Senior Advisor for Integrated Safeguarding and Community Accountability Reporting Mechanism

Job Posting Organization:
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization dedicated to the belief that a better world is possible. Established to respond to disasters and hardships, Mercy Corps operates in more than 40 countries worldwide, partnering with local communities to implement bold solutions that help people overcome adversity and build stronger communities. The organization emphasizes a locally led approach, integrating community voices and working alongside local governments, private sectors, and civil society actors to ensure effective programming. Mercy Corps is committed to safeguarding and ethical practices, ensuring that all individuals involved in their programs are treated with respect and dignity, and that their operations do not cause harm to the communities they serve.

Job Overview:
The Senior Advisor for Integrated Safeguarding and Community Accountability Reporting Mechanism (CARM) will play a crucial role in developing a Community Sensitization Toolkit for the Pakistan TB Program as part of the Asia Social Development Initiative pilot. This position focuses on integrating safeguarding and accountability messaging into routine TB service delivery and outreach. The Senior Advisor will provide technical leadership to enhance the social and behavior change communication (SBCC) aspects of the toolkit, ensuring that communication with patients, caregivers, and communities promotes awareness of rights, respectful care, and access to reporting mechanisms. The role involves close collaboration with the Toolkit Technical Consultant and the Regional Social Integration Advisor to refine toolkit content, co-create community dialogue tools, and develop IEC materials aimed at fostering positive behavior change among service providers and community members.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Advisor will be responsible for providing SBCC-informed technical guidance to integrate safeguarding and CARM messaging into TB program communication touchpoints. This includes defining key behavior change objectives related to patient rights, respectful care, safeguarding awareness, and the use of accountability mechanisms. The advisor will develop messaging frameworks that address knowledge, attitudes, social norms, and behaviors of both service providers and community members. Additionally, the advisor will review draft toolkit materials, ensuring clarity, cultural appropriateness, and alignment with SBCC principles. They will also ensure that communication approaches are practical and usable for healthcare providers and outreach teams within routine TB service delivery. The advisor will co-develop and refine a Community Dialogue Facilitation Guide, provide technical input to messaging guidance for healthcare providers, and design user-friendly communication tools applicable in real program settings.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess at least 5 years of experience in humanitarian development or a related field. A Bachelor’s degree in international relations or a related discipline is required. Demonstrated experience in Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) is essential, along with experience in designing community engagement or sensitization tools. Familiarity with health communication and healthcare service delivery contexts is necessary, as well as experience integrating safeguarding, accountability, or protection messaging into communication materials. Strong skills in translating technical concepts into simple, practical communication tools are also required.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor’s degree in international relations or a related field is mandatory for this position. This educational background provides the foundational knowledge necessary for understanding the complexities of humanitarian work and the importance of effective communication in community engagement and safeguarding efforts.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in humanitarian development or a related field. This level of experience is crucial for understanding the challenges and dynamics involved in implementing effective safeguarding and community accountability mechanisms within diverse cultural contexts.

Languages:
While the job description does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is likely essential given the international nature of the organization and the position. Additional language skills relevant to the regions served, particularly Urdu or other local languages, would be advantageous and enhance communication with community members and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The position is remote, allowing for flexibility in work location. Mercy Corps is committed to equal employment opportunities and fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. The organization emphasizes the importance of safeguarding and ethical practices, requiring team members to adhere to a professional code of conduct and complete mandatory training on safeguarding and ethics. The role does not involve supervisory responsibilities, but it does require collaboration with various stakeholders and team members to achieve program objectives.