Mercy Corps is seeking a qualified consultant to lead the development of a Regional Guideline for Safe Programming in Partnerships within its East & Southern Africa (ESA) Region. This remote consultancy will span 40 working days between March and June 2026. The assignment supports Mercy Corps’ Safe, Diverse and Inclusive (SDI) commitment, which promotes safety, accountability, equity, and inclusive culture across programs and operations. Background and Strategic Context Mercy Corps’ SDI framework integrates: Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Safeguarding Protection Community Accountability and Reporting Mechanisms (CARM) The ESA region represents Mercy Corps’ largest portfolio, operating in complex environments including Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, and Ethiopia. These fragile contexts face overlapping climate, conflict, and economic crises, reinforcing the importance of strong, ethical, and inclusive partnerships. The region is prioritizing Safe and Inclusive Programming within partnerships, particularly in Market Systems Development (MSD) programming. The objective is to move beyond transactional or technical partnerships toward: Meaningful and sustainable collaboration Inclusive and participatory approaches Risk-informed programming Prevention of harm, exploitation, and abuse This consultancy will operationalize Mercy Corps’ ten-year Pathway to Possibility (P2P) global strategy by embedding safe programming across partnership management processes. Purpose of the Consultancy The consultant will develop a practical, region-wide guideline to integrate safe programming principles into partnerships with private sector actors involved in MSD programs. The guideline will: Standardize safe programming integration across ESA country offices Strengthen partner systems and accountability mechanisms Embed safeguarding and protection principles throughout the program cycle Support inclusive and ethical private sector collaboration The process will involve co-creation with implementing partners working in fragile and crisis-affected markets to ensure feasibility and contextual relevance. Consultant Objectives The consultant will: Assess current definitions and understanding of safe programming within partnerships Conduct internal and external literature reviews on safeguarding, GESI, protection, and CARM in partnership management Facilitate consultations with implementing partners Analyze protection and safeguarding risks through a GESI lens Explore best practices in working with private sector actors in fragile contexts Facilitate validation sessions and integration discussions with internal teams Consultancy Phases and Deliverables Phase 1: Safe Programming in Partnerships Assessment Timeline: March 26 – May 15, 2026 Activities: Literature review of policies, contracts, and due diligence frameworks Development of data collection tools Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with leadership and technical teams Partner consultation workshops Data analysis and reporting Validation workshop facilitation Deliverables: Inception Report (10–15 pages) Finalized data collection tools Draft Assessment Report (25–30 pages) Validation workshop presentation (15–20 slides) Final Assessment Report (25–30 pages) Phase 2: Guideline Development Timeline: May 15 – June 27, 2026 Activities: Drafting the Regional Safe Programming Guideline Developing guiding principles and a socialization plan Incorporating technical and leadership feedback Supporting launch webinar facilitation Deliverables: Draft Regional Guideline Guiding Principles and Socialization Plan Launch presentation materials and workshop report Final Guideline document and launch materials Concluding consultancy report (10–15 pages) Reporting Structure The consultant will report to the Regional Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Advisor and work closely with: Regional Safeguarding Advisor Global Senior Protection Advisor Senior Global Advisor, Community Accountability Country-level program teams Mercy Corps will facilitate introductions, provide documentation, and review deliverables. Required Qualifications Applicants must demonstrate: Advanced degree in International Development, Social Sciences, Human Rights, Law, or related field 7–10 years of experience in Safe Programming, Safeguarding, Protection, CARM, and GESI Experience conducting similar assessments and developing strategic frameworks for international NGOs Strong qualitative research and facilitation skills Excellent writing and presentation abilities Fluency in English Experience within East & Southern Africa and familiarity with Mercy Corps’ operating model are desirable. Organizational Values Mercy Corps emphasizes: Team engagement and collaboration Diversity, equity, and inclusion Equal employment opportunity Safeguarding and ethical conduct The organization adheres to the UN Secretary-General and IASC principles on prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse and maintains zero tolerance for misconduct. How to Apply Interested candidates must apply via the Jobvite platform by March 15, 2026. Applications should include: CV and cover letter outlining relevant experience Work plan detailing deliverables and timelines across both phases Financial proposal This consultancy offers an opportunity to shape regional standards for safe and inclusive partnerships in fragile contexts while contributing to long-term systems change. VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and WPChannel Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization seeking a consultant. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.