Kubatana’s thinking about producing Tsoro Boards and putting them into communities in the hope that messages published on the boards will prompt debate amongst the people playing draughts and those gathered watching the game. Recently we had the pleasure of interacting with art students at the Harare International School whilst they experimented with different ideas and designs for potential Tsoro Boards. Here are a few very colourful examples to share with you.

Request for Proposals: Institutional Consultancy Services for Verification of Child Protection Fund (CPF) Utilization in support of the National Action Plan for Orphans and Vulnerable Children 2011-2015 (NAP II) in Zimbabwe
Deadline: 8 May 2012 (10am)

Request for proposal: ZIM/2012/002-0

The UNICEF Zimbabwe Country Office, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor and Social Services, invites proposals from interested institutions to undertake the verification of CPF utilization in support of the NAP II in Zimbabwe.  The vision of the NAP II is that by 2020 all children in Zimbabwe will live in a safe, secure and supportive environment that is conducive to child growth and development, and the CPF is the funding mechanism created to support NAP II implementation.

The overall scope and objective of the consultancy is to provide the Ministry and UNICEF access to current, quality information regarding the use of CPF resources and the experience of intended NAP II beneficiaries.

The main work assignments and related deliverables are as follows:

1.Develop a work plan to establish the data verification methodology to achieve a verification target of 3 per cent of reported beneficiaries on a monthly basis.
2.Develop a reporting template that includes both quantitative data (on the degree to which intended resources reached the beneficiary) and qualitative data (on the experience of the beneficiary).
3.Prepare an inception report summarizing the agreed methodology and approach to be utilized during this consultancy, including timeline, reporting format, tools for reporting, partnerships in Zimbabwe with Government, civil society and the private sector, etc.
4.Implement the verification plan through the undertaking of monthly household visits, during which beneficiaries and their families will be asked to verify the receipt of CPF funded resources or services, and share their experience relating to their contact with CPF selected contractors.
5.Prepare monthly and quarterly verification reports, based on the agreed reporting template, will be submitted in both a hard and soft copy to the Ministry and UNICEF within seven working days of the end of each month and quarter.
6.Prepare annual consolidated verification reports, drawing on the monthly and quarterly reports, to be presented at an annual stakeholder workshop convened by the Ministry.

Qualifications
UNICEF is seeking experienced institutions that have preferably conducted data verification and reporting exercises in similar contexts previously. Specialist experience in monitoring and evaluation and working with the local community would be expected.  Ideally institutions would have access to networks of trained data collection personnel to administer field visits and conduct interviews with local households.

How to apply
Interested and eligible institutions are invited to request the complete RFP bidding document by sending an email to emaspero [at] unicef [dot] org with copy to nauyeung [at] unicef [dot] org with subject reference: “UNICEF

I got inspired by this article called If you Change, your World will Change by Andrew Horton and I hope you will too.

You play an integral role in the way people treat and respond to you. If you are not enjoying the way people in your environment are treating or responding to you right now, there is only one thing you need to do. Change the way you treat and respond to all the people around you. As you know it is impossible to change anyone else, but changing yourself is one simple decision away. As you change the way you treat people and you begin to show people how you want to be treated, almost as if by magic, everyone around you will begin to treat you differently.

Action Idea: Evaluate your own behaviour and try to discover how you are contributing, allowing or encouraging people to treat you the way they do.

People will only ever treat you the way they are allowed to treat you. You behaviour, actions or lack of action, is encouraging people to treat you in a certain way. If you want to change the way people treat or respond to you, then break the pattern, which is allowing the current circumstances to prevail. You are indeed in charge of everything in your experience. If you want to change anything in your environment, the change needs to start with the one person you have 100 % control over, namely, you.

When you accept that all change begins and ends with you and you finally take responsibility or said differently you take charge of your life and future, you empower yourself to begin making progress towards the life you have always dreamed about. What are you waiting for? If you want to change anything or everything in your life, that change is only one decision away. By making one different positive choice, you can completely change your life for the better. We are living in one of the most volatile, changing evolving environments mankind has ever experienced. These times we live in are both exciting and scary, but offer the most incredible opportunities for anyone, who wants to explore and discover new horizons. The thinking and ways of doing business, which have got companies and individuals to where they are today, will most certainly not get us to where we want to go tomorrow. Open your mind and start exploring new and better ways of doing things. It is no longer an option to vegetate in front of the television every night watching other people’s lives and successes. The world has opened up and the global economy we work in every day has moved the goal posts and changed the playing field forever. The people competing for your job are not similar people to you who live in your suburb. Your competition sits all around the world, in some cases with empty belies, eager to grow and become more. If you are to remain competitive, open your eyes and begin to see that if you are not growing your knowledge and skill base every day, you are actually going backwards. Time is the ultimate equal opportunity employer, it never ever stops or rests, has no reason to hesitate or to look at the past or the future, it simply expends itself entirely in the now.

Once time has passed it is gone forever and can never be recovered. Stop wasting even one more minute on frivolous activities, which may deliver pleasure in the moment. Start to invest into improving and growing your knowledge. I am not suggesting that you stop entertaining yourself completely. I am however suggesting that you reduce the number of hours you spend a day entertaining yourself and increase the number of hours you spend educating yourself every day. As you grow and become more, everything in your life will change. Resources which may have been unavailable to you will almost miraculously appear in your experience. People, who you only dreamt of as possible allies, will see you in a very different light and approach you and want to support you. Everyone around you will begin responding to you very differently, you entire world will change, when you change and commit to a path of on-going learning and growth. I have no doubt that the more you invest into learning; the more you will end up earning.

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.

Part-time translators and editors: COPAC
Deadline: 3 May 2012

Part-time Translators

Report to: National Co-ordinator

Job purpose: To provide accurate translation services to ensure that nothing is lost in the process of translating important documents from English to the following vernacular languages: Shona, Ndebele, Nambya, Tonga, Sotho, Chewa, Kalanga, Venda, Xhosa, Shangaan

Minimum qualifications, skills and experience
-A Diploma or Degree in Linguistics or the relevant language
-Previous translation experience
-Ability to work under pressure
-High levels of integrity and professional ethics
-Maturity and ability to maintain confidentiality

Part-time Editors

Report to: National Co-ordinator

Job purpose: To provide accurate translation services to ensure that legal aspects of documents are maintained during the translation process from English to the following vernacular languages: Shona, Ndebele, Nambya, Tonga, Sotho, Chewa, Kalanga, Venda, Xhosa, Shangaan

Minimum qualifications, skills and experience
-A Diploma or Degree in Linguistics, Law or the relevant language
-Knowledge of vernacular languages
-Editing experience is a pre-requisite
-A legal background will be an added advantage
-Ability to work under pressure and provide efficient editing services
-High levels of integrity and professional ethics

Interested candidates should send their applications with detailed CVs to the Acting National Co-ordinator, 31 Lawson Avenue, Milton Park, Harare or send an email to gloriagani [at] yahoo [dot] com

Project Assistant: Oxfam
Deadline: 4 May 2012

Level: E2
Contract: 6 Months

Oxfam Purpose: To work with others to overcome poverty and suffering.

Team Purpose: To work directly with Oxfam’s beneficiaries and partners to overcome poverty and suffering and to advocate and campaign for policy, knowledge, attitude, and practice change to help achieve Oxfam’s strategic change objectives.

Job Purpose: Support project implementation in the wetlands areas through community interventions, facilitation and mobilisation.

Dimensions
-Most tasks will be defined within objectives set by manager with some routine reactive work in response to requests
-Work patterns are mainly routine
-Reactive work requires common sense to make judgements about basic adjustments to own routine but also contributes to improvement of programme’s services
-Impact mainly with own team. Planning usually short-term
-Communicates widely within the programme, with project and partner staff

Key Responsibilities
The Project Assistant will be expected to conduct the following specific tasks in view of project implementation and monitoring
-Mobilize and engage communities around sustainable wet land management
-Work closely with Environmental Management Agency in developing an Environmental Impact Assessment for the project
-Identify community training needs and conduct on site training to enhance local capacity and project sustainability
-Assist in the development of a rapid assessment of the best practices in wetlands and keep records of project documentation
-Assist in the engagement of key duty bearers to influence policy development around wetlands and preparations to exhibit in the Environmental Expo and other related national events
-Facilitate the implementation of conservation works and support with the rolling out of the Collection Information Centre model for marketing
-Support the partners and key stakeholders on related advocacy work

Skills And Competence

Essential:
-Relevant educational qualifications with two years practical experience in environmental management and agriculture support to rural communities
-Experience in environmental management and working with rural communities
-Excellent verbal and written communications skills
-Team working skills
-Flexibility in tasks undertaken
-Ability to work under pressure and deadlines
-Good oral and report writing skills
-Good appreciation of gender and HIV/AIDS issues
-Excellent working knowledge of computers
-Knowledge of Access databases an advantage
-Commitment to humanitarian principles and action
-Sympathy with the aims and objectives of Oxfam

Proficient
-Works with minimum supervision
-Reliable team member
-Fully capable of performing all aspects of job

Outstanding
-Eager and able to assume more difficult work
-Initiative and creative
-Proactive approach to problem solving

Kindly forward an application letter and CV to: bchapfunga [at] Oxfam [dot] org [dot] uk

Project Administrator: UN
Deadline: 8 May 2012

Contract: 1 year

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide. Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development and it benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for volunteerism globally, encouraging partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing volunteers. In most cultures volunteerism is deeply embedded in long-established, ancient traditions of sharing and support within the communities. In this context, UN Volunteers take part in various forms of volunteerism and play a role in development and peace together with co-workers, host agencies and local communities.

In all assignments, UN Volunteers promote volunteerism through their action and conduct. Engaging in volunteer activity can effectively and positively enrich their understanding of local and social realities, as well as create a bridge between themselves and the people in their host community. This will make the time they spend as UN Volunteers even more rewarding and productive.

Working in conjunction with the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development, the Officer is responsible for the day-to-day management of Support for Peace Building and Increased Access to Sustainable Livelihoods in Zimbabwe Project. Also, as part of his or her functions, the Project Officer is responsible for analysing local level economic trends and he or she leads formulation, management and evaluation of project activities with local authorities. The Project Officer works in close collaboration with local government authorities, community leaders, project staff in other development agencies, including multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful project implementation.

Find out more

Programme Liaison Officer: UN
Deadline: 9 May 2012

Contract: 1 year

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Director Resource Mobilisation and Project Development in the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

-Facilitates women and youth’s economic empowerment and leadership through strategic project implementation
-Coordinates project activities in six (6) districts, Binga, Gokwe, Insiza, Lupane, Mberengwa and  Umzingwane
-Provides technical advice to MSMECD regarding the implementation of project activities
-Ensures effective management of the project focusing on quality control in implementation and achieving results Assists MSMECD in financial and administrative monitoring and evaluation of the project, and in the identification and development of solutions to operational and financial problems
-Ensures reports on activities, outputs and outcomes are regularly prepared
-Ensures creation and development of strategic partnerships focusing on achievement of the following: Partnerships with Zimbabwe’s development partners, Government Institutions, bilateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector and civil society
-Ensures provision of top quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building in line with the vision of MSMECD Identifies and synthesises best practices and lessons learnt as directly linked to the project activities
-Supports the development of policies that will address country problems and needs in collaboration with Government and other strategic partners
-Attends and represents MSMECD in local authority development committee meetings Initiates new ideas, business opportunities and projects for short term and long term sustainability of the project
-Efficient filling/documentation of project documents, work plans, progress reports, budgets and other implementation documents

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to
-Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark IVD)
-Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country
-Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities
-Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc
-Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers
-Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Competencies
-Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of Government and UNDP
-Focuses on impact and results for the client and responds positively to feedback
-Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills
-A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.
Required Skills and Experience

Education
University degree or equivalent in Economics, Agricultural Economics, Development Studies, Business administration, Social Sciences or related field is preferable. Possession of a Masters Degree would be an added advantage. Fluency in the United Nations and national language of the duty station is mandatory.

Experience
Three to five years of relevant experience at the National or International level in project management, monitoring and evaluation of development projects

Find out more

Twenty (20) Security Guards: Africa University
Deadline: 10 May 2012

Africa University, an International Pan African and United Methodist Church Related Institution in Zimbabwe invites applications from suitably qualified and well experienced persons to fill the position of security guard.

Duties and Responsibilities
-Patrolling premises to prevent and detect signs of intrusion and ensuring  security of University property
-Investigating disturbances or reporting hazards, disturbances, unusual and suspicious circumstances
-Preventing passage of prohibited articles into restricted areas
-Writing reports of daily activities and irregularities, such as equipment or property damage, theft, presence of unauthorized persons, or unusual occurrences
-Any other duties as may be assigned by the Security Officer

Qualifications, Experience and Attributes
-5 O’ levels, Mathematics and English included
-Aged between 25 and 50 years
-2 years’ work experience in security, police or army
-Evidence of security training
-Excellent communication skills
-Good health
-No criminal record
-Honesty
-Computer literacy dog handling skills will be an added advantage

Application Procedure
Six sets of applications together with CV, copies of certified certificates, academic transcripts, National ID and at least three names of referees with their email and postal addresses should be forwarded to:

The Assistant Registrar
Personnel and Administration
Africa University
P.O. Box 1320
MUTARE

Kubatana recently hosted a field visit from 5 young feminists from the Harare International School. We watched a documentary on women’s rights called From Fear to Freedom. Reflecting on her experience one of the girls said …

From Fear to Freedom was a very emotional movie. When I saw it, it made me feel good to have a family that treats each other right. What gave me hope was the women at schools teaching young boys to respect women, if they continue like that i think that there can be a big change.

Thanks to Lloyd from Harare who emailed us this photograph. He placed a FIX THIS.please sticker near pits that have been dug to repair burst pipes. However the pits have remained uncovered for over two months.