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Why the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa is important to youth

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Monday, May 16th, 2011 by Bev Clark

Essay competition: Why the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa is important to youth
Deadline: 12 Noon GMT on 25 May 2011

In October 2010, the African Women’s Decade (2010-2020) was officially launched in Nairobi, Kenya. The decade is a critical moment for the advancement of women’s rights and gender equality on the continent. The Solidarity for African Women’s Rights coalition (SOAWR), a coalition of 37 organizations based throughout the continent, is committed to ensuring that African Union (AU) member states ratify and implement the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa as an instrument that will play an important role in the realization of the Decade’s objectives. Yet, unfortunately, not all Africans are aware of the Protocol and its significance.

In Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, this June, African heads of state and government will gather at a summit with the theme, “Youth empowerment for sustainable development”. Youth action is critical to the continent’s development, and more specifically, in ensuring that girls and women can make equally valued contributions to this development. As such, the SOAWR coalition would like to invite youth to reflect on the importance of the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa. Contestants are asked to respond to the question, “Why is the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa important to you?” in an essay of a maximum of 2000 words.

The four best essays will receive a copy of African Women Writing Resistance: An Anthology of Contemporary Voices edited by Jennifer Browdy de Hernandez, Pauline Dongala, Omotayo Jolaosho, and Anne Serafin. The winning essays will also be published on the Pambazuka News website (www.pambazuka.org). In addition, the writer of the essay awarded first place will be given the opportunity to attend the AU Summit in Malabo with her or his basic expenses (ticket, accommodation, etc.) covered.

The competition is open to citizens of all African countries aged between 18 and 25.

Entries can be submitted in English or French. The deadline for submission is May 25th, 2011, at 12 noon, GMT. Essays should be typed (1.5 line spacing and 12 point font) and sent in Word or PDF format to the SOAWR Secretariat through bkombo [at] equalitynow [dot] org with the subject “SOAWR Essay Competition”. Along with the essays, contestants should indicate the email address where they can be reached and provide their age, nationality and country of residence.

Source: Pambazuka

Part of the Solution

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Monday, May 16th, 2011 by Upenyu Makoni-Muchemwa

Solidarity Peace Trust’s film, Part of the Solution, is a retrospective look at the political events in Zimbabwe in 2001 culminating in the SADC Troika memorandum of April 2011. The short film takes a look at the issue of the manipulation of the COPAC Constitutional Outreach programme and intimidation of villagers in the rural areas. It goes further to suggest that the outcome of the process may not have the people at its heart. The DVD moves on to examine incidents of politically motivated violence, particularly those in Mbare and Downtown Harare involving the youth. In view of the objectives of the Inclusive Government and the Global Political Agreement, these events are disheartening, leaving many Zimbabweans wondering if it is possible that the impending elections will be marred by violence and voter intimidation.

If you would like a copy of this DVD please email your postal address to: products [at] kubatana [dot] net

Noviolet Bulawayo Shortlisted for the Caine Prize

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Monday, May 16th, 2011 by Upenyu Makoni-Muchemwa

It’s always a moment of pride when I find a Zimbabwean author mentioned in the international media. What is largely published about Zimbabwe does a disservice to our country and us. Ours is not a single story. It is always a particularly proud moment when I find that the author is also a woman.  The shortlist for the Twelfth Caine Prize for African Writing was announced recently and Zimbabwean author Noviolet Bulawayo has been shortlisted for her story Hitting Budapest.

Of course the most internationally recognizable Zimbabwean women writers are Tsitsi Dangarembga, Yvonne Vera and more recently Petina Gappah. In an interview with Mazwi literary journal Noviolet discusses why there are only a handful of Zimbabwean women writers:

Of course there are a host of reasons, but I think it also speaks to the trying circumstances of African women, not just Zimbabwean women by the way, as the group that comes last in everything and writing is no exception. Of cause this is compounded by the politics of the publishing industry. Still, I believe Zimbabwean women have compelling stories and those who are writing are doing a good job representing, and I’d like to especially thank those who are writing from Zimbabwe, the little known and unknown ones. To me those are the bad-ass writers, imagine knowing you will never be read beyond your borders, never be an international star but still writing all the same! That’s writing as speaking, as insisting on one’s presence and I think that’s deep.

Zimbabwe International Book Fair

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Monday, May 16th, 2011 by Elizabeth Nyamuda

The annual ZIBF for 2011 has been set for the 28th to the 30th of July in the Harare Gardens. Running under the theme “Books for Africa’s Development”, the fair hopes to regain its rank of being the best in Africa. A two-day Young Person’s Indaba on the 25th and 26th of July will pave way for the Book Fair. Read more form the Herald website.

This event promotes the love of books, reading and writing. It is a well-known fact that when there were no televisions or computers, reading was the principal leisure activity. Thus Africans possess a strong traditional orientation to oral and cultural forms of education, communication and entertainment. Information transmitted through song, dance and storytelling is more widely embraced.

Book Fairs across Africa aim to encourage cross-border trade in books and create a reading culture in the region. They do so by bringing together the book chain functions; authorship, publishing, distribution and readership. ZIBF by virtue of taking an international stance accommodates writers, publishers, booksellers, reading clubs and libraries from Africa and the developed world.

We hope to see the stature of ZIBF grow to enable it to be considered as the one of the top International Book Fairs in the world. Thus librarians, documentalists and publishers, authors, writers should all come together to make this a success. Exhibitors can choose a display option that best fits their needs from a single or double dedicated space devoted exclusively to them.

On their Facebook page ZIBF wrote:

“The ZIBF was the biggest and best book fair in Africa during the 1990s. Sadly, it’s now gone the way of many other things in Zimbabwe.”

Exhibitors please rekindle the experience by emailing information [at] zibfa [dot] org [dot] zw or events [at] zibfa [dot] org [dot] zw to receive an Exhibition Stand Application Form. Early application is advised to avoid disappointment.

Job vacancies in Zimbabwe

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Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011 by Bev Clark

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.

Project Officer – People Up Project: Practical Action Southern Africa
Deadline: 6 May 2011

Practical Action Southern Africa is part of an international technology development organisation headquartered in the United Kingdom, seeks to recruit a Project Officer for the People up Project based in Harare.

Key performance areas will include inter alia:

-Conducting quality control management on the project activities being undertaken.

-Participating in Monitoring and Evaluation of project progress against the original intention and design.

-Facilitating relevant thematic workshops with internal and external stakeholders.

-Producing monthly reports  to assist in project implementation so as to ensure successful completion

-Producing material for publication and documentation, to inform all stakeholders on progress and challenges.

-Conducting field research for the People Up project.

-Assisting in lobbying and advocacy activities to build the endorsement of Practical Action.

-Recruiting beneficiaries with the assistance of the supervisor.

-Engaging in public relations and networking to identify synergies and strengthen existing partnerships

-Participating in fundraising activities in support of Practical Action opportunities’ so that Urban Services are met.

Person Specifications:

-Bachelors Degree or Higher National Diploma in Rural & Urban Planning, Engineering, Development Studies or any related discipline.

-2 years NGO experience,

-Excellent interpersonal skills.

-Excellent computer skills

-Excellent communication skills a must i.e. both written and spoken

Send applications and detailed CVs to: Human Capital and Administration Manager, Practical Action, 4 Ludlow Rd, Newlands, Harare or email to: hc [at] practicalactionzw [dot] org

Four (4) vacancies: International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Deadline: 6 May 2011

Location: Mutare

IRC intends to implement a project to mitigate risks of water borne disease outbreaks focusing on community adoption of households’ water treatment practices.  The project will focus mainly on community behavior change through social marketing of Point of Use (PoU) water treatment products, promoting grassroots distribution systems of retail and kiosk owners in remote rural areas and creating demand of the products through community awareness raising. Four (4) positions have arisen and all will be based in Mutare with job responsibilities covering Manicaland Province. The contract is for a period of twelve (12) months

1. Project Manager  – WASH

The Project Manager WASH plays an important role in the International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) field office management structure and is responsible for the supervision of four officers.

Job Responsibilities

-Responsible for the overall management of the project which includes staff and the design of appropriate tools to spearhead community education on PoU water treatment techniques while working with the local authorities, government departments, schools authorities and traditional leaders.

-Prepare timely work plans and promote quality in project deliverables.

-Represent IRC and collaborate, plan and liaise with key local government officials, NGOs and community members in the implementation of project activities.

-Monitoring and documenting achievement of project outputs and objectives.

-Prepare and submit timely quality internal and donor project reports on field activities with indicators tracking.

-Participate in needs assessment activities.

-Manage project assets and budget management (Budget vs Actual expenditure tracking).

-Represent IRC in WASH Cluster Provincial coordination meetings to foster positive interaction and good working relations with all partners.

Skills and Qualifications

-Degree in Public Health, Health Education and Promotion or Social Studies with a strong bias on community development in WASH.

-Two years of professional experience managing WASH programs and experience in implementing OFDA funded projects is an added advantage.

-Strong understanding of Monitoring & Evaluation of WASH programs.

-Excellent interpersonal, organizational and time management skills.

-Capable of training staff and motivating community support.

-Operational knowledge of Microsoft Office software, knowledge of GIS mapping a plus.

2. Social Marketing Officer (SMO) x 2

Job responsibilities

-Responsible for organizing the provincial, district and ward level stakeholder inception/launch workshops/meetings.

-Identifying, assessing and listing down potential grassroots distributors of household PoU water treatment products in remote areas.

-Training the identified grassroots distributors on social marketing, business management and promotion of linkages with distributors and transporters.

-Rebranding places like kiosks, retail shops with household PoU water treatment products promotional materials and organize the grassroots household PoU water treatment products distributors to form buying clusters.

-Carrying out community based educational sessions on promotion of household PoU water treatment products at schools, business centers, market places etc.

-Develop & implementing a monitoring system to measure residual chlorine levels of treated water at household level.

-Monitoring and documenting achievement of use of PoU water treatment products as a project output.

-Prepare and submit timely and quality internal project reports on activities.

Skills and Qualifications

-Diploma in Marketing with a strong bias on community social marketing.

-Experience implementing WASH programs and experience in implementing OFDA-funded projects is an added advantage.

-Strong understanding of Monitoring & Evaluation of WASH programs.

-Capable of training communities and motivating community support.

-Operational knowledge of Microsoft Office software, knowledge of GIS mapping a plus.

3. Hygiene Promotion Officer (HPO)

Job responsibilities

-Responsible for identifying existing and establishing new school hygiene clubs, supporting their functioning and roll out their plans as vehicle for hygiene promotion.

-Carrying out training to School Hygiene Club Coordinators and community hygiene club leaders.

-Support the setting up of a Healthy Corner at school events such as soccer and athletics competitions.

-Spearheading community based educational sessions on promotion of behavior change.

-Supporting District WASH commemoration events.

-Monitoring and documenting achievement of behavior change project output and objective.

-Prepare and submit timely quality internal project reports and indicators tracking.

-Represent IRC in WASH coordination meetings/forums at district level to foster positive interaction and good working relations with all partners.

Qualifications

-Diploma in Environmental Health, Public Health Promotion with a strong bias on community development in WASH.

-Two years experience implementing WASH programs and experience in implementing OFDA funded projects is an added advantage.

-Strong understanding of Monitoring & Evaluation of WASH programs.

-Capable of training communities and motivating community support.

-Operational knowledge of Microsoft Office software, knowledge of GIS mapping a plus.

Qualified candidates should send their detailed CVs and cover letters to Zimbabwe [at] theirc [dot] org and write title of the position they are applying for in the subject line.

Youth & Adolescent Development Specialist at NOC Level: United Nations Children’s Fund
Deadline: 9 May 2011

Based in Harare, Zimbabwe (Fixed Term Post)

Vacancy Notice No. Zim/2011:08

UNICEF, the world’s leading children’s rights organization, has an opening for passionate and committed professionals who want to make a lasting difference for children in Zimbabwe. We are seeking people with a commitment for women and children, high drive for results, demonstrable embracing of diversity, integrity, demonstrable teamwork, good self-awareness and self-regulation.

Purpose of the Job:

Under the general guidance of the Chief of Communications, provides support in the conceptualization, planning, execution, monitoring and evaluation of child and youth participation strategy to promote respect for children’s’ and women’s’ rights and support UNICEF’s mission in Zimbabwe with approx.

Major Tasks to be accomplished:

* Actively contributes to the development and implementation of a Government of Zimbabwe/UNICEF child and youth participation strategy that will accelerate the realization of children’s and young people’s rights in Zimbabwe.

* Liaises and advocates with parliamentarians, civic society, private sector and independent providers on the benefits of, and need for, children’s participation as key stakeholders in social development and political agenda. e.g. participation in the legislative and Constitutional reforms; policies and programmes.

* Identifies and creates opportunities for child and young people’s meaningful participation where children’s and young people’s views, experiences and beliefs are heard, considered and acted upon. Explores the use of regional communication platforms, such as “Speak Africa” – Speak Zimbabwe to encourage dialogue and learning among children and young people.

* Provides technical support to strengthen the capacity of child and young people’s national structures and representations in government, civil society and children’s organizations e.g. child parliament, junior councilors, child protection committees, child participation clubs and other school based participation programmes.

* Works with children and young people to appreciate the regional and international legal and policy instruments on children and young people.  These include the UNCRC; ACRWC; African Youth Charter; A call for accelerated action on AFFC.

* Support operational research, documentation, information sharing and dissemination of good practices on child and young people’s participation, with government; civil society; young people and children, private sector and other partners.

* Facilitate coordination of child and young people’s participation within UNICEF country programme; UNCT and Government, civil society and other partners.

* Contributes to fundraising strategies for overall communications and advocacy, with special focus on child and young people’s participation.

* Draft relevant chapters for Annual Reviews; Reports on child and young people’s participation.

Qualifications and Competencies:

* Advanced university degree in social/ political sciences, or equivalent professional work experience in the child and young people’s participation area, or in related field.

* At least five years progressively responsible professional work experience in child and young people’s development and participation programmes, of which two years should be in developing countries.

* Good analytical and organizational skills and ability to work in a multicultural environment.

* General ability to express clearly and concisely ideas and concepts in written and oral form, specific skills in writing policy briefs and position papers on children’s rights, child and youth participation.

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 quoting vacancy notice number to the following address:

HR Specialist

(Vacancy Notice No. Zim/2011:08)

UNICEF, 6 Fairbridge Avenue,

P O Box 1250

Belgravia, Harare

Or email: hararevacancies [at] gmail [dot] com

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Communication Officer at NOB Level
Deadline: 9 May 2011

Based in Harare, Zimbabwe (Fixed Term Post)

Vacancy Notice No. Zim/2011:09

Purpose of the Job:

Under the general guidance of the Chief of Communications, undertakes the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluating of an advocacy and communication strategy to get children’s and women’s issues into the public domain, strengthen donor and political will in support of UNICEF’s mission and objectives in Zimbabwe, and enhance the organization’s credibility and brand.  The Communications Officer also extends support to the co-ordination and dissemination of communications message through the local and international media and is responsible for the website of the Zimbabwe country office.

Major Tasks to be accomplished:

* Works on the production of communication products, including the country office website.

* Drafts background information, fact sheets, communication and other promotional advocacy materials for briefing visits, media, Goodwill Ambassadors and other special interest groups.

* Supports the development, drafting and maintenance of information and relationships with journalists and media outlets

* Writes articles, speeches, press releases, other public information materials and reports, as well as contributes to development of communication messages and materials for the traditional and web based media outlets

* Distribution and dissemination of advocacy materials from NY, Geneva, the Regional Office and the country office to identified partners and other target audiences. Helps to identify the need for additional materials/activities, such as radio and television programmes, publications, photographs, websites, etc., to advocate and promote organizational goals within the country.

* Facilitates engagement with nationally known personalities and helps to organize special events and activities to support country programme goals.  Generates public support for special events.

* Supports social mobilization and media through organizing community participation of key players and through organising field visits and media training events; photo coverage and TV Footage, using both the traditional and web based media as appropriate.

Qualifications and Competencies:

* University degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations; or equivalent professional work experience in the communication area, combined with an advanced university degree in a related discipline

* At least five years progressively responsible professional work experience in communication, print and broadcast media or interactive digital media, of which two years should be in developing countries.

* General ability to express clearly and concisely ideas and concepts in written and oral form; specific skills in writing press releases and articles/stories for traditional, electronic and new media.

* Proven ability to conceptualize, plan and execute ideas, as well as impart knowledge and teach 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 quoting vacancy notice number to the following address:

HR Specialist

(Vacancy Notice No. Zim/2011:09)

UNICEF, 6 Fairbridge Avenue,

P O Box 1250

Belgravia, Harare

Or email: hararevacancies [at] gmail [dot] com

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

How cellphones can change the way farmers and vendors do business in Zimbabwe

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Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011 by Lenard Kamwendo

When I was going through some articles on the latest advancements in cellphone technology, I came across an article on textually.com about how farmers in Kenya are using SMS every morning to find the best prices on the market for their produce.

On a visit to Mbare Musika in Harare you will hear lots of complaints from farmers about low prices on the market for their produce. When you compare these prices at Mbare Musika with other market places you will find a big difference in pricing and one wonders how best these farmers can get such useful information before their produce to the market.

I imagine a farmer in Mutoko avoiding the hassle and pain of selling her tomatoes at a give-away price by just sending an SMS to different market places in Harare and getting instant feedback on where to sell at a better price. This will also help vendors to know where to buy at low prices.

Kenyan farmers use SMS to beat climate-driven price uncertainty

MERU, Kenya (AlertNet) – William Muriuki and his wife are inspecting their vegetable farm in the tiny village of Karimagachiije, some 15 km outside Meru town in central Kenya. Cabbages, onions and Irish potatoes are ready to go to market. But the question is where?

Identifying the best market never used to be a problem, explains the 73-year-old farmer. “It was easy to tell what vegetables were in season in a particular area, so we knew the most appropriate places to sell our farm produce.”

But changing climatic conditions have disrupted market patterns. “It is no longer as predictable as it was,” he says. “We have to physically identify places with high demand.”

Even fairly recently, local farmers could be sure the rains would come around March 25 each year. So by the end of April, most vegetables would be in season, meaning low demand at nearby markets. In much of Eastern Province though, the rains would be delayed or not arrive at all, so farmers from the central region knew they could get a good price for their produce there.

But that’s no longer the case. “In the past few years, I have seen rains come much earlier than expected, or very late,” says Muriuki. “At times, it rains in Eastern Province much earlier or at the same time as it does here, or it fails to rain in both areas.”

In these challenging conditions, Muriuki and his farming colleagues have turned to technology to help them find the right market. Read the full article on here