Safeguarding Intern

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

The Safeguarding Intern will work closely with the Country Safeguarding and PSHEA Manager to support monitoring to ensure the Safeguarding Policy, Standards and Procedures are complied with by staff and partners. She/he will provide technical support to Plan’s partners and all Plan’s departments to understand and effectively implement Safeguarding and PSHEA policies and procedures. As a staff member of a child-centred international development and humanitarian organisation, the Safeguarding Intern will commit to upholding Plan International’s standards and policies related to Safeguarding and Gender Equality and Inclusion.

Key Responsibilities

Capacity Building:

• To support the delivery of safeguarding training for staff, associates and visitors to build commitment to Safeguarding in the office and minimize the risk of abuse to children and programme participants.
• Support the development IEC materials on Safeguarding and PSHEA and disseminate these widely.
• To support the Country Safeguarding and PSHEA Manager in carrying out internal regular spot checks to partners and community and annual internal Safeguarding and PSHEA Policies audit.
• Work closely with line manager to provide inputs to all sector programs development in the application of Safeguarding and PSHEA policies and standards in the program cycle based on Safe programming standards in cooperation with all sectors programs team.

Reporting and Responding:

• To act as Safeguarding focal point for the humanitarian response programme and work with Safeguarding focal point at PUs to file the reports on Safeguarding allegations.
• Support the development and disseminate safeguarding reporting and referral pathways.

Mainstreaming:

• To support management in the identification and mitigation of safeguarding risks (including online risks)

Knowledge management and Monitoring:

• To provide a central point for the recording of collated information on Safeguarding and PSHEA Policy implementation activity taking place across the field offices
• To discuss with supervisor any challenges and concerns on the application of Safeguarding and PSHEA policies in order to address them strategically in organization.

About You

We are looking to recruit person(s) with;

• University degree or equivalent in Education, Social Science, Social Work, Psychology, or related fields
• Fresh graduate in a relevant discipline with up to one (1) year of work experience in the development sector, preferably with exposure to safeguarding and PSHEA policies and practices within an INGO/NGO setting.
• Technical skills, experience, and knowledge in protection, GBV, or gender are highly desirable
• Strong writing skills and mature communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work cross-functionally
• Demonstrated sensitivity and ability to maintain confidentiality
• Demonstrated appreciation for a survivor-focused safeguarding approach
• Excellent listening, interpersonal, communication, and networking skills in both remote and in-person contexts
• Knowledge of the Nigerian Child Rights Acts, the VAPP Act, child protection and GBV policies and practice, as well as current issues in relation to safeguarding children and adults in the Nigerian context
• Experience working in emergency settings
• Experience working with IDPs, and other vulnerable populations (ideal)
• Previous experience directly providing services to children at risk and victims of abuse, exploitation, and violence
• Proficiency with MS Office software required (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Suite)
• Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply

Please respond to the requirements of the role in your cover letter.

Only CVs and cover letters in English will be accepted. 

Location: Maiduguri, Borno state

Type of Role: Internship

Closing Date: 2nd August 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.