for integrating safeguarding activities, including raising awareness and building the capacity of FHI 360 staff, volunteers, and partners about FHI 360's policies and protocols for protecting program participants from harm. They may also be asked to assist Project Leads and Human Resources in ensuring that project staff and volunteers are aware of FHI 360's policies related to maintaining harassment- and violence-free work environments. The main responsibilities of FPs include developing a Safeguarding Action Plan, liaising with HR to document and track required training, sensitizing FHI 360 staff/volunteers/partners to safeguarding policies, establishing community-based complaint mechanisms, providing referrals to available health, psychosocial, and legal services, and participating in inter-agency coordination. Project-level FPs are typically people in technical/program roles who have interest, skills, and experience related to safeguarding, gender equality, and social inclusion. The number of FPs needed per country depends on the size, nature, and scope of the country office and project portfolio. At a minimum, safeguarding FPs typically dedicate 5 to 15% of their level of effort to this role. FHI 360's Senior Technical Advisor for Safeguarding, Kim Dixon, is available to provide direct support and training to identified FPs. She can provide support remotely and explore in-person training to country office/project teams, where possible. Contact Kim Dixon at [email protected] for help with exploring FP needs and support with including safeguarding in project proposals and work plans.