Job Title: Accountability and Safeguarding Officer

Reports to: Deputy for Caritas Moldova Emergency Response

To Apply: Please send your CV and Cover Letter to secretariat@caritas.md as soon as possible.

About Caritas Moldova

Caritas Internationalis is a confederation of 165 Catholic relief, development and social service organizations working to build a better world, especially for the poor and oppressed, in over 200 countries and territories.  Caritas works without regard to creed, race, gender, or ethnicity, and is one of the world’s largest humanitarian networks.

 Founded in 1995, Caritas Moldova is part of Caritas Internationalis and aims to carry out the charitable and social action of the Church - reaching out to the poor, vulnerable and excluded, regardless of race or religion, to build a world based on justice and fraternal love.

Job Summary:

As the Russian invasion expands in Ukraine, the United Nations (UN) estimates that more than four million Ukrainians will be forced to flee the country if there is no cessation of the invasion. Already an estimated 84,000 refugees have crossed into Moldova, with about half moving on to other countries in the EU and the other half settling in Moldova. Caritas Moldova is responding to the refugee crisis, working to serve conflict-affected Ukrainians in Moldova.

As the Accountability and Safeguarding Officer, you will work closely with the Deputy for Caritas Moldova Emergency Response to ensure safeguarding and accountability standards are upheld for all Emergency Response programming. You will train staff and monitor safeguarding and accountability procedures.

Caritas Moldova is hiring this position for 6 months, with the opportunity to extend.

To Apply: Please send your CV and Cover Letter to secretariat@caritas.md as soon as possible.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

Accountability

• Establish and operate Feedback, Complaint and Response Mechanism (FCRM) based on preferences from key project participants (e.g. in-person consultations, WhatsApp messaging system, hotline, suggestion boxes, etc.).
• Support development of communication materials, messages and strategies on FCRM and safeguarding
• Ensure that feedback, complaints, and responses are adequately captured, documented, processed, responded to, and used for decision-making
• Provide regular updates to Caritas Moldova Management on status of FCRM cases and prepare periodic reports on trends for internal and external audiences, as needed.
• Ensure all FCRM systems established and operated are done so in accordance with Moldovan legislation on personal data protection.
• Conduct periodic community assessments regarding feedback methods and the functioning of the FCRM, with special attention to marginalized/hard to reach populations (rural areas, people with disabilities, vulnerable families and children), to monitor effectiveness and make continuous improvements.
• Additional duties as needed

Safeguarding

• Develop, adjust, and provide trainings and capacity strengthening to Caritas Moldova staff and partners on safeguarding, in partnership with Emergency Response Deputy
• Develop communication material and strategies for sharing context-specific information on safeguarding (appropriate staff conduct, reporting mechanisms, and protections) and other relevant information with communities.
• Ensure the project team working on the Emergency Response is trained on and operating in accordance with safeguarding procedures
• Conduct biannual safeguarding refreshers for staff
• Train any new staff on safeguarding
• Additional duties as needed

Basic Qualifications

• University degree
• Minimum of one year of work experience in project support. Experience in the field of social services and/or experience working for an NGO would be a plus.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Driver’s License and ability to drive required

Required Languages – Written and spoken proficiency in Russian, Romanian and English required.

Travel – Some travel may be required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with community members and other stakeholders
• Computer skills (Word, Excel, Power Point, etc.)
• Analytical thinker with good organizational skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Knowledge and observance of moral and ethical norms, as well as professional ethics
• Ability to write clearly and coherently

Supervisory Responsibilities: No direct supervisory responsibilities, but supervises safeguarding within the Emergency Response.

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Project Coordinators and Assistant Project Coordinators, Deputy for Emergency Response, Emergency Coordinator, Director of Caritas Moldova, other Caritas Moldova staff

External: Catholic Parishes, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) staff, community members, collective center employees, UNHCR, and other NGO and faith-based actors

Caritas Moldova is committed to the protection of children, vulnerable adults and employees against any form of abuse and exploitation.

Caritas Moldova welcomes as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

Caritas Moldova’s recruitment procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.