Manager, Safeguarding, Risk and Compliance

Job Summary

The Accelerating Financial Resilience & Insurance for Young African Women in Agrifood Systems (AFIYA) program is a multi-country initiative that seeks to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable young women smallholder farmers and agri-preneurs across eight African countries. AFIYA complements and amplifies existing Mastercard Foundation country programs by embedding innovative insurance and financial inclusion solutions within established initiatives and trusted delivery channels. AFIYA’s core ambition is to enhance the financial security, climate resilience, and entrepreneurial capacity of young women in agriculture, enabling them to sustainably participate in and benefit from agrifood systems. The Manager, Safeguarding, Risk and Compliance will lead the integration, implementation, and monitoring of safeguarding standards across the FSD Africa’s programmes and provide organisational-wide risk management and compliance. The Manager will be responsible for maintaining comprehensive safeguarding systems within the FSD Africa’s programmes and throughout the organisation. They will ensure that all programme activities adhere to the highest standards of protection, dignity, and respect, with particular attention to women, youth, and other vulnerable groups. Additionally, they will contribute to organisation-wide risk management by developing policies, conducting risk assessments, performing compliance reviews, delivering training, and overseeing reporting processes. The Manager will work closely with programme teams, implementing partners, and stakeholders to embed a culture of safeguarding, and overall risk management accountability and compliance in all operations.

Job Details

Reports to - Assistant Director, Risk and Compliance 

Reports Indirectly to -  Principal, Innovation for Resilience

Direct Reports :Consultants engaged on programme

Contract type - Full Time 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLE REQUIREMENTS

1. Safeguarding Responsibilities

• Safeguarding Strategy and integration
  • Lead the development, integration and implementation of a Safeguarding Strategy, ensuring alignment with FSD Africa’s safeguarding policies.
  • Embed safeguarding principles throughout the delivery programme cycle and maintain safeguarding indicators within the programme’s Monitoring and Evaluation systems.
  • Promote a culture of safety and accountability by identifying and mitigating potential risks to programme participants, especially children and vulnerable adults
  • Work closely with the Manager, Gender to ensure safeguarding and gender mainstreaming approaches are complementary and mutually reinforcing.
• Case Management & Reporting
  • In liaison with Safeguarding Officers, HR, and relevant authorities where required, manage safeguarding concerns and investigations involving programme teams, partners, and representatives across all interventions.
  • Maintain a confidential safeguarding case management system and ensure timely reporting to respective donors and internal leadership in line with policies and donor requirements.
• Influencing and Communicating for Impact
  • Drive the development, implementation, and monitoring of annual safeguarding action plans, ensuring programme managers follow up on assessments, reviews, and audits.
  • Collaborate with the Communications team to uphold safeguarding principles in advocacy, ensuring communication materials and plans are safe, inclusive, and respect informed consent and the protection of participant identities.
  • Regularly evaluate programme communications to guarantee ethical representation, prevent harm or exploitation, and promote dignity for all programme participants.

2. Risk and Compliance Responsibilities 

Support FSD Africa’s organisation‑wide risk and compliance function by contributing to key responsibilities including:

• Lead comprehensive risk assessments for interventions, develop and maintain risk registers, monitor all programme risks (operational, fiduciary, ESG, and safeguarding), and ensure robust risk mitigation plans are integrated into both programme design and implementation.
• Work collaboratively with programme teams to implement and align organisational control frameworks—including financial controls, procurement integrity, environmental compliance, and data protection— ensuring consistency with FSD Africa’s enterprise risk processes.
• Reviewing and strengthening risk management frameworks and policies, ensuring they remain robust, relevant and aligned to best practice.
• Monitoring external developments i.e. Regulatory, economic, geopolitical or sectoral, that may present strategic risks or opportunities for the organisation.
• Conducting internal compliance reviews across pillars to assess adherence to policies, procedures and donor requirements.
• Supporting in due diligence processes for partners, vendors and programme initiatives, ensuring appropriate risk mitigation measures are in place.
• Contributing to the maintenance and enhancement of the Business Continuity Management Framework, including business impact assessments and continuity planning.
• Supporting the preparation of quarterly risk management reports for FARC and the Executive Leadership Team, ensuring timely, accurate and insightful reporting.

3. Knowledge Management and Capacity Building 

• Collaborate with Manager, L&D to deliver risk, compliance, and safeguarding training, while building safeguarding capacity among staff and partners.
• Promote a culture of safe and inclusive programming, with zero tolerance for abuse, and foster risk awareness through sensitisation and training.
• Stay updated on safeguarding best practices and provide technical support to enhance compliance maturity and strengthen policies and systems.

4. Relationship Management

Take initiative to build relationships and ensure effective collaboration with and between all programme stakeholders and FSD Africa colleagues; includes managing any consultants deployed to the programmes being managed:

• Foster collaboration across organisational pillars, identifying opportunities for synergy and coordinated actions.
• Respond effectively to stakeholder information needs, organising targeted capacity-building events or knowledge dissemination on risk management, compliance and safeguarding.
• Manage consultants and teams to ensure high performance and effective programme outcomes.
• Engage continuously with stakeholders to nurture relationships, ensuring ongoing collaboration and support for programmes.

5. Resources Management 

Ensure effective management of resources/budget for programmes under management, aiming to optimise the impact that is achieved with resources and ensuring compliance with Mastercard regulations:

• Develop programme plans, budgets, and forecasts to ensure optimal resource utilisation and compliance with organisational policies.
• Liaise internally to manage financial resources effectively, ensuring compliance with statutory and donor regulations.

Carry out any other duties or special assignments as assigned by the Management.

COMPETENCIES
Competencies describe the key behaviours that drive success in all of FSD Africa’s roles, regardless of technical specialism. They have been derived from systematic research correlating performance with personal attributes. 

Competency Levels 

• Level 1: Basic
• Level 2: Foundation   
• Level 3: Specialist
• Level 4: Senior Specialist      
• Level 5: Leading Expert          
• Level 6: Executive

This position requires competency at Specialist Level for all the competencies listed below:

ESSENTIAL FOUNDATIONS
Commitment & Alignment
Demonstrates commitment to serving our partners and alignment with the values and vision of FSD Africa
Change & Challenge
Has a strong sense of ownership that leads to learning, self-starting, taking initiative, driving change and leading development
 

ACHIEVEMENT COMPETENCIES
Situational Awareness & Thinking
Thinks clearly and intentionally, analysing information objectively, understanding issues, solving problems, and making decisions
Drive for results
Is keenly motivated to achieve goals & act with accountability to deliver quality results
 

PEOPLE COMPETENCIES
Relationships & Collaboration
Discerns and appreciates the values, viewpoints, or abilities of others; effectively reconciles different interests and displays emotional intelligence
Communication & Influencing
Deliberately adjusts behaviour to accommodate others; communicates clearly, confidently, and appropriately to influence others
 

Requirements

PERSON SPECIFICATIONS

Qualifications and Education

• Master’s degree and 6 years of experience or bachelor’s degree and 8 years of experience of experience in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Gender Studies, Psychology, Business, Law or related fields.
• Relevant postgraduate qualifications preferred.
• Professional certification in risk, compliance, audit, or investigations is an added advantage.
• Excellent skills in written and spoken English.

Essential Experience, Knowledge and Skills

• At least 6 years of professional experience in promoting Safeguarding or in protection roles 
• In-depth knowledge of current child protection policies, practices, and legislation including the Child Rights Act, sexual harassment, and international protocols such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding principles.
• Experience integrating safeguarding measures into multi-stakeholder development.
• Proven ability to conduct safeguarding specific, and general risk assessments and investigations.
• Demonstrated expertise in Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) and a proven track record in designing, implementing and strengthening compliance management systems
• Excellent facilitation and training skills with diverse audience
• Experience working in a complex and pioneering environment.
• Track record of managing relationships and influencing stakeholders; good influencing/ interpersonal skills
• Excellent grasp of key principles of Project Cycle Management, including risk management within a project; proven track record of adaptive management.
• Ability to engage & influence convincingly at a senior management level. 
• Ability to manage a programme using digital platforms or tools to communicate; ability to manage data/ documentation electronically.
• Ability to manage programme portfolio with middle-level budget.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to critically evaluate written material such as reports and policies.

Desirable

• Experience of working in a multi-cultural environment
• Experience working in development, emergency response, or fragile states contexts with a demonstrated understanding of local context. 
• Familiarity with international humanitarian systems, institutions, donors, including knowledge of donor policies and procedures.
• Previous experience of working in donor funded programme
• Languages: English, French, local African languages
   

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity: 

FSD Africa is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of equity and inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer: 

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status. We will ensure that all applicants are provided a fair chance to compete for available job opportunities.

About Company

FSD Africa

https://fsdafrica.org/

FSD Africa is a specialist development agency working to help make finance work for Africa’s future. Based in Nairobi, FSD Africa’s team of financial sector experts work alongside governments, business leaders, regulators, and policymakers to design and build ambitious programmes that make financial markets work better for everyone. FSD Africa Investments, provides early-stage, risk-bearing, catalytic and patient capital to inventive commercial organisations in order to stimulate capital flows in support of green economic growth benefiting people and planet. Established in 2012, FSD Africa is incorporated as a non-profit company limited by guarantee in Kenya. It is funded by UK aid from the UK government.