Vacancy Program Officer South Africa (based in the Johannesburg/Pretoria area)

Who we Are

CNV Internationaal is the international foundation of the Confederation of Trade Unions CNV in The Netherlands. We believe that everyone is entitled to 100% fair work. This is what we are committed to every day, together with our partner trade unions worldwide. We empower workers in the formal and informal economy through social dialogue in Africa, Latin America and Asia. CNV Internationaal stands for the right to fair work and a living wage for everyone. We aim to achieve this through our focus: social dialogue, labour rights including trade union freedom, improving youth employability and gender equality. We are active in several international supply chains: garments, sugar cane, palm oil, mining and cashew.

The focus of trade union work in South Africa will be on the mining sector. In the context of the mining sector, CNV Internationaal emphasises the importance of a fair and just transition: A transition that should implement new technologies for a greener economy but, at the same time, protect the affected workers across the globe. CNV Internationaal has experience in this sector in Peru, Bolivia, Colombia and Indonesia and aspires to extend its work to improve the labour rights of mining workers in South Africa. Globally, South Africa is an important exporter metals, including “critical” minerals which are crucial for the global energy transition: manganese, lithium, zinc, platinum, chromium, palladium, and nickel, among others. To identify opportunities for potential interventions by CNV Internationaal and its partners in South Africa, a study has been finalised this year to better understand the country's mineral mining value chain.

We are currently drafting our activities for our work in South Africa, in particular in the mineral mining supply chain, and are looking for a consultant/program officer to support us locally to kick-start our program in South Africa.

What will you do?

The study that has been conducted needs to be complemented by a mapping of the Trade Union-, and Social Dialogue landscape in South Africa. This will be your first assignment, in addition to helping us build a relevant network of partners and assist in further developing our intervention strategy and activities. You will be our “feet on the ground”.

You will work very closely with our South Africa program officer in the Netherlands and under the responsibility of our Regional Coordinator Africa.

You will assume the following responsibilities:

1.       Perform the Trade Union and Social Dialogue mapping (write the TOR, organize planning, budget and execute yourself)

2.      Organize (online) meetings with interesting potential partners

3.       Develop intervention strategy and activity plan, together with CNV Internationaal team, including cooperation with one or more South African trade unions.

4.      Represent CNV Internationaal at relevant events and meetings.

5.      Give presentations on CNV study findings.

6.      Build and maintain a relevant network of NGO’s, business and government agencies for our program in South Africa.  

7.       Coordinate and execute CNV Internationaal activities in South Africa.

8.      Draw up documents capitalizing on the strategies and experience of CNV and its partners in relation to the program in South Africa.

9.      Write articles related to the program's activities.

10.   Support the program's communication and visibility.

Who are you?

We are looking for you if you are both, analytical and pragmatic, and you can easily alternate between conducting research and coordinating activities with Trade Unions and other partners. You are familiar with Trade Unions and other stakeholders active in the mining industry of South Africa and value (remote) teamwork, whilst confidently carrying out activities independently. So are you pro-active, do you have affinity with labour rights and is your mission to improve and respect labour conditions of mine workers in South Africa, we’d love to hear from you!

You live in or close to Johannesburg and/or Pretoria and you are available per September 1st 2024 meeting the following requirements:

a.      Hold a Masters’ degree in Socio-economics, Organization/Business management, Development Sociology, International Trade or equivalent.

b.      At least five (5) years’ experience as a consultant/program officer including research and management.  

c.       Planning, coordination, functional management, group/meeting facilitation and teamwork skills.

d.      Experience of supporting the work of civil society organisations or trade unions.

e.      Good knowledge of the workings and dynamics of trade unions and civil society organisations in South Africa.

f.        Good research and writing skills.

g.    Willingness to travel within the country for meetings with companies, workers, trade unions and civil society organisations and other stakeholders in bilateral meetings and/or (inter)national conferences.

h.      Ability to operate flexibly, diplomatically, responsibly and with a sense of accountability in a multi-cultural, multi-stakeholder environment (with organisations having their own interests and specific organisational cultures).

i.        Knowledge of gender and the mineral mining value chain would be an asset.

j.        Computer skills, particularly in Excel, Word, Powerpoint, Canva, Internet, etc.

It’s nice if you:

·       Have experience with the central themes within CNV International's programs: social dialogue, labour rights in supply chains and living wage, employability of young people and gender equality;

·       Have experience in developing lobby and advocacy plans;

·       Have experience working with a Theory of Change;

·       Have a network in the field of international cooperation and/or international corporate social responsibility in South Africa.

What we offer

Working at CNV Internationaal is making social impact on a daily basis. It is challenging, and we are happy to offer something in return. What we offer:

·       A consultancy position for 24 hours per week.

·       A budget to cover operational and travel expenses. 

·       Training and exchange opportunities within the CNV Internationaal global program.

·       You will start with a 6-month consultancy contract. We can extend this contract after both parties' satisfaction.  

·       The possibility to contribute to our strategy and early interventions in the mining sector in South Africa.

·       A pleasant, open organizational culture where we learn from each other and where growth is appreciated.

·       Working closely with Trade Unions partners and CNV colleagues in The Netherlands.

Enthusiastic? Here’s how to apply

Does the vacancy match your ambition, experience and talents? Then respond before August 19th 2024  with your motivation letter and updated and signed curriculum vitae with contact details of three (3) professional references to Daantje Bras d.bras@cnv.nl with reference 'Program Officer South Africa'.

If you have substantive questions about the position, please contact our program officer Daantje Bras at d.bras@cnv.nl .

Our work in practice

Curious about what our work in the mining sector in other regions looks like in practice? These links will give you an idea:

·       Just transition in mining (cnvinternationaal.nl)

·       https://youtu.be/TPV_LNesMVU?feature=shared