Temporary Technical Advisor – Violence Prevention for Peaceful and Inclusive Communities (VPPIC) Programme

Salary Band 4T

Reports to: Programme Manager

Duration: 5 Months

 

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 Department of Basic Education (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 Technical Advisor will support the programme’s objectives, with a specific focus on coordinating the partnership activities with VPPIC’s political partner, DBE; closely cooperating with the two (2) Directorates: School Safety and ECD. This role is essential in supporting the development and maintenance of policies, strategies and programs aimed at ensuring nurturing, safe and secure learning environments and the establishment of sustainable partnerships for learners, educators and all relevant players.

Specific Tasks

Working in tandem with the VPPIC Output 3 Lead, the Technical Advisor will as well be part of the programme's technical team - seconded to DBE. The role of the Technical Advisor will be to support the following processes:

Coordination and support to implementation:

  • Support in the coordination and implementation of agreed VPPIC-DBE partnership activities within the School Safety and Early Childhood Development (ECD) units.
  • Backstop the process towards undertaking of the VPPIC-DBE workshop for finalisation of the programme’s Theory of Change (ToC).
  • Support the School Safety Directorate in monitoring the implementation of policies, strategies and programmes to ensure safe and secure learning environments – such that a rights culture including gender equity and an ethos of respect and non-violence are promoted.
  • Contribute to the monitoring and implementation of the National School Safety Framework.
  • Maintain sustainable partnerships on school safety and creating safety nets for vulnerable children – cooperate and liaise with: Provincial Education Departments, National government departments, Universities, Research Organizations as well as NGOs and Civic Organizations.
  • Support with coordination and undertaking of the VPPIC-DBE working session to tease out institutionalisation of the Child Safeguarding and Positive Discipline.
  • Support efforts for the adaptation of the Primary Schools version of the Gender-Responsive Pedagogy for Early Childhood Education (GRP4EC) into the ECD space.
  • Support efforts for developing a guideline for screening children vulnerable to violence and a guideline for referral to service providers.
  • Backstop baseline work to explore establishment of governance structures for ECD centres – taking que from existing frameworks.
  • Coordinate VPPIC-DBE efforts in the scope of institutionalising the Care and Support for Teaching and Learning (CSTL) Toolbox.
  • Facilitate effective communication and coordination between VPPIC and DBE and other relevant partners involved in early prevention of violence.

General obligations

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

  • Provide general logistical and administrative support where required with regard to the coordination of meetings, workshops, including virtual engagements (minutes, Terms of Reference (ToR), preparation of reports and articles, presentations)
  • 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 th                 e corresponding advisors and partners.
  • 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.

Required Qualifications, Competences and Experience

Qualifications

  • A three-year relevant (NQF Level 6) post matric qualification in the social/human sciences (a relevant postgraduate qualification will be an added advantage).

Professional Experience

  • At least three (3) years’ experience working in the field of violence prevention, early childhood development and/or safety in schools.
  • Substantial knowledge and understanding of how government works and experience working with partners and other government departments within the South African context.
  • Understanding of the current education and/or school safety policies and trends.
  • Knowledge of the ECD landscape and prevalent violence and GBV trends.
  • Experience with strategies and programmes to ensure a safe and secure learning environment in schools.
  • An understanding of government structures and management of partnerships.

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 across various levels and excellent collaborating and networking skills.
  • An understanding of and professional experience with intersectional feminism and gender-transformative approaches, in violence/GBV prevention
  • A sound knowledge of the landscape of school safety and relevant actors in South Africa, as well as 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 DBE offices in Pretoria, with regular engagements with the VPPIC team at the GIZ offices in Hatfield, Pretoria. The willingness for business trips in the country is expected.

The contract period for the position is for 5 months.

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 Temp Technical Advisor: Violence Prevention for Peaceful and Inclusive Communities” for the attention of Head of Human Resource.         

Closing date for applications: 28 February 2025.

Only shortlisted candidates will be informed.

Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.