SAFEGUARDING AND CHILD PROTECTION SPECIALIST

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood and we enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

For over 85 years, we have rallied other determined optimists to transform the lives of all children in more than 80 countries.

We won’t stop until we are all equal.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Plan International Ghana is looking to employ the services of a highly skilled, experienced and qualified professional to join its team as Safeguarding & Child Protection Specialist.

The Safeguarding & Child Protection Specialist will provide technical leadership and support to ensure the effective implementation, monitoring and compliance of Plan International’s Safeguarding and PSHEA policies, standards and procedures across the Country Office, Programme Impact and Influencing Areas (PIIAs), programmes and partner organisations.

The role will also provide technical direction and support to the Child Protection thematic area, with a focus on preventing and responding to violence against children and gender-based violence (GBV), including violence against women, intimate partner violence, child, early and forced marriage and unions, female genital mutilation, forced pregnancy and human trafficking.

The post holder will work closely with the Country Leadership Team, Safeguarding focal points, programme teams and partners to strengthen safeguarding practices, identify and mitigate risks, and promote the safe and meaningful participation and engagement of children and young people.

ABOUT YOU

You must be an experienced safeguarding and child protection professional with strong technical knowledge and practical experience in implementing and monitoring safeguarding and PSHEA policies within an INGO or NGO environment.

You will provide high-quality technical advice on safeguarding policy implementation, risk management, concerns and policy breaches, including supporting or undertaking investigations, case management reviews and safeguarding reviews where required. You will also contribute to the development and delivery of safeguarding training and awareness materials for staff, managers, partners, children and other relevant stakeholders.

The role requires someone who can build strong relationships, influence effectively across different levels of an organisation, handle highly sensitive information with discretion and confidentiality, and remain composed when dealing with complex and sensitive safeguarding issues.

MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Safeguarding & PSHEA: Provide technical advice and support to strengthen the implementation, monitoring and compliance of Safeguarding and PSHEA policies, procedures and standards across Plan International Ghana and its partners.
• Child Protection & Safe Programming: Provide technical direction and support to strengthen child protection programming and ensure safeguarding and protective measures are embedded across programmes, influencing activities and partnerships.
• Risk Management & Case Response: Support the identification, assessment and mitigation of safeguarding risks, including online risks, and provide technical support in responding to safeguarding concerns, policy breaches, investigations and case management reviews.
• Capacity Building: Design, develop and deliver safeguarding training, briefings and awareness materials for staff, associates, partners, children and other relevant audiences using appropriate learning modalities.
• Safe & Meaningful Engagement: Provide technical support to ensure that children and young people participate and engage with Plan International in ways that are safe, meaningful and consistent with safeguarding standards.
• Reporting, Monitoring & Learning: Support safeguarding reporting and referral mechanisms, maintain relevant safeguarding information and contribute to monitoring, learning and reporting on safeguarding policy implementation.
• Partnership & Coordination: Work closely with Safeguarding focal points, programme teams, partner organisations, government departments and relevant safeguarding networks to strengthen safeguarding practices and promote learning and collaboration.
• Programme Development & Leadership: Contribute to programme and grant proposal development, reports and evaluations relating to safeguarding and child protection and provide technical leadership for Child Protection-focused initiatives where required.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Social Sciences, Social Work, Development Studies, Psychology or a related field. A master’s degree in a relevant discipline will be an added advantage.
• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in developing, implementing and monitoring Safeguarding and PSHEA policies within an INGO/NGO.
• Demonstrated expertise and substantial experience in safeguarding and promoting child rights within an international development context.
• Strong technical knowledge and experience in protection, GBV or gender is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in responding to safeguarding concerns, policy breaches, investigations and case management.
• Experience in providing technical advice and developing and delivering safeguarding training to diverse audiences.
• Sound knowledge of Ghana’s child rights legislation, child protection and GBV policies and practices, family welfare frameworks and emerging safeguarding issues affecting children and young people.
• Knowledge and understanding of safe and meaningful participation and engagement of children and young people.
• Knowledge of safeguarding standards within the sector, including Keeping Children Safe standards, will be an advantage.
• Experience in safeguarding in programming and/or child protection in emergency interventions is desirable.
• Experience working with vulnerable populations, including IDPs, is desirable.
• Experience working directly with children at risk and survivors/victims of abuse, exploitation and violence is desirable.
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to a survivor-centred safeguarding approach.
• Strong risk assessment, analytical, report writing, training, facilitation and communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, networking, relationship-building and influencing skills.
• High level of integrity, discretion and ability to maintain strict confidentiality when handling sensitive information.
• Ability to work independently, prioritise multiple tasks, meet deadlines and maintain composure under pressure.
• Experience working with partner organisations and government departments.
• Ability to conduct field assessments, spot checks and monitoring visits.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and Google Suite.

Desirable Attributes

• Strong commitment to safeguarding, child rights, gender equality, inclusion and the protection of children and young people.
• Ability to challenge behaviour and attitudes in a respectful, non-confrontational and evidence-based manner.
• Strong emotional intelligence and ability to manage sensitive and difficult conversations.
• Creative and practical approach to developing user-friendly, fit-for-purpose and cost-effective safeguarding materials and interventions.
• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment.
• Flexible, self-motivated and adaptable, with the ability to respond effectively to changing priorities and emerging safeguarding risks.
• Commitment to continuous learning and professional development.

TRAVEL

Frequent travel to programme locations will be required.

CONTACT WITH CHILDREN

High contact- the job responsibilities of this position require the post holder to have very frequent contact with children and young people. It is expected that children shall be protected at all times.

Location: Country Office, Accra

Type of Role: Child Protection & Safeguarding

Reports to: Head of Programs & Influencing

Job Type: Fixed Term Contract (Renewable)

Closing Date: 2nd October, 2026

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.