Add the Internet, sms, Twitter and Facebook.

The secret of a full life is to live and relate to others as if they might not be there tomorrow, as if you might not be there tomorrow. It eliminates the vice of procrastination, the sin of postponement, failed communications, failed communions. This thought has made me more and more attentive to all encounters. meetings, introductions, which might contain the seed of depth that might be carelessly overlooked. This feeling has become a rarity, and rarer every day now that we have reached a hastier and more superficial rhythm, now that we believe we are in touch with a greater amount of people, more people, more countries. This is the illusion which might cheat us of being in touch deeply with the one breathing next to us. The dangerous time when mechanical voices, radios, telephones, take the place of human intimacies, and the concept of being in touch with millions brings a greater and greater poverty in intimacy and human vision. – Anais Nin (found on Brainpickings.org)

Hey, students in Zimbabwe … check out these opportunities to get some work experience.

Six (6) Interns: Interns of Zimbabwe
Deadline: 3 October 2012 (midnight)

The above construct is looking to recruit up to six interns to assist in a short-term initiative – up to six months.

In short, the work will involve: Internet and document research, analysis of papers, developing synopses and drafting papers contextualised for Zimbabwe. There will be a requirement to set up and run a data room, to set up workshops and focus groups. This will be a high-pressure job involving long hours.

Successful applicants will be working in the Production Office.

Oversight to this office will be given by a task force of senior and experienced people and alongside them will be part-time experts that cut across all aspects of life in Zimbabwe.

These posts are for three months commencing no later than mid-October 2012 with the possibility of a 3-month extension.

These posts will be remunerated.

Applicants must have the following:
-Bachelor’s Degree in one of these disciplines: economics, social sciences, agriculture, engineering, entrepreneurship, development, human rights, leadership/management, commerce
-A Master’s Degree will be an added benefit
-Strong communication skills
-Excellent report writing
-Strong IT skills – Word, Excel, Power Point and internet savvy
-Team player and respect for diversity
-Self motivated and a high level of common sense
-Proven resilience and ability to manage stress
-Sense of humour

Women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please email your CV to ziminterns [at] gmail [dot] com
Note the spelling is ziminterns.

Two (2) Students on Attachment: Local NGO

A local NGO is seeking for 2 Accounting Students on attachment for 1 year. The students must be studying towards an Accounting Degree and will be based in Harare.

If interested, drop your CVs in person at the following address:

National Finance Officer
76 Queen Elizabeth Road
Greendale
Harare

Telephone: 04-492143/7 or 0772-160405

Internship Program: African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF)
Deadline: 5 October 2012

The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) is an autonomous Foundation, sponsored by the African Development Bank (AfDB), World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It enjoys support from a wide range of bilateral donors and African states as full partners to the development of human and institutional capacities.

The Foundation is seeking applications from interested students for a six-month Internship opportunity.

Desired qualifications and competencies

To be considered for this program, applicants must meet the following selection criteria:

1.Enrolled for a Master’s program in a recognized university or graduate school at the time of application studying for Economics, Development Studies, Public Administration or International Development
2.Application letter together with current CV
3.A recommendation letter from your university confirming enrolment
4.A personal statement setting out the reasons why you are interested in seeking internship with ACBF and your expectation(s) from the experience
5.Fluency in English and/or French language skills
6.Computer literate with data entry skills being an added advantage

How to apply
Applications, quoting ‘Internship Program,’ including names of three (3) referees should be received at the address below. Only candidates meeting the Foundation’s requirements will be contacted.

The Manager, Human resources
The African Capacity Building Foundation
P.O. Box 1562
Harare, Zimbabwe
Fax: (263-4) 702915; 738520
Email: root [at] acbf-pact [dot] org

For more details on the Foundation, please visit the ACBF website

A noble youth empowerment initiative, which kick-started amid much pomp and fanfair has now taken a new meaning in Zimbabwe. Youths who received loans under the Old Mutual Youth empowerment fund have decided to re-write the project proposals they used to apply for the loans and give the initiative a new meaning of “personal empowerment”.

70% of the youths who got the loans have diverted the funds to pay for lobola and other personal things. Livingston Dzikira, Director of the Zimbabwe Youth Council, revealed this at a workshop organized by UNICEF in Nyanga. Lack of capacity building and to some extent also creativity and innovation has resulted in many youths submitting proposals for chicken rearing which the council director said they are now rejecting.

Under the programme Old Mutual issued US$11 million dollars to youth so that they can start livelihood projects but it seems like chicken rearing is what youths in this country are good at. Though some may complain that the funds were little but when one goes on to pay lobola and get a wife it really shows it was enough to start something

In a poll conducted on the Zimbabwe Youth Council website, 44.1% of the people who took part in the poll say the Youth Fund is not accessible in a friendly way and 19.6% don’t even know about the Youth Fund. To cap it all even the director of the youth empowerment body does not have the figures of the actual number of youths who benefited from the fund.

German Catholics must now pay a 8% church tax for them to continue receiving the Holy Communion and a religious burial when they die. The tax is in addition to the income tax they already have been paying. Though some may argue that the church is now selling what is sacred, Roman Catholic bishops say the levy was introduced in the 19th Century in compensation for the nationalisation of religious property. One wonders whether this religious tax applies to other religions like Islam or it’s just selective targeting of Catholics.

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.

Finance and Administration Officer: Local NGO
Deadline: 28 September 2012

Job Responsibilities
-Responsible for developing and implementing financial and administrative procedures such as: payroll, bookkeeping, insurance, budget and cost control, personnel policies, accounting functions, procurement procedures, contracts, inventory management and control procedures, security of facilities, financial reporting, strategic planning.
-Develops budgeting methodology and aids other departments in preparing their budgets and quarterly reports.
-Monitors departments’ actual cost and recoveries versus budgeted cost.
-Prepares comprehensive periodic financial reports.
-Ensures that statutory payments are made in a timely manner to all government agencies.
-Establish and implement financial procedures in line with organizational requirements progress reporting of programme funds and grants.
-Establish and prepare accurate and timely information for budget monitoring and Provide financial management advice on revisions of budgets, preparing periodical forecasts and any changes needed.
-Monitoring of the petty cash and bank balances to ensure sufficient funds are always available depending on the programme needs.
-Management and reconciliation of the bank and cash accounts, preparation of the weekly cash counts and monthly financial records including cashbooks, ensuring financial and resource accountability and effective management for records as required for auditing.
-Timely and accurate recording of all financial transactions in line with organizational and donor requirements and deadlines.

Person specification

Accounting qualification
-A Bachelor’s degree holder, minimum 2 years’ experience in Finance, preferably NGO experience.
-Full CIS qualification.
-Computer literacy and knowledge of Pastel version 10 or higher is a pre-requisite.
-Experience in conducting compliance checks and also ability to work with people from different backgrounds and nationalities.

Personal attributes
-Attention to detail.
-Self-motivated and have the ability to work under pressure with minimal supervision.
-Have the capacity to train community groups in financial management aspects.

Send your applications to: admin [at] chiedza [dot] org or marko [at] chiedza [dot] org

Policy & Advocacy Officer: Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe
Deadline: 28 September 2012 (1600hours)

Department: Programmes
Reports to: National Co-ordinator

Basic Function & Scope of the job
The Policy and Advocacy Officer is responsible for supporting WCoZ in analysing policy and recommending appropriate advocacy strategies to influence policy and legislative changes in support of women and the gender sector in Zimbabwe. S/he reports to the Director.

Principal Responsibilities
The Policy and Advocacy Officer is responsible for the following:
-Support WCoZ to effect the implementation of national, regional and international conventions, treaties and agreements that promote gender equity and equality in line with WCoZ’s core business
-Develop and coordinate effective collective advocacy strategies that promote changes in the policy and legislative environment as well as practices at local, national and regional levels
-Enhance the quality and relevance of WCoZ’s internal and external policies in the context of gender equity and equality
-Ensure that policy analysis and advocacy are effectively integrated in WCoZ’s initiatives and contribute substantially to the agenda of the Women and Gender Sector in Zimbabwe as well as generating best practice to be shared with other stakeholders

Advocacy and lobbying
-Identify macro policy issues affecting women from consultations with members and stakeholders
-Design advocacy and lobbying strategies in conjunction with lead organisations and stakeholders
-Produce policy briefs on a quarterly basis for purposes of lobbying and advocacy
-Identify platforms for lobbying and advocacy at national, regional and global levels
-Engage the media in lobbying and advocacy related activities
-Lead the women’s agenda in the broader advocacy campaign at national, regional and global levels
-Lead the implementation of such advocacy and lobbying

Linking with policy makers
-Work closely with the policy making bodies ie parliament and its secretariat, senate, cabinet, national institutions (ONHRI, JOMIC, Media Commission, etc) parliamentary committees, councils and provincial structures etc
-Track parliamentary, senate and cabinet processes and advise WCoZ and members on relevant points of intervention
-Link parliamentarians, national institutions/commissions, parliamentary committees with women’s NGOs and groups for advocacy and lobbying purposes

Requirements
The successful candidate must have:
-Exceptional oral skills
-Excellent written communication skills
-Excellent information analysis and report writing
-Ability to work with a variety of stakeholders
-Ability to work as a team
-Initiative and assertiveness
-Proven experience in marketing and women’s rights work
-Willing to travel

Qualification
-University Degree in Social Sciences, Development, Policy studies, Politics and Administration, Women’s Law or related field.  Masters an added advantage.
-Minimum five years of experience in NGO work.
-Excellent computer skills.
-Able to speak and write two languages English and   Shona/ Ndebele.
Please note that post is 50% time, Monday, Wednesday and Fridays.

Please send your CV to: coalition [at] zol [dot] co [dot] zw or hand deliver your CV to Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe, 9 Edmond Road, Belvedere, Harare.

Field Officer: Zimbabwe Land O’ Lakes
Deadline: 28 September 2012

The Zimbabwe Land O’ Lakes, IDD currently implementing a USAID funded Zimbabwe Livestock and Dairy project and preparing to start up another USAID sponsored project focusing on improving small-livestock agriculture seeks a Field Officer.

Timeframes: The contract for the Field Officer should run up to May 2014.
Experience: For this post a minimum of 4 years experience in livestock agricultural extension work is required.
Locations: The Field Officer will be working in Mutare District.

Key responsibilities
-Offering basic extension services to beneficiary farmers focusing on topics such as fodder collection, animal nutrition, milk hygiene, financial, business, and farm management
-Acting as field liaison to participating farmers for Land O’Lakes (and partnering organization) staff, communicating and following up in training activities and coordinating logistical arrangements for Land O’Lakes activities
-Collect data on field activity performance and report accurately to Land O’Lakes for report creation
-Supporting farmer associations with administrative support, linkages, and communication as they seek to strengthen their organizational capacity, farming systems, member services, and economic returns

Skills and Knowledge Requirements
-A Diploma in Agriculture with good knowledge in Animal Husbandry
-Experience in livestock-based agriculture and knowledge of farm management
-Basic English required; Fluent Shona and/or Ndebele desirable depending on location
-Good organization and time management skills
-Able to ride and use of a motorbike – Class 3 and 4 driver’s licence holders will have an advantage
-Reliable and trust worthy
-Basic computer literacy desirable
-Must be a Zimbabwe citizen or permanent citizen with legal work permits for Zimbabwe
-Must be a team player with prior experience working in a team environment

Application letters and CVs should be addressed to the Country Director and sent to: zimlolfieldofficer [at] gmail [dot] com

Public Health Coordinator: Oxfam
Deadline: 28 September 2012

Job Reference no. INT5692
Location: Shurugwi
Contract Duration: 11 months up to July 2013
Interviews to be conducted from week ending 5 October 2012

This position is open to candidates with the right to work in Zimbabwe

Job Purpose
To support, lead and coordinate the implementation and monitoring of a project providing assisting a local authority to improve WASH services for urban residents in Midlands Province. The project being implemented will transfer technical, operational and business expertise in public health promotion programmes from Oxfam to local communities, partner organisations and local institutions, ultimately allowing them to be fully and independently operational.

Please note that this is an urgent recruitment and short listing will commence as soon as we receive applications

For more information and to apply please click here