Program Background

The Agrifood System Transformation for Youth Employment (ASTYE) Uganda program

ASTYE is a 5-year transformative initiative designed to enable dignified and fulfilling work opportunities primarily for financially disadvantaged young women, refugees, and vulnerable groups by addressing structural barriers in Uganda's Agrifood system. Aligned with Uganda’s Vision 2040, the National Development Plan and Government of Uganda Agriculture Value Chain Development Strategy, the program will contribute to national efforts toward poverty alleviation, economic growth, as well food and nutrition security. Additionally, ASTYE is part of the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy in Uganda, which aims to empower 4.3 million young Ugandans, particularly young women, by addressing structural barriers to employment and providing them with the skills and resources to succeed.

Specifically, GOAL will implement component one to reach 500,000 financially disadvantaged young people, with 400,000 transiting into work and 320,000 securing dignified and fulfilling work. As the program is young women-centric, 80% of the total outreach target will be young women within Uganda's agrifood ecosystem. Furthermore, 3% of the total youth in work target will be refugees, and another 3% will be people with disabilities.

Job Functions

This position reports to Gender Equality Social Inclusion & Safeguarding Advisor, the Gender Equality Social Inclusion & Safeguarding Officer will be responsible for coordination, supervision and implementation of all the GESI and Safeguarding activities in accordance with the programme description and budget provisions as detailed in the sector workplans.

He/she will support the Gender Equality Social Inclusion & Safeguarding Advisor in ensuring the successful Integration of GOAL’s GESI & Safeguarding policies, guidelines and approaches in all program interventions, with the aim of creating safe, inclusive, and equitable access to program opportunities for young women and men, persons with disabilities, refugees, and other marginalized groups, while embedding robust prevention, reporting, and response mechanisms for safeguarding risk reduction.

Inductions and Training

• Conduct GESI & safeguarding inductions of locally recruited staff within 30 days of employment and ensure they understand and commit to policies and procedures related to GESI & safeguarding.
• Plan, organise and co-facilitate GESI and safeguarding training for programme teams and partners, on GESI & general safeguarding polies & procedures through formal training and refresher sessions.

Programme Implementation Support

• Work with technical teams to ensure programme activities reflect the needs of women, youth, and marginalized groups.
• Support inclusive selection processes for participants, partners, and community representatives.
• Ensure GESI and safeguarding considerations are applied during activity implementation and partner monitoring.
• Ensure documentation and reports for GESI & safeguarding is compiled and submitted to the GESI & Safeguarding Advisor monthly.
• Conduct community meetings to raise awareness on GESI & safeguarding and the expected behaviors of GOAL and Partner staff and inform communities on ways they can report safeguarding cases.

Safeguarding Standards at Field Level

• With support from the GESI & Safeguarding Advisor, work with program teams to conduct mapping and risk assessments
• In liaison with the GESI & Safeguarding Advisor, support the program teams to develop safeguarding mitigation and prevention action plan as per risk assessments
• Act as field safeguarding focal point for ASTYE Programme.
• Act as the field Community Feedback and Response Mechanism (CFRM) focal point receive feedback and consolidate reports from CFRM system.
• Work with the team to ensure functionality of feedback mechanisms
• Provide quarterly updates of training and create reports using PowerBi dashboards.
• Provide quarterly updates of the country safeguarding KPIs and progress towards the GESI & Safeguarding Action Plan to the GESI & Safeguarding Advisor
• Identify and report safeguarding concerns in a timely manner, including providing response to the concerns as advised by the GESI & Safeguarding Advisor.
• Make appropriate referrals for GBV and violence against children (VAC) cases, in consultation with the GESI & Safeguarding Advisor while maintaining confidentiality.
• Participate in a monthly or bi-monthly safeguarding meeting with the GESI & Safeguarding Advisor, to assess the level of compliance and progress made on the GESI & Safeguarding Action Plan.
• Foster a working environment that is non-threatening, safe and actively addressing GESI & safeguarding in its processes.

Job Level Specifications

Essential Criteria

• Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Gender and Women’s Studies, Development Studies, Anthropology, International Development, Human Rights.
• 3 years’ experience in gender, safeguarding or protection, programme roles in the development or humanitarian sector
• Experience working with community groups, CSOs, youth structures, or implementing partners.
• A good understanding of safeguarding, gender-responsive and inclusive programming principles.
• Experience in supporting safeguarding awareness, reporting processes, or protection referrals.
• Demonstrable interest in working to prevent Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.
• Demonstrable understanding of power relations.

Desirable Criteria

• Good facilitation, communication and partnership-building skills.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Proficient in using various design software to create visual resources, including posters, flyers, and infographics.

• Conduct GESI & safeguarding inductions of locally recruited staff within 30 days of employment and ensure they understand and commit to policies and procedures related to GESI & safeguarding.
• Plan, organise and co-facilitate GESI and safeguarding training for programme teams and partners, on GESI & general safeguarding polies & procedures through formal training and refresher sessions.
• Work with technical teams to ensure programme activities reflect the needs of women, youth, and marginalized groups.
• Support inclusive selection processes for participants, partners, and community representatives.
• Ensure GESI and safeguarding considerations are applied during activity implementation and partner monitoring.
• Ensure documentation and reports for GESI & safeguarding is compiled and submitted to the GESI & Safeguarding Advisor monthly.
• Conduct community meetings to raise awareness on GESI & safeguarding and the expected behaviors of GOAL and Partner staff and inform communities on ways they can report safeguarding cases.
• With support from the GESI & Safeguarding Advisor, work with program teams to conduct mapping and risk assessments
• In liaison with the GESI & Safeguarding Advisor, support the program teams to develop safeguarding mitigation and prevention action plan as per risk assessments
• Act as field safeguarding focal point for ASTYE Programme.
• Act as the field Community Feedback and Response Mechanism (CFRM) focal point receive feedback and consolidate reports from CFRM system.
• Work with the team to ensure functionality of feedback mechanisms
• Provide quarterly updates of training and create reports using PowerBi dashboards.
• Provide quarterly updates of the country safeguarding KPIs and progress towards the GESI & Safeguarding Action Plan to the GESI & Safeguarding Advisor
• Identify and report safeguarding concerns in a timely manner, including providing response to the concerns as advised by the GESI & Safeguarding Advisor.
• Make appropriate referrals for GBV and violence against children (VAC) cases, in consultation with the GESI & Safeguarding Advisor while maintaining confidentiality.
• Participate in a monthly or bi-monthly safeguarding meeting with the GESI & Safeguarding Advisor, to assess the level of compliance and progress made on the GESI & Safeguarding Action Plan.
• Foster a working environment that is non-threatening, safe and actively addressing GESI & safeguarding in its processes.

• Good facilitation, communication and partnership-building skills.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Proficient in using various design software to create visual resources, including posters, flyers, and infographics.

• Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Gender and Women’s Studies, Development Studies, Anthropology, International Development, Human Rights.
• 3 years’ experience in gender, safeguarding or protection, programme roles in the development or humanitarian sector
• Experience working with community groups, CSOs, youth structures, or implementing partners.
• A good understanding of safeguarding, gender-responsive and inclusive programming principles.
• Experience in supporting safeguarding awareness, reporting processes, or protection referrals.
• Demonstrable interest in working to prevent Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.
• Demonstrable understanding of power relations.