Terms of Reference (ToR) for updating a Safeguarding Policy for YouthLink Somalia
YouthLink Somalia is registered non-profit local humanitarian NGO and is operational in South and Central Somalia. YouthLink work to assist extreme poor urban and displaced communities to build resilience to shocks and achieve improved livelihood. YouthLink Somalia better known as ‘YouthLink’ initial work started with rehabilitation of vulnerable street children and children from poorer households affected by conflict in Mogadishu. YouthLink later on engaged in various emergency and resilie
Job description
Background
YouthLink Somalia operates (or plans to operate) programmes involving young people (including children under 18, adolescents and youth up to young adulthood). To uphold its duty of care, minimise risks of harm, abuse, exploitation and neglect, and build safe, inclusive and accountable environments, YouthLink Somalia intends to develop a formal Safeguarding Policy. This policy must be aligned with international best practice, adapted to the Somali context (including legal, cultural and operational realities), and integrated across all organisational functions.
2. Purpose of the ToR
This ToR sets out the scope, objectives, deliverables, methodology, governance, roles & responsibilities, timeframe and budgetary considerations for engaging a consultant/team (or internal working group) to develop the Safeguarding Policy for YouthLink Somalia.
3. Objectives
The specific objectives are to:
- Review existing YouthLink Somalia policies, practices and context (including local laws, organisational risk profile, partner context, youth / child vulnerability factors)
- Conduct a benchmarking of international safeguarding standards and peer organisational policies (e.g., UNICEF, Keeping Children Safe, IFRC
- Develop a draft Safeguarding Policy document for YouthLink Somalia covering children and youth (and as relevant adults at-risk) that includes:
- Clear policy statement, scope and definitions
- Principles and standards of behaviour
- Prevention (safe recruitment, training, culture, risk assessment)
- Reporting & response mechanisms (incidents, disclosures, investigations)
- Roles & responsibilities (board, management, staff, volunteers, partners
- Partner/contractor/third-party obligations
- Monitoring, review and continuous improvement
- Data protection, confidentiality, survivor/victim support, restorative actions
- Develop accompanying guidance and procedures (either within the policy as separate appendices) that operationalise the policy
- Propose an implementation plan including training, rollout (communication to staff, volunteers,), monitoring & evaluation (M&E) of the policy’s effectiveness
- Ensure that the policy is appropriate to the Somali context, including cultural sensitivities, legal/regulatory requirements.
4. Scope of Work
The consultant/team will undertake the following tasks:
- Task 1: Inception & planning — review YouthLink Somalia’s current organisational context, structure, existing policies, prior safeguarding or child protection measures, partner network and risk landscape.
- Task 2: Desk review — research relevant international safeguarding frameworks
- Task 3: Stakeholder consultations —discussions with YouthLink Somalia board members, senior management, partner organisations to understand safeguarding risks, expectations and cultural/operational context and identify key safeguarding risks in YouthLink’s operational contexts; map vulnerabilities and existing mitigation measures; propose gaps to be addressed.
- Task 5: Drafting of the Safeguarding Policy document — including accompanying procedures/appendices and protocol, training modules outline, safe programme design checklist and presenting the draft policy to YouthLink Somalia for review, incorporate feedback, finalise the policy.
- Task 6: Implementation planning — produce an implementation plan with timeline, responsibilities, training plan, communication plan, monitoring & evaluation framework (indicators, reporting, review cycles).
- Task 7: Presentation and hand‐over — deliver final policy document (in editable and PDF format), procedures package, training materials outline/slides, and briefing for the board/management.
5. Deliverables
The consultant/team will provide:
- Inception report including methodology, workplan and stakeholder mapping
- Desk review summary (including benchmarking of standards and sample policies)
- Draft Safeguarding Policy document (version 1) including procedures/appendices package (code of conduct, screening checklist, incident report form, investigation protocol, safe programme design checklist)
- Final Safeguarding Policy document (version 2) incorporating feedback from YouthLink Somalia
- Implementation plan document (roll-out, training, communication, monitoring & evaluation)
- Training materials outline or slide deck (for orientation of staff, volunteers etc)
- Final hand‐over package (all documents, editable files, presentation to board/management)
6. Timeline
A suggested timeline is 4 weeks (subject to agreement):
- Week 1: Inception , planning and Desk review and stakeholder consultations
- Weeks 2-3 Drafting of policy and procedures including review period with YouthLink Somalia, feedback incorporation
- Week 4: Finalisation of documents and development of implementation plan & training materials and Presentation to board/management and hand-over
9. Quality Assurance & Compliance Standards
- The policy must reflect key international safeguarding principles: e.g., all children and young people have equal rights to protection from all forms of harm; “do no harm” should be embedded; organisations have a duty of care and shared responsibility
- The policy must be culturally and contextually appropriate for Somalia and aligned with local laws and risk environment.
- The policy must include clear roles, transparent mechanisms for reporting and responding to safeguarding concerns, confidentiality and survivor-centred approaches.
- The policy must include training, communication and partner/contractor obligations.
13. Acceptance Criteria
The policy will be accepted when:
- It aligns with international safeguarding frameworks and is adapted to YouthLink Somalia’s context
- It has been reviewed by YouthLink Somalia’s management and board and incorporates feedback
- It is clear, accessible, has supporting procedures, training materials and implementation plan
- It is ready for rollout across the organisation and compatible with partner/contractor obligations.
Skills and qualifications
. Required Qualifications and Experience
The consultant or firm must have:
- Advanced degree in social work, child protection, human rights, or related field.
- Minimum 5 years of experience developing safeguarding or child protection policies within NGO Sector.
- Demonstrated understanding of Somali legal and cultural context.
- Proven facilitation, research, and policy development skills.
15. Reporting and Supervision
The consultant will report directly to the Programme Director of YouthLink Somalia or their designate
16. Application Requirements:
Interested consultants/firms should submit:
- A technical proposal detailing understanding, methodology, and timeline.
- A financial proposal (in USD) with itemized costs.
- Copies of CVs of key personnel and company profile.
- CV for individual consultant.
- Three samples of similar safeguarding policies developed by the consultants/Firms
· Statutory Compliance - Show compliance with all the applicable statutory and professional regulations (valid tax compliance certificate and business permit).
