Junior Advisor – Violence Prevention for Peaceful and Inclusive Communities (VPPIC) Programme – Multi Stakeholder Collaboration

Reports to: Programme Manager

Duration: Until 30 June 2027

BACKGROUND

The position is embedded within the Violence Prevention for Peaceful and Inclusive Communities (VPPIC) Programme, a German technical cooperation initiative emphasizing on early intervention, particularly in early childhood development (ECD) and caregiving environments within the violence prevention sector. The programme seeks to foster a multi-stakeholder and systemic approach to enhance the structural conditions necessary for evidence-informed, gender-relevant early violence prevention interventions across South Africa.

Commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) collaborates with the Department of Basic Education and further South African partners to implement the programme.

The VPPIC works closely with the DBE, which is responsible for providing holistic support to ECD and school-based contexts, setting standards, and fostering partnerships with civil society and the private sector. Additional partners include the Department of Social Development, the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, local government, and various multi-stakeholder and research networks active in violence prevention.

The programme focuses on early prevention to break intergenerational cycles of violence, particularly in caregiving environments for children, ECD, and school contexts, while exploring the intersections between violence against women and children. The gender-responsive early childhood crime and violence prevention objective will be achieved through three main outputs:

1) Localised implementation: aimed at the exemplary development of evidence-informed models to improve early prevention in care services for children aged 0 and 12 (target group) and their caregivers (parents, relatives, educators, social workers etc.) through a comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable manner at the local level of municipalities or neighbourhoods,

2) Multi-stakeholder collaboration: to improve coordination between different ministries and civil society networks for gender-responsive, early prevention of violence, incorporating learnings from localised implementation at Output 1

3) Institutional Capacity Building: to strengthen the institutional capacities of state and civil society actors with responsibility for the early prevention of violence.

General Responsibilities

The Junior Advisor will support the programme’s objectives, with a specific focus on Output 2, Multi-stakeholder Collaboration and Coordination support. This role is essential in fostering effective coordination between government and civil society actors advocating for enhancements in the early intervention, gender-responsive, and evidence-informed violence prevention sector. The aim is to shift the narrative towards prevention and strengthen collaborative efforts in this field. Aligned with the objectives of key partners and stakeholders, the Junior Advisor will provide strategic guidance and support to enhance early intervention mechanisms for violence prevention. In partnership with the Department of Basic Education, the programme’s political partner, the Junior Advisor will help foster a collaborative approach that contributes to peaceful and inclusive communities in South Africa.

Specific Tasks

Working as part of the technical VPPIC team, the role of the Junior Advisor will be to support the coordination and implementation of the following processes:

Multi Stakeholder collaboration:

  • Support with facilitation of multi-stakeholder dialogue and cross-sectoral coordination of relevant state and non-state actors and co-develop a structured framework for inter-governmental and civil-society collaboration (including relevant umbrella organisations) on early violence and GBV prevention.
  • Provide technical support to stakeholders for incorporating gender-responsive early violence prevention strategies and initiatives.
  • Offer technical support and assistance to national and regional multistakeholder structures that implement evidence informed violence prevention initiatives e.g. Violence Prevention Forum (VPF).
  • Support with the analysis of lessons learnt from other outputs within the programme and ensure that these insights inform national policies, strategies and collaborative actions.
  • Where relevant, organise training sessions and workshops for stakeholders on early violence prevention and multi-stakeholder collaboration and enhance capacity for gender-responsive programming within relevant ministries and networks.
  • Support the Violence Prevention Forum (VPF) through strategic and technical advice and support and with overseeing grant implementation for VPF activities.
  • Co-manage short-term experts, as needed, to provide targeted support for multi-stakeholder coordination efforts.
  • Support consultations in the violence prevention sector to develop resourcing recommendations for sustainable gender responsive violence prevention programmes
  • General obligations

The Junior Advisor is expected to fulfil the following general obligations:

  • Be familiar and up to date with GIZ planning, implementation and reporting procedures.
  • Be familiar with other VPPIC work packages, concepts and status of implementation and know the corresponding advisors and partners.
  • Always represent the interests of the GIZ and the VPPIC project in a professional manner, according to the GIZ corporate principles and VPPIC’s modes of working
  • Carry out assigned tasks/assignments in the interest of both the VPPIC as well as the GIZ in general.
  • Form part of the VPPIC team and perform other duties and tasks in the interest of the programme, on the request of its management.
  • Required Qualifications, Competences and Experience
  • Qualifications
  • University degree in the field related to the programme objectives: Gender Studies, ECD, Criminology, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Public Administration, or other related fields relevant to cross-disciplinary thinking.

Professional Experience

  • At least 2 years professional experience in coordinating multi-stakeholder collaboration for effective implementation of joint programming for development outcomes.
  • Experience in supporting (e.g., through research) implementation of violence/GBV prevention measures.
  • First experience in individual and organisational capacity development interventions within international development cooperation
  • Other Knowledge, Additional Competencies:
  • A solid knowledge of inter-governmental relations, and functions of different spheres of government in South Africa as well as with civil society within the field of action
  • Ability to interact with governmental and civil society officials at a senior level and excellent collaborating and networking skills.
  • An understanding of and professional experience with intersectional feminism and gender-transformative approaches, in particular in violence/GBV prevention
  • A sound knowledge of the landscape of GBV prevention and ECD actors in South Africa and the relationships within the sector.
  • Strong interpersonal and intercultural skills.
  • Excellent writing and communication skills.
  • Team player with efficient and result-oriented work ethics, strategic orientation and the ability to work independently.
  • A very good knowledge of ICT technologies and computer applications
  • Self-driven, quick to learn and can-do attitude and willingness to participate creatively in ideas-sharing spaces.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The position will be based at the GIZ offices in Hatfield, Pretoria. The willingness for business trips in the region is expected.

The contract period for the position is until June 2027 in line with commissioning period of the project.

At GIZ, you will be offered global network and an atmosphere that is characterised by diversity, respect, and genuine equal opportunities. Gender equality promotion is a matter of course for us.

GIZ is a signatory of the Diversity Charter. Recognition, appreciation and inclusion of diversity in the company are important to us. All employees shall be valued - regardless of gender and gender identity, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, social background, age or sexual orientation.

GIZ would like to increase the proportion of employees with disability. Applications from persons with disabilities are most welcome.

The successful candidate will be expected to start full-time employment with GIZ on a fixed-term contract as soon as possible.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Suitable candidates should apply for this position by submitting:

  • A motivation letter (max. 1 page) stating why they should be the preferred candidate, the value added they will bring to the project and their desired salary range.
  • This should be accompanied by a detailed CV and indicating their nationality.

Applications should be submitted to: recruit-pretoria@giz.de, with the email subject line “Application of Junior Advisor: Violence Prevention for Peaceful and Inclusive Communities” for the attention of Head of Human Resource.   

Closing date for applications: 11 February 2025.

Only shortlisted candidates will be informed.

Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.