Elite Cleaners in Minneapolis helped over 2,000 unemployed workers that couldn’t afford dry cleaning. Owner Don Chapman estimated that it cost his company $32,000 dollars.
Source: Buzzfeed.com

Okay, so I know we’re all products of media hyperbole in both conscious and subconscious ways. But still, I was shocked to find Zimbabwe ranked 5th in this year’s Foreign Policy Magazine Failed State Index. That’s 5th as in fifth most failed. Fifth worst off. Sure, we’ve got our problems. Things aren’t perfect. There’s a lot of room for improvement. But fifth worst in the World?!

Countries ranked worse than Zimbabwe for 2011 are Somalia, DRC, Sudan and Chad. Granted, I’m also a product of this media hyperbole, but do you really mean to tell me that things were better in Libya (50) and Syria (23) than they were in Zimbabwe?

Maybe we need a better index, a less blunt way of measuring these things. The Postcards From Hell feature that goes with the index shares representative photographs from “the world’s most fragile countries.” There’s the bloody bodies of a suicide attack in Kabul, a bloodied political protestor in DRC, and a bombed out vehicle in Sudan. It’s telling that the worst image they could find for Zimbabwe was a torn election poster. Seeing as how the last election was in 2008, it’s no wonder the poster was torn.

Things aren’t great here – and with an election or constitutional referendum on the way, they’re sure to get worse. But that’s exactly the point. What disservice is done by crying wolf about Zimbabwe now? If you’re already ranked 5th worst there’s not a lot of room to demonstrate if things really do get worse.

Kubatana got support for our Freedom Fone project from the Knight News Challenge back in 2008. Today we’re excited to let you know who this year’s competition winners are. You can check out the six groovy media projects here.

Banner at the World Refugee Day commemorations in South Africa.
Photo credit: PASSOP

“Every story, every incident, every bit of conversation is raw material for me.” – Sylvia Plath

Work in and for Zimbabwe. Help grow our nation. Check out the vacancies below. If you’d like to receive this sort of information, as well as civic and human rights updates, by email each week drop us a note saying “subscribe” to info [at] kubatana [dot] net

Please note that the job vacancies we carry are related to the NGO and civil society sectors only.

Two (2) drivers (Bulawayo): Catholic Relief Services – Zimbabwe Program
Deadline: 22 June 2012

Primary Responsibility
The CRS Driver will be available to drive members of the CRS staff and will assist the CRS’ Support Services Department in managing functions within the transportation sector when not carrying out duties relating directly to their primary driving functions

Qualifications & Experience
- 5 ‘O’ Levels plus a valid and clean Class 4 Driver’s
- Five years of professional work experience
- Previous background should include a proven ability to work diplomatically with a variety of personnel
- Ability to communicate fluently in English
- Ability to communicate fluently in Ndebele and Shona is an added advantage.

Those who meet the above criteria are invited to submit their applications together with a cover letter and detailed Curriculum Vitae that includes the names and contact details (plus e-mails addresses) of three traceable references. Applications should be clearly marked “DRIVER- BULAWAYO”.  Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

The Country Representative, 95 Park Lane, Harare or 33A Duncan Road Suburbs Bulawayo or P.O. Box CY 1111, Causeway, Harare, or email: taurai.musakaruka [at] crs [dot] org

Social Franchise Coordinator: Population Services Zimbabwe (PSZ)
Deadline: 24 June (12 noon)

12 months Fixed Term Contract

Be at the heart of an organization that’s at the heart of the community.

Population Services Zimbabwe (PSZ), an affiliate of Marie Stopes International, is a market focused, result oriented non-governmental organization. We develop efficient, effective and sustainable family planning and reproductive health programmes, with particular emphasis on the lower income and disadvantaged communities in Zimbabwe. What we do makes a real difference to people’s lives, so it’s absolutely crucial that we fill our organization with passionate people. An opportunity has arisen in the following area:

The SF Coordinator will be located in the Harare, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East region, providing clinical quality assurance support to all PSZ franchisees within the designated region. Supervise franchisees to ensure the integrity of demand generation activities according to PSZ’s demand generation plan.

Responsibilities
- Facilitate a positive and professional relationship with the franchisee on behalf of PSZ
- Provide monthly supportive supervision visits to franchisees such that each franchisee is visited once a month, or maximum once in 6 weeks
- Ensure franchisees adhere to the signed MoU with PSZ
- Complete clinical audits: At least one internal audit per franchisee per year
- Ensure and support quality record keeping and correct implementation of franchisee service reporting, as well as validation of reports against in-clinic records
- Use PSZ data collection tools to gather complete information on the franchise and submit dully on time
- Manage clinical complications by informing PSZ immediately and ensuring proper documentation
- Complete a monthly report reflecting all regional activities, challenges and stories from the field (FC work activity report)
- Assist in coordinating formal franchisee trainings
- Assist in logistic support for franchisee equipment, commodities etc
- Liaise with MoH/ZNFPC officials in the region
- Coordinate with the Marketing and Communications Unit for all marketing/mobilization needs
- Identify and recommend solutions to problems in the assigned regions that interfere with franchisee quality and PSZ objectives
- Communicate regularly and proactively with the franchise manager

Outputs and deliverables
- Strong, professional relationships between PSZ and all franchisees and MoH/ZNFPC in the region
- Franchisees operate according to the MoU and to PSZ/MSI standards
- Increased CYP and SRH services amongst franchisees and achievement of forecasts in the region
- Effective oversight of demand generation
- Improved quality amongst franchisees
- 100 percent report submission
- 100 percent clinical audit submission

Qualifications
- Diploma in Nursing, preferably a Degree in Nursing Science
- Post graduate qualification preferably in project management

Experience
- At least 3 years’ senior management experience, 2 years must be in project management in an NGO
- Extensive project cycle management experience
- Family Planning Training is an added advantage
- Understanding of the issues surrounding provision of reproductive health care services internationally

If you would like to be considered for this role, please submit a covering letter and CV, outlining your experience to date, to:

The Team Development Officer
9 Bisley Circle
Belvedere, Harare

Or

Send an email to recruitment [at] pszim [dot] com quoting the job title.

Programme Analyst: UNIFEM
Deadline: 29 June 2012

The UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. Placing women’s rights at the center of all its efforts, the UN Women will lead and coordinate United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It will provide strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Country Representative, the Programme Analyst is responsible for management of the Gender Support Project (GSP). She/he provides technical competence on gender and governance issues with a holistic approach to development. The Programme Analyst analyzes political, social and economic trends and leads formulation, management and evaluation of project activities within his/her portfolio and provides policy advisory services. Through the Country Representative, the Programme Analyst provides analysis for formulation of strategies and briefings to senior management.  The Programme Analyst represents UN Women in his/her area of expertise as requested by the Country Representative.

The Programme Analyst works in close collaboration with the UN Women programme and operations teams, programme staff in other UN agencies, Sub-Regional Office staff and Government officials, technical advisers and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful delivery of the GSP.

For more information and to apply online please visit this link