Call For Application: Fostering a Safe and Respectful Workplace
Fostering a Safe and Respectful Workplace: Strategies for Preventing and addressing safeguarding issues in international research and development
Background:
PAMCA recognizes the importance of safeguarding, including sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment (SEAH), and broader forms of violence and abuse. Misconduct in the workplace not only harms individuals but also damages productivity and organizational reputation. It’s in this regard that PAMCA will be hosting a workshop on “Safe Guarding Champions” in Ethiopia to build a community of champions and create awareness.
Rationale: Although some demographics are at higher risk, sexual violence can happen to anyone regardless of their socio-demographic status. Sexual violence is a huge worldwide issue; according to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly one-third of women worldwide report sexual violence at some point in their lives. PAMCA recognises its role in safeguarding and protecting research participants and communities with whom we have direct and indirect contact through our work, as well as any vulnerable staff, students, volunteers, and other representatives, including organisations with whom we partner. We are therefore
hosting a 2-day workshop that focuses on strategies to identify, prevent, and address safeguarding and SEAH, to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The workshop will be held 2 days prior to the 9th PAMCA conference, on the 15th and 16th of September, and will be anchored on the following learning outcomes.
Outcomes:
At the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Understand what is meant by safeguarding and how to Recognise, Respond, Report, and Refer to safeguarding issues (known as the four Rs of safeguarding)
- Identify strategies to prevent SEAH and promote good safeguarding practice
- Identify barriers to reporting and how to overcome those barriers
- Undertake a safeguarding risk assessment within a research or development programme, identifying vulnerable groups, safeguarding risks for participants and staff, mapping services, and developing actions for improvement.
- Act as a safeguarding champion within their work area to raise awareness, spread good practices, and lead on safeguarding issues, including the delivery of safeguarding awareness-raising sessions
Course format:
- The course will be run by two external facilitators with experience in supporting organisations to develop safeguarding policies and processes that aim to prevent SEAH
- This will be an interactive two-day workshop with an emphasis on experiential learning. There will be extensive use of active participation, group work, and scenario-based learning
Expected outcomes:
- 20-24 individuals were coached to improve their understanding of safeguarding and be able to identify unlawful and unwanted behaviours
- Knowledge that inappropriate behaviour and comments occur in the workplace and understanding your role to ensure a positive workplace culture.
- Understand what you should do if you experience or witness SEAH and what you should do to support the individual concerned
- To establish a confidential reporting system
- To be able to deliver awareness-raising training on safeguarding and Preventing SEAH within your organisation
- To increase gender equality, inclusivity, and work morale
Eligibility:
- African-based professionals working in the control of Vector-Borne diseases in Africa
- Women and men who are interested in championing safe and respectful work environments and want to develop their knowledge and skills on how to prevent SEAH and promote safeguarding
- Passionate about creating a safe working environment for all
Benefits of attending: Upon completion of this training, participants will have gained valuable safeguarding skills and built confidence to address and prevent the detrimental effects of SEAH.
Application process
The course application form is available here Application Form. Applicants are required to provide:
- Applicant information (application form)
- PAMCA membership: please indicate your membership ID
- All applications must be received by Sunday, July 30th, 2023, at 9 p.m. (GMT)
- All applications received after the deadline will not be considered
Membership is open to all those with an interest in the field and the Association and can join via PAMCA MEMBERSHIP
Review Process & Assessment Criteria
Each applicant is expected to apply for the course within the timeline and submit all the requirements. An applicant with an incomplete application will automatically be disqualified. The applications will be assessed on the following criteria:
- Applicant meets the eligibility criteria
- Duly filled and completed application form
Notification: Successful applicants will be notified of their applications by 5th August 2023, following a successful review of the applications by a joint panel of PAMCA and the WiVC Committee. For further information, please contact wivc@pamca.org
Important dates
- 20th July 2023: Applications Open
- 30th July 2023: Applications Close
- 5th August 2023: Notification to Successful Applicants
Download the complete pdf call here Fostering a Safe and Respectful Workplace