Progressio has been leading the way on practical international development issues for more than forty years. Whether through placing development workers overseas, or in our policy and advocacy achievements, Progressio has a track record of making a difference. We work with people of all faiths and none.

HIV and AIDS Programme Development Adviser

Basilwizi Trust

Based in Binga, Zimbabwe,with outreaches in Gokwe North, Hwange and Kariba districts

Three-month placement (with the possibility of renewal)

Please note that for this placement we are only able to consider applicants who are fluent in Tonga and/or Ndebeleand able to start before 31 March 2013.

Basilwizi has been operating and working with the Zambezi valley communities since 2002. In the last eight years, there has been a gradual increase in the community demand for Basilwizi programmes, particularly the HIV and AIDS programme.This programme has been directed towards empowering the local leaders in five wards of the Binga district to improve child protection systems for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children (OVCs), by tackling those cultural practices which fuel the spread of HIV.
The Progressio Development Worker (DW) will work as a HIV and AIDS Programme Development Adviser providing close technical assistance and capacity building on planning, advocacy and resource mobilisation for the Basilwizi Trust. Emphasis will be on building the knowledge and capabilities of its staff to scale-up comprehensive sexual reproductive health education amongst the youth/adolescents and traditional leaders in Binga. This also includes identifying and developing programmes that address the effects and drivers of the spread of HIV in the context of (Tonga) culture. The DW will support and build the capacity of the Basilwizi Trust in identifying and exploring resource mobilisation opportunities nationally and internationally on HIV and AIDS related interventions. The DW is also expected to understand HIV and AIDS programming in the context of culture.

BACKGROUND TO PROGRESSIO

Founded in 1940, Progressio is a UK-based charity working internationally to enable people in developing countries to challenge and change the situations that keep them poor. We currently work in 11 countries and have a long history of working in fragile, post-conflict and authoritarian states.

We develop long-term partnerships with local organisations and community groups in the global South, providing practical support through around 70 development workers (DWs), mostly from the global South, who share skills, know-how and training. We also send committed young adults from the UK to engage in community development work for 10 weeks - this programme is called Progressio ICS. Both DWs and Progressio ICS placements contribute towards improving the lives of thousands of people in poor communities.

Because poverty is about unequal power relations and a lack of human rights, we work with a wide range of people who are poor and marginalised to change the structures that keep them in poverty. We support them in their calls for policy change. With our supporters, we stand alongside them in demanding that decision-makers around the world sit up and listen to them.

Inspired by our Catholic roots, we believe that experiencing ‘life in all its fullness’ includes freedom and control over one’s life and future. It means challenging inequalities and power imbalances. We see every person as sacred, having inherent dignity, so we stand in solidarity with poor people in achieving their rights.

THE PARTNER - BASILWIZI TRUST

Basilwizi has been operating and working with the Zambezi valley communities since 2002. In the last eight years, there has been a gradual increase in the community demand for the Trust’s programmes, particularly the HIV and AIDS programme. This programme has been directed towards empowering the local leaders in five wards of the Binga district to improve child protection systems for orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) by tackling those cultural practices which fuel the spread of HIV.

- Vision

“A sustainable people-driven socio-economic development in the Zambezi Valley.”

-Mission statement

Basilwizi is committed to building the capacity of the Tonga and Korekore communities – men, women, young and old, able and disabled – for them to realise improved and sustainable well-being and free themselves from poverty.

-Motto

“The last shall be first.”

- Core Values and Philosophy

In achieving its vision and fulfilling its mission, Basilwizi shall value a high level of transparency, respect for all stakeholders, accountability, commitment, teamwork, empathy, trustworthiness and programme sustainability, as well as high ethical standards and social responsibility. Basilwizi holds the following values:

  1. Transparency: All our work in the organisation shall be open for public scrutiny and done in a clear and responsible manner for all stakeholders to analyse and comprehend. Regular updates to all stakeholders in various forms will drive this value.
  1. Respect and equality: All individuals are equal as human beings and by virtue of the inherent dignity of each person. All human beings are entitled to their human rights without discrimination of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, ethnicity, age, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, disability, property, birth or other status as explained by the human rights treaty bodies.
  1. Accountability and trustworthy: States and other duty-bearers are answerable for the observance of human rights. In this regard, they have to comply with the legal norms and standards enshrined in human rights instruments. Where they fail to do so, aggrieved rights-holders are entitled to institute proceedings for appropriate redress of the situation in accordance with the rules and procedures provided by law.
  1. Empathy: We shall always put ourselves in the situation of the people of the Zambezi Valley. By doingso, our efforts will serve our community better.
  1. Sustainable communities: Keeping the activity going, investing in individuals and groups to keep initiatives going long term, empowering and leaving skills in communities, whilst making and maintaining links to the wider society.
  1. Teamwork and participation: Ensuring that everyone has the right to fully participate in the decision-making processes that affect their lives, increasing access to do so by removing barriers and creating opportunities to influence/take part.
  1. Diligence and commitment:Business-like attitude and commitment to achieving set goals at the least cost.

- The mandate

Zambezi Valley in general remains one of the least developed areas in the country. It is highly vulnerable and chronically food insecure due to external shocks, such as drought and crop failure, causing annual food shortages, particularly among the poorest and most vulnerable households. Among the underplaying causes of poverty in the Zambezi Valley are a lack of pro-poor policies and/or ineffective implementation of existing policies. Therefore, the Trust’s work is still relevant and has the potential of accomplishing its mission in light of the current political dispensation in Zimbabwe.

-Objectives

  1. To empower the affected people to advocate for developmental changes and their inclusion in decision-making processes on issues that affect their development, particularly the use of resources around/from Lake Kariba.
  1. To assist the beneficiaries in improving their socio-economic well-being, through the establishment of people-centred development projects that meet basic material needs.
  1. To facilitate the putting in place of legislation, policies, procedures and practices that enhance the capacity of men and women to access, utilise and control their natural resources.
  1. To promote the cultural and educational development of the beneficiaries.
  1. To combat and reduce the impact of the HIV and AIDS pandemic through community-based intervention strategies.
  1. To promote gender, child protection and disability mainstreaming in all programme activities of the organisation.
  1. To enhance organisational capacity and ensure the effective implementation of Basilwizi’s goals.

BASILWIZI TRUST - HIV AND AIDS SUPPORT PROGRAMME

Since 2007, Basilwizi has been responding to the Millennium Goal Number 6, which seeks to reverse the spread of HIV. This is being achieved through the successful implementation of the National Action Plan for OVC project that is directed towards empowering local leaders in five wards of the Binga district to improve child protection systems for OVCs, by tackling those cultural practices that fuel the spread of HIV. It has been noted with concern that children, due to some deep-rooted cultural practices, are being exposed to HIV and discriminated against in social interactions. For example, disabled children were rarely being exposed to some social interactions that able bodied children could enjoy.

OVCs, in particular girls(and women), are at greater risk when it comes to HIV. Most girls and women are more vulnerable to HIV because the imbalances in power that exist between men/boys and women/girls give men/boys an edge over women/girls to indulge in behaviour that puts the lives of their wives at risk. Many men are still clinging to polygamous marriages despite the dangers this practice poses to families, hence the advocacy work to try and change some of these dangerous practices.

The National Action Plan for OVC project has also made Basilwizi realise the need to expand the project to 20other wards inthe Binga district and to the Zambezi valley community as a whole,as they share a commonality in cultural values and practices. There is a need to take up advocacy issues to change some of the cultural practices that promote the spread of HIV in all the wards. For a sustainable programme on HIV and AIDS in the Zambezi valley, there is a need to build the capacity of the local existing structure, such asthe Child Protection Committees.

-Programme goal

By 2015, the Zambezi Valley community should demonstrate appropriate health and protection status through comprehensive participatory approaches to health care and support systems.

- Targeting

The HIV and AIDS programme is targeting the local traditional leaders, who are the custodians of culture issues, and other community leaders, such as Church leaders, theWard AIDS Action Committee (WAAC) and the School Development Committees. The programme also targets OVCs, disabled children and women.

-Specific objectives

  • To reduce by 25 per centthe number of OVCs who are abused, by December 2014.
  • To produce and distribute 5,000 health and HIV and AIDS related information, education, and communication (IEC) materials in the local language, by December 2014.
  • To reach 20,000 people through community awareness on the dangers of some cultural practices that put people at risk of contracting HIV, by December 2014.
  • To reduce the stigma associated with disability and HIV and AIDS through training and awareness campaigns, by December 2014.
  • To provide financial support to 400 OVCs to enable them to complete their secondary education, by December 2014.
  • To train 500 Home-Based Care givers and 200 Child Protection Committee members on Income Generating Projects (IGP) and Child Protection.

THE PLACEMENT

The Progressio Development Worker (DW) will work as a HIV and AIDS Programme Development Adviser providing close technical assistance and capacity building on planning, advocacy and resource mobilisation for the Basilwizi Trust. Emphasis will be on building the knowledge and capabilities of its staff to scale-up comprehensive sexual reproductive health education amongst the youth/adolescents and traditional leaders in Binga. This also includes identifying and developing programmes that address the effects and drivers of the spread of HIV in the context of (Tonga) culture. The DW will support and build the capacity of the Basilwizi Trust in identifying and exploring resource mobilisation opportunities nationally and internationally on HIV and AIDS related interventions. The DW is also expected to understand HIV and AIDS programming in the context of culture.

- Specific responsibilities of the DW

  • Build the knowledge and capacity of the staff of Basilwizi Trust to scale-up comprehensive sexual reproductive health education amongst the youth/adolescents and traditional leaders in Binga.
  • To support and build the capacity of Basilwizi in identifying and exploring resource mobilisation opportunities nationally and internationally on HIV and AIDS related interventions. This also entails supporting Basilwizi in developing a strong resource mobilisation strategy and establishing and maintaining strong partnerships with donors.
  • Provide technical support to Basilwizi Trust to organise and engage in national and local advocacy events and media profiling of HIV and AIDS issues affecting the Binga district.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

This section outlines the skills and requirements we seek for this placement, please read it carefully and ensure your application addresses each of these requirements (giving clear examples).

Specification / Essential / Desirable
Education / 1.Degree and/or post graduate qualification in Political Science, Development Studies, Social Sciences, or any other relevant discipline
Experience / 2.Five or more years’ experience in field work around HIV and AIDS and community mobilisation
3.Minimum of three years’ experience in HIV and AIDS related community development work, involving fundraising, research, documentation and knowledge management
4.Two years’ experience in a fundraising role, including resource planning and proposal writing, preferably with community-based organisations
5.Demonstrable experience in monitoring and evaluation
6.Proven experience of non-formal adult education, training and mentoring
7.Demonstrable experience in organisational development initiatives
8.Proven networking experience / 21.Experience in and knowledge of regional and international HIV and AIDS NGOs and networks
22.Experience of producing IEC materials on HIV and AIDS
23.Experience of working with community leaders and youth
Skills and knowledge / 9.Demonstrable ability to use participatory approaches
10.Proven understanding of HIV and AIDS as a developmental and human rights issue
11.Ability to transfer skills and knowledge through formal or informal training and skill-sharing in identifying and introducing or incorporating emerging approaches to HIV and AIDS programming and strengthening member organisation structures
12.Excellent interpersonal, communications and report writing skills
13.Strong team player with a commitment to team building and a consensus-led approach to work
14.Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to work on own initiative, prioritise, meet deadlines and plan and implement own work with limited support
15.Fluency in English, Tonga and/or Ndebele
16.An ability to communicate with a wide range of people of different cultural, educational and socio-economic levels
17.Skills and ability to mainstream gender in all areas of work
Other / 18.A readiness to work with people with widely differing belief systems and personal circumstances, including people living with HIV
19.Demonstrable commitment towards the aims and objectives of the Basilwizi Trust and Progressio
20.Willingness to undertake road travel in Zimbabwe / 24.Valid Driving Licence

LOCATION AND LIVING CONDITIONS

The DW will be based at the Basilwizi Trust, in Binga.

The political and economic context in Zimbabwe is a complex one. Progressio carefully monitors the security situation in Zimbabwe and with reasonable precautions, deems it safe for DWs. Progressio keeps in regular contact with DWs and provides a mobile phone to ease communication in case of emergencies. Progressio pays for the SIM card, however DWs must pay their own bills for calls. With the dollarization of the economy, petty crimes and muggings have increased and reasonable care is needed, especially at night.

In spite of the challenging environment, Zimbabwe remains a relatively sophisticated city. It has an impressive range of facilities, including health facilities, private schools, restaurants, sports clubs, conference centres and shops. Fuel is expensive but is now available at most petrol filling stations.

PROGRESSIO'S TERMS AND CONDITIONS

*Placement

The placement is for three months. There is the possibility for this to be extended by mutual agreement between Progressio, the project partner and the DW. Any extension is dependent on the availability of funding.

*Reports

All Progressio DWs are required to produce regular reports during their placement. Progressio provides a standard format for reporting. Additionally, the DW will be requested to utilise, and report on, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) means of verification tools/surveys associated with Progressio’s Regular Impact and Capacity Assessment (RICA) monitoring and evaluation framework.

*Holidays

Progressio DWs are entitled to 20 days holiday per year (pro-rata), plus public and national holidays as relevant in Zimbabwe. DWs are also entitled to the time required to attend twice yearly meetings of the Progressio Zimbabwe Programme.

*Office hours

Normal working hours in Zimbabwe are from 8am - 5pm, five days per week. The DW must be prepared to be flexible and to work outside of these hours when required. Time off in lieu for overtime worked can be taken with agreement.

*Remuneration

The total remuneration for this placement is a monthly allowanceof USD$1848.00 per month, which is fixed and non-negotiable (this amount includes the living allowance and the accommodation allowance).

*Accommodation

Accommodation will be in Binga. An accommodation allowance is deposited into the DW’s account alongside their monthly living allowance, and from this they are expected to pay for their own accommodation expenses, including utility bills.

*Travel

Occasional visits to other regions within Zimbabwe may be required.

The living allowance is a monthly lump sum figure and is expected to cover: moderate cost of living in the country of placement; costs associated with dependants whether accompanying or not, and National Insurance/Social Security contributions or other provision for the future which a DW may have in their home country.

*Other benefits include