Background
InterAction is the largest U.S. based coalition of international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) with members working around the world in low- and middle-income countries, fragile and post-conflict states, and emerging/growth economies. Member organizations are large and small, secular and faith-based, with a focus on people living in the world’s most poor and vulnerable places. InterAction revenues come from dues, government grants, private foundation and corporate grants, and a growing fee-for-service program portfolio. Using its collective voice and convening power, InterAction seeks to shape important policy decisions and actions across a wide range of issues – including foreign assistance, humanitarian relief, development, economic equity, food security, and climate change – that advance human dignity, human potential, and self-determination.
About the Project
In March 2018, InterAction formalized its CEO Pledge on Preventing Sexual Abuse, Exploitation, and Harassment by and of NGO Staff, calling on nongovernmental organization CEOs to lead the international humanitarian and development sector in making change. To date, more than 130 CEOs have signed on and the number continues to grow. In February 2019, InterAction commenced a three-year project, From Pledge to Action. The project’s goal is that through a combination of policy, guidance, training, and practice, InterAction and its members will adopt a culture of prevention, response, and support in the face of sexual harassment and abuse (SHA) of staff, and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) of beneficiaries by staff or associates of NGOs, thus making our offices and programs safer spaces for individuals and communities alike.
Through the project, InterAction has created and led a Working Group (WG) that comprises a diverse group of staff from member organizations and InterAction staff. The WG provides a platform for shared learning and action around the various components that constitute effective progress towards addressing sexual harassment, abuse and exploitation. The goal is to build our organizational capacities through identifying good practices, sharing expertise, tools and resources and engaging experts to support us as needed. The remit of this InterAction working group is to provide added value as a collective to the efforts of members and to work synergistically with others in the sector.
Position Summary
Position Title: Safeguarding Investigative Capacity Strengthening Consultant
Position Type: Part-time; Short-term
Reporting to: Senior Manager, From Pledge to Action
Location: Homebased/working remotely (estimated 70 days/560 hours of work to be undertaken October 2020 through April 2021). The work will be broken into three parts as estimated below.
Objective and Scope of Work
Provide mentoring, coaching, training and technical support to InterAction Members to strengthen their safeguarding investigative capacity. Responsibilities include the following:
Deliverables
- Develop clear and simple guidance, tools, and templates for IA Members and their partners, potentially including:
- Assessing allegations, triaging, and deciding on an action plan.
- Investigation Plan template with guidance.
- Assessing and managing risks in the investigation process.
- Survivor-centered checklist in the investigation process.
- Interview Techniques with a survivor-centered approach.
- Making factual determinations and conclusions on policy violations.
- Investigation report template (with guidance).
- Brief FAQs for frequent challenges and issues in SEA investigations.
- Develop case studies with investigation framework applied.
- Guidance developing interviewer selection criteria and core competencies.
- Train IA Member staff charged with conducting SEA investigations.
- Develop and conduct training on developing survivor-centered policies and procedures.
As needed support
- Provide mentorship and support to IA member NGOs during SEA investigations. This might include:
- Review of initial assessment of allegation and draft investigation plans.
- Assist with identifying, assessing and mitigating risks in the investigation process.
- Ensure a survivor-centered approach is consistently integrated into the investigation process.
- Assist with the development of interview questions/topics/approach.
- Advise on communication strategies with survivors, suspected staff, and involved staff and communities, when relevant.
- Assist with mid-stream investigation strategies and tactics, based on evidence and case developments.
- Assist with analytical review of evidence to make factual determinations and conclusions on policy violations.
- Assist with identification of corrective measures based on gaps identified during the investigation, regardless of whether allegations are substantiated.
- Review investigation report drafts and providing feedback.
- Advise on communication strategies and obligations at the end of the investigation with relevant parties.
- Review Member agencies investigative policies and make recommendations to strengthen them as appropriate.
- Review an agency’s current investigation policies, procedures and structures.
- Conduct key informant interviews with staff responsible for investigations.
- Prepare and present report on strengths and weaknesses, with recommendations.
- Make revisions to policies and procedures, as agreed.
- Conduct training for Board and management team (reviewing and learning from previous investigations).
Optional: based on demand
- Conduct a safeguarding investigations report writing seminar.
- Conduct a 2-day workshop on evidence analysis and investigation report writing for up to 20 staff
- Provides opportunities for individual feedback and ensuring a survivor-centered approach throughout the process and in the report-writing process
- Facilitate training for Members on managing investigations and good practices for incorporating a survivor centered approach.
Qualifications:
- Familiarity with the principles, standards, and operational challenges of prevention and response to sexual exploitation and abuse.
- 5-8 years of experience in conducting investigations of staff misconduct or three years of experience effectively leading and completing safeguarding investigations in challenging environments.**
- Experience in mentoring, coaching, facilitation and training applying adult learning principles and practices.
- Experience creating and rolling out culturally sensitive capacity strengthening training and materials.
- Excellent communication skills, including ability to present complex processes and issues clearly to a diverse audience.
- Able to balance the need to work independently while collaborating closely with the InterAction team and other relevant actors.
- Bachelor’s Degree required, with relevant (JD etc.) graduate degree preferred.**
Physical Requirements
There are no extraordinary physical requirements for the performance of the essential functions of this position. InterAction will make reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.**
How to apply:
Interested candidates should send the following to jobs@interaction.org with subject line containing title- Safeguarding Investigative Capacity Strengthening Consultant.
- Cover letter that addresses qualifications relevant to this solicitation.
- Resume.
- Proposed timeline and estimated days for deliverables.
- Brief overview outlining proposed process for triaging and prioritizing requests for support.
- Samples of relevant work, if available.
- Proposed consultancy rate.
- Three professional references, with at least one from a past consultancy assignment.
The position will remain open until filled, but applications received before October 1 are preferred. Only finalists will be contacted.