Gender & Safeguarding Officer

Job Description

• The Gender & Safeguarding Officer will oversee the implementation of AGRAs gender and safeguards policy, strategy and program to protect those we work with from harassment, sexual exploitation and all forms of abuse – to contribute and strengthen the safeguarding culture, and to promote within the teams a better understanding and adherence to AGRA’s values, particularly through the support and coordination of country teams and grantees.
• The Gender & Safeguarding Officer will help deliver AGRAs gender and safeguarding policy, and support in the day-to-day integration of the gender and safeguards policy, principles and priorities into field activities, coordinates and manages relationships with a range of stakeholders in the field, supports field data collection and analysis and provides mechanisms for reporting on breach of safeguards.
• S/he will build the capacity of country teams, partners, and grantees by integrating gender and safeguard measures at the country levels and working with AGRA teams, consultants, and external partners to help them understand gender and safeguard issues and response measures for AGRA investments.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead the analysis to identify context specific risks and vulnerabilities for youth and women and identify potential areas/concerns for gender and safeguarding plan.
• Develop AGRA’s gender and safeguarding framework in close consultation with the legal unit, develop necessary tools for aligning safeguarding framework with AGRAs programmatic work.
• Leads the development of implementation plan based on findings from the various analyses (gender analysis, youth aspiration analysis, ecosystem mapping and value chain analysis) at country level.
• Identify and develop practical response system towards gender-based violence, harassment, abuse, allegations of harm, exploitation, or misconduct within the agricultural sector and promoting a safe and inclusive working environment for youth and women in AGRA country.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive framework that effectively integrates social safeguard protocols into AGRA Nigeria agricultural development initiatives. Ensure that these protocols are seamlessly aligned with the organization’s overall objectives.
• Ensure that AGRA’s interventions are responsive to the circumstances, needs, aspirations, and priorities of youth and women, and guarantee equal employment opportunities to prevent women and vulnerable groups from being adversely affected by our work.
• Support the application of the Gender and safeguards’ requirements in new grants to local partners and proposals to donors.
• In collaboration with the gender and inclusiveness team, develop training modules and awareness raising materials specific to the region on gender and safeguards principles, including case studies and good practices from the region.
• Organize and implement continuous training programs to AGRA staff, relevant partners, community members and other stakeholders on the application of, and compliance with the Gender and Safeguarding requirements by delivering online webinars and/or in-country training sessions and ensuring these are embedded in or linked with other relevant AGRA programmatic trainings.
• Enforce and oversee health and safety protocols throughout every facet of agricultural projects. Ensure strict adherence to rigorous safety standards, effectively reducing potential risks for workers and stakeholders, whether within private sector operations or workplace engagement.
• Provide reports on gender sensitive and safeguards indicators and share results, and lessons learned during AGRA Program implementation of Gender and safeguarding, to improve the performance of AGRA and maintaining safeguard standards.
• Develop relationships with and promote the active participation of gender and women-focused NGOs, CSOs, government entities working on gender equality and youth to learn and share lessons and magnify impact.
• Monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of gender and safeguarding tools and best practices related to youth and women employment in agriculture and making recommendations for improvement.
• Ensure strict adherence to established labor standards, ensuring that ethical work practices are upheld across all projects. Guarantee that labor rights are protected and maintained in line with Nigeria’s labor regulations.
• Take a proactive role in preventing child labor within AGRA Nigeria’s agricultural initiatives. With assistance from the respective institutions and departments enforce strategies that keep child labor at bay, aligning with national and international standards.

Key Qualifications and Experience Required

• A Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in gender studies, Social Science, International Development, Humanitarian or related discipline.
• Strong knowledge of the existing gender and youth safeguards policies/framework at country and continental level, particularly relating to agriculture and agrifood sector.
• Possesses a good understanding of stakeholders, women and youth organization, collectives, networks and associations at country and continental level which best represent the voices and interests of youth and women employment in agriculture sectors.
• Fluency in English required; ability to communicate in French will be an advantage
• Excellent track record in leading the design of gender and safeguarding evidence-based analyses and action plan and tools development in the field of agribusiness, youth and women employment, entrepreneurship and community development.
• Strong analytical skills and demonstrate ability in stakeholder engagement, and effectively partnership building with government, private sector, peer organizations and local communities.
• Excellent facilitation and capacity building skills.
• Proven skills in team player, ability to work well in an interdisciplinary, multicultural, diverse, and dynamic team environment.
• Ability to work well with multiple donors in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions in a country.
• Strong planning, organization and time management skills and ability to manage multiple tasks.
• Ability to deliver high quality products under pressure.
• Good command of English with excellent writing and analytical skills, a working knowledge of French will be an advantage.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work and meet deadlines within a fast-paced environment with multiple competing demands.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills, and ability to work effectively in a team and independently.
• Experience working in the fields of gender and youth safeguarding practices, preferably with focus on youth and women employment and entrepreneurship in agriculture sector.
• Good knowledge of international and national laws and policies related to safeguarding of women, youth and other vulnerable groups, and strong working experience with governments, international development agencies, local organizations, and authorities in integration of gender and safeguards dimension into agricultural project/program at all levels.
• Solid commitment to promoting gender equality, safeguarding of children and youth and in the agricultural sector, and to upholding ethical and professional standards in the workplace.

Application Closing Date
20th July. 2026.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

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