Safeguarding & Code of Conduct Specialist

Position Title	Safeguarding & Code of Conduct Specialist
Technical supervisor	HQ Hub
Line manager	Country Director, Nigeria
Duty station	Abuja or Maiduguri (with frequent visits to other DRC locations)
Area of Operation	Nigeria
Employment Period	Starting May or June 2026 – 1 year renewable
Type of Contract (Expat/National/Trainee)	National
Salary & Benefits	Employment Band: NM-G Level 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfilment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organisation with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profit-making, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organisation.

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

1. Background

A country of around 230M inhabitants, with over 129 million currently living in poverty, Nigeria faces one of the world's most complex humanitarian crises in the world. The fifteen-year conflict in the Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states, driven primarily by the Boko Haram insurgency and its splinter groups (ISWAP and JAS), has resulted in widespread displacement, violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws, and acute protection needs. More than 2.3 million people remain internally displaced in the northeast, while in the Northwest region an additional 1.3M people have been forcibly displaced due to banditry, kidnapping, and herders -farmers conflict. Northern Nigeria is heavily impacted by climate change, including lengthening lean seasons and erratic rainy seasons and droughts, resulting in food production shortfalls and more population displacements. Severe acute malnutrition is affecting a world-high total of 1.8 million children across BAY and northwestern states.

In 2026 Nigeria’s humanitarian system will be transitioning from UN-led toward nationally owned coordination, with some lack of clarity regarding concrete mechanisms to be it in place and amid a funding crisis.

DRC has been operating in Nigeria since 2016. The Country Office is in Abuja and has 2 area offices in Maiduguri and Sokoto with sub offices in Gusau, Bama and Banki and a mobile team in Katsina. DRC Nigeria's multi-sectoral response addresses core Strategic Priority Interventions: Hard-to-Reach populations, Economic Recovery, Protection, and increasingly climate resilience. The operation focuses on both emergency response and solutions programming with expanding partnerships with local actors.

2. Overall purpose of the role:

This role has a Nigeria Country focus and e9+nsures compliance to DRC’s CoCRM and Safeguarding procedures, guidelines, and requirements within the country. The role contributes to the development of country strategies, which are translated into action plans and day-to-day tasks. The Safeguarding & Code of Conduct Specialist is responsible, on behalf of the Country Director, for nurturing and promoting a culture of code of conduct in collaboration with managers, staff, the Regional Safeguarding & Code of Conduct Coordinator as well as the Safeguarding & Code of Conduct Unit in HQ, for reviewing, planning, and implementing capacity building plans on strengthening functional COCRM and safeguarding practices in Nigeria Country office. It also includes the maintenance of the CoCRM, referring Survivors to appropriate services provider within or external to DRC, conducting investigations, and the coordination with other safeguarding stakeholders for the purpose of the dissemination of safeguarding (PSEAH) policies and activities.

3. Duties and Responsibilities

Complaint Registration:

• Setting complaint (RSM) tracks, managing complaint tracks (e.g. hotline, green line, e-mail, complaint boxes etc.) and receiving RSMs in person.
• Advising reporting persons (Reporting Persons) on DRC’s CoCRM structure and procedures, available reporting opportunities and other.
• Registering RSMs in the Code of Conduct Tracking Tool and informing the Gate A+ (Region) or Gate B (HQ) Registrars of such registration. Updating the Code of Conduct Tracking Tool with available information.
• Supporting the Gate A+ (Region) or Gate B (HQ) Registrars for the purpose of providing feedback to the Reporting Persons.
• Coordinating with the Regional Registrar for COC.

Investigation lead and support:

• Conducting internal investigations as investigator under the monitoring of the relevant Regional or HQ authorizing officer (AO).
• Producing high quality reports on investigation (closure or investigation reports), and advisory reports on gaps, risks and issues identified during investigation.
• Monitoring of investigations on behalf of the ReSCO (Regional Safeguarding & Code of Conduct Office).
• Representing and participating in relevant working groups, clusters, or inter-agency PSEAH networks within the limits permitted by DRC’s applicable policies.
• Supporting investigators and authorizing officers in the frame of PSEAH investigations by mapping relevant and available services, approaching Survivors, identifying their needs (with the Survivors themselves) and referring them to the appropriate service provider within or outside DRC.
• The Safeguarding & Code of Conduct Focal Point will, from time to time, support the investigator by interviewing the Survivor when/if appropriate.
• Conduct regular monitoring and spot checks of partner support functions to ensure  compliance to agreed standards

Collaboration with Nigeria Teams:

• Collaborating and coordinating with the relevant programme and MEAL teams to ensure that accountability towards the affected population is upheld at country level which includes the setting of relevant CFMs, identifying, flagging, and suggesting mitigation measures around SEAH risks that might arise.

          Collaborating with the relevant Registrars at country and regional levels to maintain an efficient connection between the CoCRM and the CFM in their regional area to register and                  fast-track PSEAH related cases

•  Advising the relevant management regarding the contracting with implementing partners regarding safeguarding and accountability requirements.
• Planning, delivering and supporting the dissemination of PSEAH trainings and CoCRM awareness sessions to staff, management, implementing partners’ Workforce and persons of concern (PoCs) in coordination with the ReSCO.
• Recording and tracking all CoCRM & PSEAH in-person training arranged in the Country Office.

Compliance

• Work with the Risk and Compliance Specialist to update compliance and accountability improvement Plans.
• Support and evaluate areas of compliance risk while feeding into risk registers and recommend corrective actions.
• Work with operations department to ensure DRC policies and procedures are relevant, communicated, and implemented.
• Build capacity of the team, conduct and/or plan trainings on topics such as strengthening internal controls and fraud detection
• Support partners in developing/adapting support service policies and manuals.

Experience and technical competencies: (include years of experience)

• Demonstrate experience with code of conduct or similar in a large or local organization, influencing senior-level management and key stakeholders effectively across the organization and within complex contexts.
• Demonstrate experience with conducting and/or monitoring internal investigations.
• Demonstrate experience with developing and delivering successful training sessions, facilitating meetings.
• Demonstrate experience with Safeguarding and PSEA standards, including an ability to apply a survivor-centered approach in relating with survivors of SH and SEA and in handling SEA and SH allegations, and an understanding of the international context in which this issue impacts DRC.
• Have good oral and written communication skills in English is mandatory.
• Commitment to upholding and modelling DRC’s values and Code of Conduct.
• Demonstrating integrity, diplomacy, professionalism, reliability, and resilience at all times.
• Able to always work professionally and with a high degree of confidentiality.

Education: (include certificates, licenses etc.)

• Master's degree in relevant area.

Languages: (indicate fluency level)

• Fluency in written and spoken English.

4. Required Skills & Qualities

• Core Competencies of DRC:
  • Striving for excellence
  • Collaboration
  • Taking the lead
  • Communication
  • Demonstrating Integrity
• Excellent communication skills, as well as patience and politeness, are required.

5. General Regulations

• The employee shall follow DRC instructions on safety, confidentiality and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework
• Employee should not engage in any other paid activity during the DRC contract period without prior authorisation
• Employee should not engage in any activity that could harm DRC or the implementation of any project during the DRC contract period
• Employee should not give interviews to the media or publish project-related photos or other material without prior authorisation
• Employee shall return all borrowed equipment for the project to DRC after the end of the contract period or upon request

6. Application Process

All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) on DRC website. Both must be in English.

DRC provides equal opportunity in employment and prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

DRC encourages all applicants to apply and does not practice any discrimination in any recruitment process.

However, all applicants shall take into consideration that DRC cannot offer an international work contract to a citizen of the country of assignment (in this specific case, Nigeria).

Applications close on 30th March 2026. Applications submitted after this date will not be considered.

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