Project Manager U-Report: United Nations Children’s Fund
Deadline: 7 April 2013

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.

Terms Of Reference
Name of Consultancy – Project Manager U- Report
Duration: The assignment will be for 9 months

Introduction
UNICEF Zimbabwe is establishing a free SMS service to give young Zimbabweans an opportunity to have their voices heard on critical development issues. In Uganda, U-Report gathers information from participants and informs citizens of their rights and available services. Apart from offering a way to monitor education and child protection, U-report has also been a catalyst for more responsible and responsive governance as members of parliament and media are engaging with it.

U-Report members will be engaged via SMS to solicit opinions and information on development issues that are important to Zimbabwean young people and children, such as justice for children, children’s rights, violence, human rights, early marriage, participation, employment, health, education, water availability, and equity.

Once the information is collected the data is instantly analysed.  The information will be subsequently utilised in advocacy work across all media channels, many UNICEF programs and through general political engagement.

The process would also require the application of the information gathered to having a positive impact on the livelihoods of youth and children throughout Zimbabwe.  This will be achieved through increased political engagement and partner mobilization.  Removal of barriers for participation within the U-report program and on-going recruitment will also be a key to the scalability and impact of the program.  Subsequent communication of lessons learned will be utilized to increase international exposure and potential adoption.

For more information please click here

Your Health. Your Community: Voice of America (VOA)
Deadline: 30 April 2013

From 1 April, join VOA in an Africa-wide callout for art & performance celebrating the impact that health has in our lives and our communities. Photography, video, poetry, spoken-word, song, music & dance. Share a story, honor people in your community that have made a difference in the health of others, or showcase the small, but powerful steps that lead to healthy lives. Submit artwork, video or sound files via our webpage, africahealthnetwork.com, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook or Email.

All artwork will be displayed online at voanews.com

Prizes will be awarded to the selected finalists. Please be sure to tag your submission with #VOAAHN.

Questions on the contest?
Email: AfricaHealthNetwork [at] voanews [dot] com

Hey! Need a job? Want to work in the NGO/development sector in Zimbabwe? Check out the job vacancies below and apply today. If you want to receive regular civic and human rights information, together with NGO job vacancies and other opportunities like scholarships by getting our regular email newsletter, please email join [at] kubatana [dot] net

Finance and Administration Officer – H/O: Basilwizi Trust
Deadline: 29 March 2013

Applications are invited from suitably qualified and experienced individuals to fill the above position that has arisen within Basilwizi Trust. Basilwizi is a registered NGO working for a sustainable people driven socio-economic development in the Zambezi valley. This is a one year contract with a prospect of renewal based on resource availability and individual performance.

The purpose of the position is to develop, oversee and monitor finance and administration functions for Basilwizi.

Main Duties
-Develop, implement and monitor financial management systems and budgets
-Oversee all financial and administration functions of Basilwizi Trust
-Prepare finance and administration reports to donor partners as well as the board
-Monitor and provide support on budgetary control to programs staff
-Develop sound administrative procedures
-Ensure compliance to the set procedures and policies for Basilwizi Trust
-Lead in human resources recruitment, management and mentoring
-Participate in strategic planning in key areas of Basilwizi work
-Develop, implement and monitor systems that safe guard Basilwizi assets
-Manage staff directly under supervision using set tools
-Develop new tools to enhance Basilwizi systems to comply with internationally accepted standards
-Liaise with the board treasurer as well as auditors in efficient management of Basilwizi resources.

Qualifications and Experience
The successful applicant is expected to have:
-A minimum of a first degree in Accounting from a reputable institution
-Full CIS or ACCA in the absence of a first degree
-Membership of an accounting body is a distinct advantage
-A higher qualification would be an added advantage
-Appreciation of Human resources practices
-At least two years experience in a similar position with an NGO environment
-Appreciation of community development and donor procedures a must have;

Personal attributes
-Team player and leader
-Outgoing
-Good communication skills
-Presentable
-Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines

Remuneration and related benefits will be shared only with short listed applicants.

Applications, with a detailed CV and certified copies of certificates must reach Basilwizi Trust  Director, 14 Edward Rd, Khumalo, Bulawayo or The Director, P.O. Box 3720, Bulawayo or scanned and sent to: info [at] basilwizi [dot] co [dot] zw

Only short listed applicants will be contacted for interviews.

Socio-economic Research and Analysis project Officer: Silveira House
Deadline: 2 April 2013

Silveira House seeks an economic and social analyst to take up the post of Socio-economic Research and Analysis project officer effect from 1st May 2012.

Success in promoting justice, peace and development in Zimbabwe calls for understanding how tomorrow will differ from today and yesterday! From such insights comes opportunity. This is what Silveira House has always tried to do since 1964.

The applicant must
-Be able to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of applied economics
-Have a detailed understanding of the economics and politics of Zimbabwe
-Have good communication and writing skills

Qualifications
-Masters in Economics or Economic Development, or equivalent
-BSc in Economics and Social Policy
-Experience in economic analysis
-Fluent in English
-Fluency in at least one Zimbabwean indigenous language in order to understand grassroots research data, results and situations
-Experience in journalism is preferred although not exclusively essential
-Driver’s licence (a must)

Special preference will be given to mature and settled applicants out of studies.

The successful applicant will initiate research to track emerging economic, social and political issues specifically affecting the lives of the people of Zimbabwe and provide us with thorough, in-depth analysis and forecasting. He/she will occasionally travel to the different provinces of the country and have regular contact with both local and national government, non-governmental organisations, business communities, media and most important of all, the ordinary citizens at grassroots level.

We offer the opportunity to work in a challenging, fast-paced environment where enthusiasm and creativity from the subject are the norm.

Salary is dependent on experience and qualification, and you will enjoy some excellent benefits.

Please send in your CV with a covering letter and details of current salary and employment to: director [at] sliveirahouse [dot] org

Or by post to the Director at Box 545, Harare

Two (2) Project Officers: Silveira House
Deadline: 2 April 2013

Silveira House seeks two qualified and experienced people to take up the posts of project officers in the Community Development programme which promotes leadership training, community development projects, citizens’ participation in economic and political processes, conflict management and youth formation/development. The successful applicants are expected to start work on 1st May 2013.

Main Objective of the job
The main objective of the job in question is to ensure the achievement of Silveira House goal and objectives by implementing programme and project activities as in the strategic plan and the programme operational plan.

The applicant must
-Be able to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the politics and social configuration of Zimbabwe
-Have a detailed understanding of development issues affecting poor areas of Zimbabwe
-Have good communication and writing skills

Qualifications
-At least 3 years of experience in community development work
-Masters in Community Development or Development Studies or Sociology
-Fluency in English and at least one local Zimbabwean language
-Experience in facilitating workshop trainings
-Driver’s licence (a must)

Special preference will be given to mature and settled applicants out of studies.

The successful applicant will plan and implement project activities with colleagues in the programmes, read and research on relevant issues affecting communities or various targeted groups in Zimbabwe to update our knowledge base, reflect on the situation on the ground in order to identify new areas of intervention, and prepare community conscientisation and community mobilisation material for workshop trainings. He/she will travel to the different provinces of the country and have regular contact with both local and national government, non-governmental organisations, business communities and most important of all, the ordinary citizens at grassroots level.

We offer the opportunity to work in a challenging, fast-paced environment where enthusiasm and creativity from the subject are the norm.

Salary is dependent on experience and qualification, and you will enjoy some excellent benefits.

Please send in your CV with a covering letter and details of current salary and employment to: director [at] sliveirahouse [dot] org

Or by post to the Director at Box 545, Harare.

Mentioning this name to anyone who is an avid follower of Zimbabwean news what quickly comes to mind is human rights. With an outstanding law practice background spanning almost thirty years Beatrice stood out to be one of the most fearless women Zimbabwe has ever produced. Even her profile on wikipedia portrays a history of activism complemented with multiple awards for her work. Today she finds herself being bundled into a prison van and wearing a green prison garb similar to those worn by female prisoners in Zimbabwe. Some of the women who wore this same uniform are now free after she successfully defended their rights in the courts of law.

Caught up in her line of work while trying to defends the rights of Prime Minister’s staff during a police raid has led her to appear before a local magistrate at a lower court answering charges of obstruction of justice after a High Court order for her release was ignored. Prison time weakens some and makes other come out strong and I believe Beatrice’s incarceration will make her strong.

I used to read about Beatrice Mtetwa in the papers and my first encounter with this fearless woman was when I found myself at the notorious law and order section at Harare Central Police station. It was in the middle of a grueling and nerve breaking moment when she arrived in the company of members of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights team and I could see hope and confidence coming back to the faces of my colleagues, both men and women. Even though she was not assigned to our case she managed to come in to where we were being grilled to check on us. It was a tense situation, which no man would want to be associated with at that time but Beatrice’s presence changed the tense atmosphere.

In Zimbabwe lawyers like Beatrice have managed to defend successfully the rights of the vulnerable and as the accused yesterday she had her rights fought for by fellow human rights defenders. And if you value the work she has been doing show your support by signing a petition to set her free.

It isn’t hard to see who looks happier.

If you’ve got Internet access please sign the Avaaz petition to protest human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa’s detention.