Safeguarding Coordinator

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is seeking an experienced and committed Safeguarding Coordinator to define and lead the implementation of a comprehensive safeguarding strategy in Kenya. Deployed at the country coordination level and reporting directly to the Head of Mission, the Safeguarding Coordinator plays a pivotal role in reducing the risk of abuse — including sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) — affecting staff, patients, and communities within MSF's operational contexts.

This role requires a proactive, cross-functional professional who can work collaboratively with coordination teams, project staff, Ministry of Health (MoH) partners, and local communities. The ideal candidate brings a strong human rights orientation, experience in protection or safeguarding programming, and the ability to navigate complex humanitarian environments with sensitivity and integrity.

• Map key actors at the country level — including other MSF sections, NGOs, MoH, and community organizations — to review policies, identify abuse prevention resources, and avoid duplication of effort.
• Participate actively in PSEA (Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) coordination meetings and represent MSF in inter-agency safeguarding forums.
• Conduct participatory abuse risk assessments with staff and communities to identify risks and develop targeted risk-reduction measures.
• Lead Safeguarding Self-Assessments and contextual risk assessments using a cross-functional, participatory approach that engages staff and communities in identifying strengths, gaps, and priorities.
• Co-develop, with the country management team, a safeguarding action plan that includes risk reduction measures, assigned responsibilities, required resources, and clear deadlines.
• Provide ongoing mentorship and technical support to project teams while monitoring the implementation of safeguarding activities.
• Identify gaps in safeguarding awareness and adapt training tools and materials to the local context for both local and international staff.
• Raise awareness among managers on their safeguarding responsibilities and their role in fostering respectful working and care environments.
• Conduct awareness sessions on safeguarding, abuse prevention, and complaint mechanisms for all staff categories including daily workers.
• Collaborate with HR to integrate safeguarding into recruitment processes and ensure all MSF staff understand, sign, and adhere to behavioral commitments and safeguarding policies.
• Develop and adapt safeguarding training for partner organizations and MoH staff, identifying and agreeing on shared mitigation measures.
• Train staff to facilitate ongoing safeguarding awareness sessions and champion reporting channels within their teams.
• Design and implement community-facing awareness-raising initiatives on safeguarding, abuse prevention, and access to complaint and reporting mechanisms.
• Ensure complaint and feedback mechanisms are accessible, confidential, and contextually appropriate for patients, communities, and staff.
• Maintain accurate records of safeguarding activities, assessments, and reports while ensuring confidentiality and data protection standards are upheld.

• Demonstrate at least 5 years of hands-on experience in safeguarding, protection, gender-based violence (GBV), or related humanitarian fields, ideally with an INGO or UN agency.
• Show proven ability to design and lead safeguarding or PSEA strategies in complex, multi-stakeholder humanitarian or development contexts.
• Apply strong facilitation and training skills to deliver culturally sensitive awareness sessions for diverse audiences including communities, clinical staff, and managers.
• Conduct participatory risk assessments and translate findings into actionable, context-specific safeguarding plans.
• Navigate and influence cross-functional teams, demonstrating the ability to work across departments (HR, medical, logistics, finance) without direct authority.
• Communicate effectively in English (required); proficiency in Swahili or other local languages is a strong advantage.
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of PSEA coordination mechanisms, inter-agency safeguarding frameworks, and complaint referral pathways.
• Apply strong analytical and report-writing skills to document safeguarding actions, risks, and outcomes for senior leadership and donors.
• Hold a Bachelor's degree (minimum) in social work, international development, law, psychology, public health, or a related field; a postgraduate qualification in protection, gender, or humanitarian action is an asset.
• Display emotional resilience and the ability to handle sensitive disclosures and case information with discretion and appropriate professional boundaries.

MSF offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with experience and in line with MSF's internal salary scales for international NGO coordination roles. The salary for this position is open and will be discussed during the recruitment process. MSF staff typically benefit from comprehensive medical coverage, international group insurance, and access to psychosocial support services given the demanding nature of humanitarian work. Additional operational allowances and in-mission support are provided in accordance with MSF's HR policies.

Ideal candidates are seasoned safeguarding or protection professionals with substantial experience in humanitarian or development contexts, who are comfortable operating at both strategic and operational levels. You are a collaborative communicator, a credible trainer, and a rigorous analyst who can influence organizational culture on sensitive issues. You are passionate about the rights and dignity of vulnerable populations and can handle complex, emotionally demanding situations with professionalism.

Do not apply if you have fewer than 3 years of direct safeguarding or protection experience, are uncomfortable facilitating discussions on sexual exploitation and abuse, or cannot commit to a full-time deployment in Nairobi with potential travel to project sites. This is not an entry-level role and requires demonstrated independent judgment in high-stakes environments.

• Prepare an updated CV and a cover letter clearly outlining your safeguarding experience and motivation for joining MSF.
• Submit your application through MSF's official careers portal or the platform where this position is advertised.
• Ensure your application is submitted before the closing date of 10 July 2026.
• Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews; only successful applicants will receive a response.
• MSF is committed to diversity and strongly encourages applications from qualified Kenyan nationals and individuals with lived experience in humanitarian contexts.