I liked reading this on Andrew Sullivan’s blog recently.

A classic from the NYT in the form of an open letter to the restaurant owner, Guy Fieri. Money quote:

Why is one of the few things on your menu that can be eaten without fear or regret — a lunch-only sandwich of chopped soy-glazed pork with coleslaw and cucumbers — called a Roasted Pork Bahn Mi, when it resembles that item about as much as you resemble Emily Dickinson? …

Hey, did you try that blue drink, the one that glows like nuclear waste? The watermelon margarita? Any idea why it tastes like some combination of radiator fluid and formaldehyde? …

And when we hear the words Donkey Sauce, which part of the donkey are we supposed to think about?”

It’s great to read a literate rant in a review section. It should happen more often. Crankiness is way more readable than gussied-up p.r.

In Zimbabwe, being the scared of any kind of criticism country that we are, I’m really tired of “gussied-up p.r.” masquerading as restaurant reviews. For the most part our country’s restaurants offer up uninspired and overpriced food. Our reviewers need to stop being polite and start saying it like it is and maybe our standards would improve.

Programme Assistant: United Nations Children’s Fund
Deadline: 26 November 2012

Vacancy Announcement No. Zim/2012:33
GS5 Level (on secondment to ZIMSTAT)
Based in Harare (Temporary Appointment Post)

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you. For 60 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS.

Purpose of the Job
This post is created to provide support to ZIMSTAT to carry out second phase of the household targeting survey. The post will be placed at ZIMSTAT.

Major Tasks to be accomplished
-Assist the Project Manager of ZIMSTAT to liaise with all stakeholders
-Ensure the stakeholders have the same level of information on the progress of the targeting survey
-Provide logistic support for the targeting survey in close cooperation with the Programme Officer
-Conduct regular field monitoring of enumeration, minimum 5 days per month and immediately alert the Project Manager of any bottlenecks or issues of concern in the process

Qualifications and Competencies
-Completion of secondary education and ability to operate financial programmes and software
-Additional commercial training in accounting or finance is desirable
-At least 5 years of administrative experience, including record-keeping and processing of information
-Demonstrable proficiency in computer application packages
-Good communication and organizational skills
-Ability to work in a multicultural environment.

If you have experience of working in a similar capacity, meet the above profile and want to make an active and lasting contribution to build a better world for children, send your application letter together with curriculum vitae quoting vacancy notice number to the following address.

Human Resources Manager
(Vacancy Notice No. 33: Zim-2012)
UNICEF, 6 Fairbridge Avenue,
P O Box 1250
Belgravia, Harare

Or email: hararevacancies [at] unicef [dot] org

Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

UNICEF is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff. Well-qualified candidates, particularly women are especially encouraged to apply.

To love what you do and feel like it matters, how could anything be more fun?” – Katherine Graham

Mid-Term Evaluation EU NSA funded: “Strengthening Local Governance and Citizen Participation Project in Rural District Councils of Zimbabwe Project”
Deadline: 20 November 2012 (Close of business)

The Civic Forum on Housing (CFH) was formed in 1995 with the core mandate to foster positive communication, dialogue and consensus building involving civil society organizations and stakeholders for improved housing, service delivery and local economic development in rural and urban local authorities of Zimbabwe. The CFH envisions the development of inclusive and open societies where citizens are empowered to drive their own development.

Scope
In April 2010, the CFH started the implementation of a five-year EU funded project under its Non-State Actors Call in Mutoko, Chipinge, Tsholotsho and Nyaminyami Rural Districts Councils of Zimbabwe. The main objective of the project is to promote democratic, effective, transparent and accountable local governance in Rural District Councils of Zimbabwe through Participatory Learning by Doing Approach. The project is now in the third year of its implementation and a Mid-Term Evaluation is needed to establish the current status and future focus of the project.

The scope of the Mid-Term Evaluation (MTE) covers the entire LGCPP in the four targeted districts. The MTE will evaluate the progress in project implementation taking into account the status of the project activities and outputs and the efficiency of project operations to date. The MTE will commence in December 2012 and complete within a month.

Qualifications
Minimum of five years accumulated and recognized experience in Monitoring and Evaluation of Participatory Local Governance and Citizen Participation Programmes in Zimbabwe and/or the Region.

-Minimum of five years of project monitoring and evaluation and/or implementation experience
-Familiarity with socio-economic and socio-cultural or regional conditions relevant to Zimbabwe
-Comprehensive knowledge of EC best practices
-Excellent interview and report writing skills in English.

Proposal Submission
Proposals, including background, methodology, proposed report structure, budget and three references, should be addressed to: Technical Director, under the title LGCPP Mid-Term Evaluation. The sealed bids should be couriered, emailed to: schaikosa [at] gmail [dot] com or physically delivered to: The Coordinator, Civic Forum on Housing, 2nd Floor, Jubilee 2000 Centre, Harare, P. O. Box 1744 Harare.

Programme Officer: Southern Africa HIV and AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS)
Deadline: 23 November 2012

Southern Africa HIV and AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS) is a regional NGO working in 10 countries in southern Africa and beyond. The organisation’s mission is to promote effective and ethical development responses to Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, HIV and Gender through Advocacy, Communication and Social mobilization. SAfAIDS is looking a highly skilled Programme Officer to join its Regional Office team. This post requires an all rounder, able to provide programme support in a number of programme areas and able to work effectively, independently and as part of a team.

Requirements
-Master’s Degree in Public Health, Social Sciences, Health sciences, Health Education or other relevant field
-At least 5 years experience in Sexual Reproductive Health work
-Excellent project implementation skills
-An in-depth knowledge of SRH issues (PMTCT, MCH, and OVC) is essential
-Must have some research experience, basic M & E knowledge and excellent analytical skills
-Demonstrated experience in training and facilitation is essential, as is the ability to design training programmes
-Ability to develop content for SRH materials is essential
-Advocacy skills would be a distinct advantage
-Excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to write project reports and/document projects is essential

Interested applicants should send an application and CV, information on current salary, benefits and contact details of three referees to: The Head of HR, Policy and Administration, SAfAIDS, 17 Beveridge Road, Avondale, Harare or email application to recruitments [at] safaids [dot] net

Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted.