TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR)

Safeguarding Officer — SAFE and CARING Projects (100% allocation)

1. Context and rationale

Caritas Moldova Charity Foundation implements social, medical, educational, community and humanitarian programmes and services for people and communities in vulnerable situations. Through its activities, the organisation interacts directly with children, older persons, persons with disabilities, refugees, vulnerable families and other individuals who may be exposed to heightened risks of abuse, exploitation, neglect or other forms of inappropriate conduct.

Caritas Moldova is committed to creating and maintaining a safe environment, grounded in respect for human dignity, integrity, responsibility and the “do no harm” principle, in which children and adults in vulnerable situations are protected against any form of abuse, exploitation, neglect, harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, or other conduct incompatible with the organisation’s values and standards. To this end, Caritas Moldova maintains an organisational safeguarding system (policies, procedures, the Code of Conduct, and incident reporting and management mechanisms), applicable to all structures, programmes and individuals acting on behalf of the organisation.

Within the SAFE and CARING projects, Caritas Moldova establishes the position of Safeguarding Officer, fully allocated (100%) to these two projects. The position is responsible for applying, adapting and strengthening Caritas Moldova’s organisational safeguarding system at the level of the SAFE and CARING projects, ensuring the prevention, identification, reporting and appropriate response to safeguarding risks and incidents within these projects, as well as maintaining a permanent link with the organisation’s organisational safeguarding system.

The CARING 2 project focuses on providing opportunities and support to 400 children and young people affected by various vulnerabilities, helping them access quality non-formal education in a safe and supportive environment, in Tiraspol, Petropavlovca, Rascov and Zirnesti. The project contributes to reducing the learning gap, to children’s rights and protection, to mental health and wellbeing, and to the integral and shared human development of children and young people.

The SAFE II project aims to support 200 elderly people living alone and with chronic illnesses, among the most vulnerable segments of the population, by providing medical and social services at home and in the community, in the localities of Chișinău, Ștârcea, Rașcov and Râbnița. Through its activities, the project addresses essential needs such as access to medication and medical care, nutrition, mobility and social connection, thereby contributing to a more dignified, healthier and less isolated life for its beneficiaries.

2. General purpose of the position

The purpose of the position is to coordinate and ensure the implementation, monitoring and continuous improvement of safeguarding within the SAFE and CARING projects, in full compliance and alignment with Caritas Moldova’s organisational safeguarding system.

The Safeguarding Officer will provide technical support to the SAFE and CARING project teams, staff involved in their implementation, partners in the Transnistria region and other partners of the two projects, as well as beneficiaries, in order to prevent and reduce risks, strengthen capacities and ensure adequate reporting and response mechanisms, aligned with Caritas Moldova’s organisational safeguarding system.

The position will contribute to developing, at the level of the SAFE and CARING projects, a culture in which safeguarding is understood as a shared responsibility, the rights and dignity of beneficiaries are respected, and concerns and incidents can be reported safely, confidentially and without fear of retaliation, through the channels provided by the organisational safeguarding system.

3. Specific objectives

The Safeguarding Officer position, fully allocated to the SAFE and CARING projects, pursues the following specific objectives:

• Consistent application, at the level of the SAFE and CARING projects, of the policies, procedures and standards of Caritas Moldova’s organisational safeguarding system;
• Adapting and, where necessary, developing the safeguarding tools required for the specific context of the SAFE and CARING projects, including for partners in the Transnistria region;
• Strengthening a safeguarding culture among staff, volunteers and partners involved in the SAFE and CARING projects;
• Systematically integrating safeguarding principles, including PSEA and the survivor-centred approach, into the planning, implementation and monitoring of the SAFE and CARING projects;
• Ensuring, within the SAFE and CARING projects, safe, accessible and confidential feedback, complaint and reporting mechanisms, connected to Caritas Moldova’s organisational safeguarding system;
• Identifying, assessing and managing safeguarding risks specific to the SAFE and CARING projects and integrating them into project management;
• Strengthening the capacity of staff, volunteers, beneficiaries and partners within the SAFE and CARING projects to apply safeguarding standards;
• Periodic reporting to Caritas Moldova management and, where applicable, to the donor, on the progress, risks and results of safeguarding activities carried out within the projects.
• Supporting safe recruitment practices for staff, volunteers and associates involved in the SAFE and CARING projects, including reference checks and safeguarding briefings prior to engagement;
• Ensuring safeguarding awareness materials are visibly displayed and accessible — including child-friendly versions and formats adapted for persons with disabilities — at project and partner locations;
• Briefing short-term contractors and external collaborators (e.g. evaluators, consultants, photographers) engaged by the SAFE and CARING projects on accepted and unaccepted behaviour, and obtaining their signed commitment to the Code of Conduct.

4. Scope of responsibility and specific activities

The Safeguarding Officer is fully allocated (100%) to the SAFE and CARING projects. The position operates exclusively within these two projects, applying and adapting Caritas Moldova’s organisational safeguarding system (policies, procedures, the Code of Conduct, and incident reporting and management mechanisms) at their level. Any element developed at the level of the SAFE and CARING projects (adapted policies, procedures, tools) remains aligned and consistent with the organisational safeguarding system and is communicated to the relevant structures of the organisation.

The specific responsibilities and activities of the position, together with their associated deliverables and estimated durations, are set out in the table below:

The total estimated duration of the activities above is 79 working days, fully allocated (100%) to the SAFE and CARING projects, spread over the implementation period of the two projects.

5. Managing safeguarding reports and incidents within the SAFE and CARING projects

The Safeguarding Officer serves as the focal point for safeguarding concerns and reports arising within the SAFE and CARING projects and contributes to a safe, prompt, confidential and predictable process for receiving and managing them, in accordance with Caritas Moldova’s organisational safeguarding system.

This responsibility includes receiving, recording and initially documenting reports related to the SAFE and CARING projects, immediately assessing any risks to the safety of the affected person, escalating the case to the competent persons or structures within the organisational safeguarding system, and supporting the implementation of immediate protective measures where necessary.

Where the nature or severity of a situation requires the intervention of external services, the Safeguarding Officer will facilitate, in accordance with the organisation’s procedures and the applicable legal framework, referral to the competent services or institutions. The actual investigation of incidents remains the responsibility of the formal investigation and decision-making structures and mechanisms of Caritas Moldova’s organisational safeguarding system; the role of the position does not involve conducting investigations automatically or independently.

The management of reports and incidents will be based on the principles of safety, confidentiality, respect and dignity, non-discrimination, “do no harm”, the best interests of the child, a survivor-centred approach, and protection against retaliation, and information relating to cases will be accessible only to persons with a legitimate need to know, in accordance with the “need-to-know” principle.

The Safeguarding Officer maintains a consistent, pre-established referral pathway for the different types of cases that may arise, including cases involving children and persons with disabilities who may require specialised services, so that referrals can be made promptly when needed.

Follow-up on agreed corrective or disciplinary measures is monitored to confirm that they have been implemented and that they contribute to preventing recurrence.

Records of safeguarding concerns and cases are kept in a confidential log, accessible only to persons with a legitimate need to know, in line with data protection principles.

6. Safeguarding in relation to SAFE and CARING project partners

The Safeguarding Officer contributes to strengthening the capacity of partners involved in the SAFE and CARING projects, including partners in the Transnistria region (Tiraspol, Rîbnița, Rașcov), to prevent, identify, report and manage safeguarding risks and concerns, in alignment with Caritas Moldova’s organisational safeguarding system.

In this regard, the Officer supports the assessment of these partners’ policies, procedures and practices, the identification of any gaps, and the development of improvement measures through training, mentoring, coaching and technical advice, as well as monitoring the implementation of agreed recommendations, so that the policies and tools developed at partner level remain consistent with Caritas Moldova’s principles and standards.

As part of this support, the Safeguarding Officer conducts periodic (at least annual) safeguarding reviews of relevant partners and checks that grant, or partnership agreements include safeguarding-related clauses consistent with Caritas Moldova’s requirements. Where a project is implemented through several partners, responsibilities and communication channels for safeguarding are clearly defined, and a lead safeguarding contact is designated among the partners, as relevant.

7. Coordination

The Safeguarding Officer collaborates, within the SAFE and CARING projects, with the managers and teams of these projects, with the staff and volunteers involved, and with implementing partners. For matters that go beyond the scope of the two projects (organisational policies, incident investigation, organisation-wide accountability mechanisms), the position reports to and collaborates with the relevant structures within Caritas Moldova’s organisational safeguarding system (management, HR, MEAL), without assuming general organisation-wide responsibilities.

Under the mandate granted by Caritas Moldova, and strictly in connection with the SAFE and CARING projects, the Safeguarding Officer may represent the organisation in working groups, networks and coordination mechanisms relevant to the two projects.

8. Monitoring and reporting

The Safeguarding Officer will develop a periodic work plan and will monitor the implementation of safeguarding measures within the SAFE and CARING projects and their relevant partners, including through visits to implementation locations and verification of the functionality of reporting mechanisms.

Periodic reports will be prepared for the management of the SAFE and CARING projects and for Caritas Moldova management, on activities carried out, the main risks identified, the level of implementation of recommendations, and areas requiring improvement. Reporting on incidents will be carried out separately, in accordance with the procedures of the organisational safeguarding system and strict confidentiality requirements; sensitive information will only be included in general reports, where relevant, in an aggregated and anonymised form.

Where relevant, the Safeguarding Officer participates in safeguarding networks, workshops and learning forums organised by Caritas Moldova, Caritas Internationalis or partner organisations, to keep policies and practices up to date.

9. Expected results

Through the work of the Safeguarding Officer, allocated to the SAFE and CARING projects, the position aims to achieve:

• Consistent application of Caritas Moldova’s organisational safeguarding system within the SAFE and CARING projects;
• Up-to-date protection policies and procedures, including for partners in the Transnistria region;
• An increased level of knowledge and application of safeguarding standards among the staff, volunteers, beneficiaries and partners of the SAFE and CARING projects;
• Systematic identification and management of safeguarding risks specific to the two projects;
• Safe, accessible and confidential feedback, complaint and reporting mechanisms, connected to the organisational safeguarding system;
• Prompt and appropriate management of concerns and incidents arising within the SAFE and CARING projects;
• Providing project management and Caritas Moldova management with the information and recommendations needed for the continuous improvement of safeguarding within the SAFE and CARING projects.
• A confidential log of safeguarding concerns and their resolution, maintained and accessible only to persons with a legitimate need to know;
• Safeguarding awareness materials visibly displayed and accessible at project and partner locations, including child-friendly and disability-accessible formats;
• Short-term contractors and external collaborators engaged by the SAFE and CARING projects briefed on expected conduct and safeguarding requirements, with their commitment confirmed in writing.

10. Candidate profile

Qualifications and experience

• Higher education in social work, psychology, law, child protection, human rights, sociology, public health, international development or another relevant field;
• A minimum of 2–3 years of relevant professional experience in safeguarding, protection, child protection, PSEA, GBV, social assistance or related fields;
• Work experience within NGOs, humanitarian, social or development organisations is an advantage;
• Understanding of safeguarding, protection and PSEA principles and standards;
• Experience in organising and facilitating training and capacity-building activities;
• Experience working with children and/or adults in vulnerable situations;
• Experience in risk assessment, developing or implementing feedback and complaint mechanisms, case management or referral, and working with partner organisations is an advantage;
• Participation in specialised courses or training on safeguarding, child protection, PSEA, beneficiary rights or other relevant standards is an advantage.
• Fluency in Romanian and Russian is essential; English is a strong asset.

Personal and professional competencies

The candidate must demonstrate integrity and high ethical standards, emotional maturity, and the ability to handle sensitive situations and information with discretion, impartiality and professionalism.

Strong communication, active listening, facilitation and interpersonal skills are required, as well as the ability to work with people from diverse social and cultural backgrounds. The position requires diplomacy, tact, risk analysis and assessment skills, planning ability, and the capacity to formulate practical recommendations.

The candidate must be able to work both independently and as part of a team and demonstrate a firm commitment to respecting the rights and dignity of the person and to preventing abuse, exploitation, violence and neglect.

11. Specific working conditions

The position is fully allocated (100%) to the SAFE and CARING projects and involves work both at the Caritas Moldova office and at the implementation locations of the two projects, including at partners in the Transnistria region (Tiraspol, Rîbnița, Rașcov). The Safeguarding Officer must be available for periodic travel related to the SAFE and CARING projects, as well as for participation in relevant training, meetings and coordination mechanisms.

12. Candidate evaluation criteria

Submission Procedure

Applications must be submitted no later than 10 November 2026, through one of the following methods:

Applications should demonstrate the candidate’s relevant qualifications, professional experience and capacity to deliver the activities and expected results described in these Terms of Reference.

Incomplete applications or applications that do not meet the specified requirements may be excluded from the evaluation process.

• By email: Send the application documents to procurement@caritas.md 
• In hard copy: Deliver the application documents to the Caritas Moldova office at 30/1 Gheorghe Asachi Street, Chișinău, Republic of Moldova.

Tel. for info - +373  78 800 229 (Moldova) Alina

Right to Cancel the Tender

Caritas Moldova reserves the right to cancel the tender at any stage of the procurement process, without being obliged to select a candidate or award a contract.