Careers GEDSI (Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion) & Safeguarding Specialist, Health

Based in either India or Bangladesh, the role will suit a passionate, collaborative and self-starting analyst with strong interpersonal skills, experience in the not-for-profit sector and alignment to our mission.

Opportunity International Australia is seeking a GEDSI & Safeguarding Specialist to support our mission to help break the cycle of poverty. Working within Opportunity’s Health program and reporting to the Program Director, the GEDSI & Safeguarding Specialist is a key contributor to the effectiveness of our work.

Based in either India or Bangladesh, the role will suit a passionate, collaborative and self-starting professional with strong interpersonal skills, experience in the not-for-profit sector and alignment to our mission.

Why join Opportunity?

• We enjoy a strong sense of purpose
• We care for and value our team, and provide a friendly and supportive environment
• Competitive salary
• Winner of the XRef Best Workplace Award 2024

The Organisation

Motivated by the parable of the Good Samaritan, Opportunity International Australia seeks to end poverty in developing countries – one family and one community at a time. By providing small loans to families in need, Opportunity helps them grow their own businesses and generate sustainable incomes so they can lift themselves out of poverty with dignity.

To break the cycle of poverty for good, Opportunity also increases families’ access to healthcare and quality education, while strengthening communities to reduce the risk of gender-based violence – creating a new future for generations to come.  

The Impact

By joining Opportunity International Australia, you become an integral part of a transformative mission that goes beyond fighting poverty - Opportunity aims to end it. Through innovative programs and microfinance initiatives, Opportunity creates sustainable pathways for economic growth, entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion. The goal is to develop resilience and opportunity by expanding primary health system capacity, with a core focus on India, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

Opportunity has a growing, innovative, and dynamic portfolio of Health projects establishing telemedicine clinics and hybrid models to support healthcare access, innovative social business and fintech/health tech partnerships, resilience against gender-based violence and strengthening community health education.

The Role

As GEDSI & Safeguarding Specialist, you will lead the provision of Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) related technical advisory support to Opportunity’s Health partners and programs in Asia. The Specialist will also provide advice and assurance that program design and delivery upholds essential safeguarding criteria. The GEDSI & Safeguarding Specialist will be part of a Programs team working to leverage the core assets and competencies of microfinance institutions (MFIs) – their capacity for social mobilisation, established networks in high-need communities, and high levels of trust – to offer scalable and sustainable health programs.

A passion for international development to serve the world’s most disadvantaged, and an alignment with Opportunity’s mission, value and purpose, is critical.

Core responsibilities include:

• Oversee the integration of best-practice GEDSI and Safeguarding approaches in Opportunity’s Health program, providing technical guidance to ensure alignment with global standards and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) requirements.
• Lead robust gender analysis and disability inclusion analysis with partners, ensuring findings are used to inform design of projects and programs.
• Develop tools and resources to strengthen GEDSI implementation across all of Opportunity’s Health programs and partnerships.
• Provide mentoring and capacity-building for implementing partners, including the development and delivery of training.
• Lead the integration of GEDSI outcomes in the Health program according to the Health program’s theory of change to enhance monitoring, evaluation, and impact reporting.
• Support Opportunity’s community of practice for Health partners.
• Be a focal point for Safeguarding within the Health program, ensuring approaches to risk management and reporting meet compliance standards.
• Become a member of Opportunity’s GEDSI and Safeguarding committee and support the implementation of the organisation’s GEDSI Action Plan.
• Initiate, contribute to, and support the development of proposals to fund GEDSI in programs.

About You

Essential:

• Bachelor's degree; Master’s level or above preferred with research and field experience in public health, gender issues, international development, or a related discipline.
• Relevant experience managing GEDSI and Safeguarding within projects with proven success in mainstreaming gender equality, disability, and social inclusion at organizational and programmatic levels.
• Exceptional skills in problem-solving, stakeholder management, and capacity building. 
• Excellent communication skills in English (including synthesis and presentation), and fluency in one or more major languages in South Asia or South-East Asia (Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Bahasa).
• Strong interpersonal skills and proven ability to build strong and effective relationships in a multicultural and often remote work environment.
• Demonstrated experience in design and facilitation of participatory and/or remote training, and mentoring.
• Strong computer skills and high proficiency in Microsoft office tools and virtual communications.

Advantages:

• Knowledge of financial inclusion, public health, or development sector programs, alongside global development donors, and/or NGOs.
• Experience with DFAT-funded programs and/or work with DFAT accredited organizations.
• In-country program implementation experience in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, or other low- and middle-income markets.

Your proactive and professional approach, coupled with the ability to work in alignment with the values of the Christian ethos that motivates Opportunity, will be key to your success.

Opportunity is a child-safe organisation. The successful candidate will be required to undertake a National Police Check and adhere to Opportunity’s Child Protection Policy, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment Policy and Safeguarding Code of Conduct.

Opportunity International Australia believe a diverse workplace is a happy workplace and encourage applications from people of all different backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from CALD backgrounds and people with disabilities. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, marital or parental status. Should you require a reasonable accommodation to be made for your application to be assessed Opportunity would be more than happy to discuss how that can be arranged.

How to apply

Please submit your CV with a one-page cover letter explaining why you are interested in this role and working at Opportunity to tdeacon-king@opportunity.org.au as soon as possible. Applications will be reviewed on an immediate basis and applications without a covering letter will not be progressed.

Applications close 28 May 2025.