Safeguarding & ESG Manager
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Nairobi, Kenya
Job summary
Safeguarding & ESG Manager at Acumen
About this role
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About the Role
Acumen works with international and institutional funders that provide grants and returnable capital to support its various funds. This position plays a central role in safeguarding across the Green RISE, Pioneer, and Academy programs.
Around half of the position will be dedicated to Green RISE, with responsibility for overseeing its safeguarding framework, conducting safeguarding due diligence, and tracking related risks. The remaining responsibilities will support the Pioneer and Academy programs, as well as Acumen’s returnable capital funds. The Manager will collaborate closely with investment teams, partner organizations, social enterprises, and other stakeholders while providing safeguarding updates and reports to Acumen’s funding partners.
Key Accountabilities
Oversee the Green RISE safeguarding framework, including relevant policies, procedures, and standards.
Lead safeguarding due diligence for prospective and existing funding recipients, fellows, and partner organizations.
Monitor safeguarding risks throughout the Green RISE portfolio and coordinate appropriate escalation and response to incidents.
Manage Green RISE grievance and safeguarding reporting systems, ensuring accessible reporting channels and confidential case management.
Ensure safeguarding cases are handled through survivor-centered and trauma-informed approaches, including appropriate referrals, escalation, and investigation coordination.
Monitor how external partner organizations implement safeguarding requirements.
Support the integration of safeguarding practices across Pioneer and the Academy, while providing additional safeguarding support to Acumen’s returnable capital funds.
Contribute to Pioneer’s investment strategy by incorporating ESG considerations into pipeline development, investment due diligence, and post-investment portfolio support.
Provide ESG support to Acumen’s returnable capital funds, including due diligence, risk monitoring, and reporting to investors and partners.
Help external partners, investees, and other stakeholders strengthen their safeguarding capabilities through training, capacity building, and practical resources.
Collaborate on the development of safeguarding materials for different funds, including training resources and templates.
Prepare reports for Acumen’s funding partners covering safeguarding performance, risks, and incidents.
Analyze safeguarding data and narrative information to develop evidence-based insights and practical recommendations.
Qualifications
At least 8 years of professional experience in safeguarding, ESG, impact investing, sustainable finance, or a related area, with substantial safeguarding experience being essential.
Demonstrated experience developing, managing, or implementing safeguarding frameworks, policies, and due diligence processes, preferably involving investees or partner organizations in Africa.
Practical experience investigating safeguarding incidents using a survivor-centered approach.
Strong knowledge of safeguarding standards, gender lens investing, gender equality and social inclusion approaches, risk management, and due diligence, as well as ESG policies, processes, and metrics across different sectors.
Bachelor’s degree with a focus on social enterprise, sustainable finance, international development, or a related field.
Ability to independently conduct research and analysis and deliver meaningful results in uncertain or evolving circumstances.
Strong investigative capabilities, with the ability to bring together information from different sources, identify conclusions, and develop recommendations.
Ability to apply proportionality when determining practical approaches to requirements, with emphasis on meaningful value addition and beneficiary outcomes.
Strong project and stakeholder management skills, including experience guiding internal teams toward shared objectives.
Excellent organizational abilities and experience establishing effective systems for managing information, processes, and data.
Strong written communication and presentation skills.
Genuine commitment to Acumen’s mission of changing how the world addresses poverty and alignment with its values of generosity, accountability, humility, audacity, listening, leadership, integrity, and respect.
Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous situations, remain composed when challenges arise, and adapt with resilience and determination in a rapidly changing environment.