Gender Equality, Safeguarding and Social Inclusion Specialist
Position Circumstances
- Career Category: Social Work, Educate/Train/Teaching, Child Protection, Community Development, Monitoring & Evaluation
- Schedule:Full-time
- Salary: Negotiable
Department: Programme Unit
Location / Duty Station: Phnom Penh (with up to 50% to Ratanakiri and other UWS operations)
Role Purpose / Summary
The GESSI Specialist will help advance UWS Cambodia’s commitment to ensuring every child can learn, participate and thrive in safe, inclusive and equitable learning environments.
The role leads the implementation of UWS Cambodia’s GESSI Strategy and Action Plan, embedding gender equality, disability inclusion, social inclusion, child protection and safeguarding across programmes, schools, communities and systems. Working across teams, the post-holder will help reduce barriers to learning, participation and protection and support long-term progress towards inclusive, equitable and sustainable education systems.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone passionate about inclusion and children’s rights, confident influencing others, and keen to grow as a technical leader. The role reports to the UWS
Cambodia Senior Programme Manager, with ongoing mentoring and technical support from the Global Inclusion Manager, and includes cross-country learning, training and capacity-strengthening opportunities across UWS. Based in Phnom Penh, the role involves regular travel, up to 50%, to UWS operations across Cambodia, particularly in the Northeast.
Reports To: UWS Cambodia Senior Programme Manager, with dotted line to Global Inclusion Manager
Type of Contract: Full-time, permanent position (subject to successful competition of a 3-month probation period)
Working Hours: 40 hours per week
Duties & Responsibilities:
- Lead GESSI Technical Leadership and Programme Quality
- Provide technical leadership to advance GESSI across UWS Cambodia, ensuring all children can participate, learn and thrive in safe, inclusive and equitable learning environments.
- Lead implementation and continuous improvement of the UWS Cambodia GESSI Strategy and Action Plan, using evidence and learning to strengthen programme quality and impact.
- Design and strengthen GESSI interventions (gender equality, disability & social inclusion, safeguarding) that reduce barriers to learning, participation and protection at student, school, community, organisational and systems levels.
- Provide training, coaching and technical support to Programme and Field Teams to strengthen capacity and ensure consistent implementation of GESSI standards.
- Monitor the quality and effectiveness of GESSI implementation and drive continuous improvement across schools and communities.
- Participate in the UWS Global GESSI Working Group and contribute to cross-country learning, innovation and technical excellence.
- Child Protection and Safeguarding Leadership
- As National CPS Lead, provide strategic and technical leadership to ensure strong safeguarding systems protect children, staff, associates and communities across UWS Cambodia.
- Lead implementation of the UWS Global CPS Policy and national safeguarding requirements, working closely with the Senior Leadership Team, HR and Global CPS Lead.
- Oversee safeguarding concerns and incidents, ensuring timely reporting, response and case management in line with organisational and national procedures.
- Strengthen school safeguarding systems, referral pathways and partnerships with government and child protection stakeholders.
- Build safeguarding capacity and accountability among staff and CPS Focal Points, supporting implementation across schools and communities.
- Monitor safeguarding risks and action plans, conducting regular reviews to strengthen child protection practice and organisational accountability.
- GESSI Evidence, Learning, and Improvement
- Use evidence and learning to strengthen programme quality, accountability and progress towards inclusive, equitable and safe education outcomes.
- Work with Programme and MEAL teams to analyse GESSI data and stakeholder feedback, identifying barriers, safeguarding risks and inequitable outcomes affecting participation, retention, safety and learning.
- Strengthen GESSI monitoring, learning and feedback systems to support evidence-based decision- making and continuous improvement.
- Produce high-quality GESSI reports, learning products and technical inputs that communicate progress, evidence, risks, lessons learned and recommendations.
- Organisational Systems, Capacity and Culture
- Support UWS Cambodia to embed GESSI across organisational systems, leadership and culture.
- Strengthen integration of GESSI across organisational policies, systems and practices, working collaboratively with Programme, HR, MEAL, Communications, Fundraising and Finance teams.
- Deliver staff induction, training and capacity-strengthening initiatives that build understanding and application of GESSI and safeguarding principles.
- Support staff and leadership to apply GESSI in planning, decision-making and day-to-day practice.
- Support organisational reflection, accountability and continuous improvement through reviews, reporting and capacity-strengthening processes.
- Promote a culture of inclusion, equity, safeguarding and accountability.
- Partnerships, Advocacy and Resource Mobilisation
- Support UWS Cambodia’s efforts to influence systems change and strengthen partnerships that advance inclusive, safe and equitable education.
- Work with the National Coordinator and relevant teams to advance GESSI priorities through policy dialogue, technical working groups and advocacy platforms.
- Monitor national policy developments and provide technical recommendations to align programmes with emerging priorities and good practice.
- Build and maintain partnerships with government, NGOs, development partners and technical networks.
- Represent UWS Cambodia in relevant GESSI and education forums.
- Contribute technical expertise and evidence to advocacy products, proposals, donor reports, fundraising materials and external engagement efforts.
Benefits:
- Travel Medical Insurance
- NSFF
- Seniority payment
- Public Holiday according to labour law.
Expected Profile of Candidates
Languages:
- Khmer - Good
- English - Good
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree
Skills & Knowledge:
General & Technical Skills
- Experience in gender equality, social inclusion, disability inclusion, safeguarding, child protection, inclusive education or a related field.
- Experience delivering training, coaching, technical support or capacity strengthening.
- Experience working with teams, schools, communities or partners to improve programme practice.
- Experience using evidence, feedback or learning to improve programmes, systems or ways of working.
- Strong understanding of gender-responsive, inclusive and safe education.
- Knowledge of safeguarding and child protection principles, including prevention, reporting, referral and response.
- Ability to analyse barriers to learning, participation and protection and translate findings into practical action.
- Strong communication, facilitation and report-writing skills in Khmer and English.
- Ability to develop clear tools, guidance, training materials or learning resources.
- Experience working with education stakeholders, government authorities, NGOs or development partners in Cambodia.
- Experience supporting advocacy, partnership building, proposal development, donor reporting or resource mobilisation.
- Experience contributing to safeguarding, inclusion, disability inclusion, WASH, retention or community engagement interventions.
- Knowledge of Cambodian education, safeguarding and inclusion frameworks.• Experience with monitoring, learning, data visualisation, dashboards or reporting tools.
- Familiarity with inclusive education tools, student feedback mechanisms, child functioning assessments or safeguarding risk tools.
Soft Skills
- Passionate about equity, inclusion, safeguarding and children’s rights.
- Confident influencing others and advocating for positive change, including in complex or sensitive contexts.
- Proactive, solutions-focused and willing to challenge barriers to inclusion and protection respectfully and constructively.
- Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to work well with colleagues, government, communities and partners.
- Curious, reflective and committed to learning, growth and continuous improvement.
- Able to work across teams, manage competing priorities and stay focused on practical impact.
- Strong judgement, integrity and accountability when handling sensitive information or safeguarding concerns.
- Strategic thinker who can identify opportunities for systems change.
- Confident representing an organisation in external forums and partnerships.
- Adaptable and resilient in complex and changing environments.
- Open to feedback, innovation and new ways of working.
