ACCOUNTANT

Zambia Civic Education Association is a non governmental not for profit human rights organisation that promotes and advocates children’s rights. It is an equal opportunity employer.

Job Purpose:

To support the Finance and Administration Manager in carrying out the responsibilities of the Finance / Accounting Department.

Key Responsibilities and Duties:

The Accountant will work under the direct supervision of the Finance and Administration Manager and will be responsible for the following duties:

1. Ensure that all financial transactions are recorded and captured into Pastel in time and in full.
2. Prepare bank and cash account reconciliations on a monthly basis.
3. Prepare requisitions and process payments twice a month: mid-month and month-end and as and when required.
4. Systematically file all financial documentation.
5. Authorise Petty Cash disbursements and check through the Petty Cash schedule and receipts.
6. Update and verify ZCEA Assets Inventory and make sure all assets are up to date with insurance and other legal requirements.
7. Facilitate audit of ZCEA accounts.
8. Prepare financial statements for management, Board and cooperating partners.
9. Maintain financial records in compliance with donor requirements

1. Implementation of the (annual) Chart of Accounts according to different cooperating partners funding agreements.
2. Ensure that all activity funds given to programme people are settled in full and on time and also ensure that documentation is properly filed.
3. Take care and safe keeping of all ZCEA accountable documents.
4. Attend to administrative duties.
5. Maintenance of running balances on budgeted activities to avoid over expenditures.

Required Qualifications and experience:

• A recognized professional accounting qualification (minimum part qualified ACCA, NATECH.) A degree in accounting will be an added advantage.
• At least 3 years experience in financial management for international donor funded projects.
• Demonstrated ability to manage time and perform to strict deadlines.
• Experience with using Pastel Evolution Accounting Package.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Zambia Civic Education Association is a non governmental not for profit human rights organisation that promotes and advocates children’s rights. It is an equal opportunity employer.

Job Purpose:

Accountable for all aspects of the project’s management therefore, a thorough knowledge, skills and experience in all aspects of project management functions and children’s rights advocacy strategies are essential.

Core requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences.
• Knowledge and understanding of the normative content and implementation procedures of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
• At least 3 years working experience in a non governmental organization.
• Research skills essential.
• Excellent writing skills
• Possess excellent interpersonal and communications skills.
• Should be able and willing to travel extensively to all parts of the country.
• Be computer literate with good skills in Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access and other research related software packages.
• Organised and capable of handling many tasks
• Self motivated and capable of working with minimal supervision

Responsibilities:

• Provide technical support to the Child Rights Clubs that are in community, basic and high schools.
• Liaise with focal point persons for Child Rights Clubs in the Ministry of Education.
• Design, prepare and provide training for children and Child Rights Clubs adult supporters in schools and communities.
• Design and develop training, information education and communication materials for both children and the adult supporters taking into consideration materials for children and adults with special needs such as the visually impaired.
• Ability to develop and elaborate proposals and accompanying activity based budgets
• Ability to manage project budgets according to organisational internal controls and donor specification
• Undertake project planning, implementation and monitoring.
• Ensure proper utilization, care, security and accountability of all project resources.
• Liaise with appropriate stakeholders to achieve the project objectives.
• Maintain good rapport with all ZCEA stakeholders.

• Initiate and undertake research work

• Disseminate information generated by the organisation
• Provide technical support to other CSOs on children’s rights

Additional requirements:

• A diploma in project management will be an added advantage.
• Should have an interest in children’s rights.
• Must have a valid driver’s licence.

Personal Attributes

• High energy, results oriented.
• Ability to set and surpass goals
• Ability to involve and motivate stakeholders
• Well organised and thorough with close attention to detail and follow through
• Strategic, creative, progressive thinker
• Thrives in a fast paced work environment
• Focused and calm even under a lot of pressure
• Persuasive, analytical and innovative
• Adaptive and flexible
• Team player
• Honest, abhors fraud and corruption

Closing Date

All applications, accompanied by CVs, at least two (2) traceable referees, day time contact telephone numbers, must be addressed to the Executive Director and must reach her at no later than 20^th April 2012.

Only short listed candidates will be acknowledged.

]]> http://www.zamcivic.com.zm/wordpress/?feed=rss2&p=192 0 http://www.zamcivic.com.zm/wordpress/?p=189 http://www.zamcivic.com.zm/wordpress/?p=189#comments Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:22:52 +0000 admin http://www.zamcivic.com.zm/wordpress/?p=189

Finance and Administration Manager

Job Purpose: To oversee all aspects of financial, administration and human resources management and ensure that ZCEA’s policies and procedures are effectively implemented and complied with. Provide strategic support to the ZCEA Executive Manager and Board of Directors.

Key Responsibilities: Oversee all finance and accounting functions including budgeting; asset management; cash flow management; payroll; management reporting; financial, variance and accounts analysis; in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, financial policies and procedures of ZCEA, and all other applicable laws, rules and guidelines.

Full responsibilities and duties include:

• Coordinate financial management tasks, including: managing day to day accounting functions, regular cash verification, bank and balance sheets, account reconciliation, timely submission of financial reports to donors, etc.
• Provide oversight in preparation of financial statements and management reports.
• Establish internal financial and administrative procedure compatible with the Zambian laws and funding agencies.
• Establish internal controls necessary to ensure the smooth running of programmes and projects.
• Maintain financial records in compliance with donors’ requirements
• Coordinate and execute the management of staff administration in accordance with organisation’s policies and national laws
• Maintain upto date, accurate accounting system; including computer data entry and paper file system.
• Ensure the effective coordination of all finance and administrative functions through appropriate maintenance of records
• Safe guarding all movable and immovable properties and management of all financial resources for the organisation.
• Together with the Executive Director and the Programmes Manager contribute  to the  Management Team functions
• Should be overall responsible for initiating internal resource mobilization.

Qualifications:

• Full ACCA/CIMA. Associate member of any chartered institute of accountants not an affiliate. A Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance or related field will be an added advantage
• 3+ years of experience with financial management and accounting preferably in an NGO setting
• A member of ZICA

Skills:

• Hands‐on use of a variety of accounting software packages such as Sage Pastel Evolution
• Experience and demonstrated knowledge and extensive experience with various donors regulations and control systems preferred
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Excellent computer skills and must be familiar with Quickbooks
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines. Result oriented and organisational capacity.
• Ability to work with a team in a fast paced environment
• Analytical skills and decision making ability even in complex and sensitive situations
• Able to undertake capacity building of ZCEA finance and non‐finance staff
• Willing to spend long, highly interactive hours on detailed work that demands accuracy
• Fundraising skills
• Minimum 3 to 5 years in a senior financial management position
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision

ZCEA in collaboration with the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) trained nine (9) members of their Child Budget Network (CBN) and eight (8) local (district) levels in Access to Information (ATI) and Social Accountability Monitoring (SAM). This was on 14^th and 15^th March 2012 at Mika Loge in Lusaka.

The local level stakeholders represented Area Development Committees (ADCs), local authorities, and JCTR’s community facilitators in socio-economic justice. They came from Mambwe district in Eastern Province, Mongu in Western Province, Livingstone and Monze in Southern Province, Kasama in Northern Province and Ndola on the Copperbelt.

The training was conducted in order to raise awareness and increase knowledge among the CBN members and local level stakeholders on ATI and SAM. This was with a view to enhancing the advocacy capacity of the members and taking the access to information and social accountability advocacy campaign to the grassroots.

Mr. Geoffrey Chongo of JCTR giving a presentation at the Workshop

The training covered the background of the CBN and its objectives; Access to Information as a human right and a participation and accountability tool; decentralisation in Zambia; Social Accountability; the National Budget and Planning Process in Zambia; Stages of The Social Accountability System; and Access to Information in Zambia; the budgeting and planning process in Zambia and the Social Accountability System as a way forward.

Mr. Kafupi Banda,  ZCEA Chid Buget Project Officer facilitating a plenary session

The 17 participants unanimously agreed to combine efforts in creating grassroots demand for access to information and social accountability, and to initiate social accountability monitoring.

Some of participants at the Access to Information and Social Accountaboility Monitoring during group discusion

The participants resolved to pursue the following activities:

• Briefing meetings with provincial and district heads of government departments
• Targeting traditional, religious and other community leaders through meetings
• Engage the chiefs and their royal councils
• Use of  provincial and district coordinating committee meetings as forums for awareness raising and lobbying
• Hold small group meetings with local community members
• Hold discussions on community radio stations; including directly approaching stations managers.
• Using the local level forums of civil society organisations to raise awareness and begin campaigns
• The ward councillors to table ATI and SAM in full district council meetings
• Sensitise the community members through meetings
• Hold meetings with teachers and PTA

Daniel Sinjwala Libati 7th from right, middle row

ZCEA was this year privileged to be invited to attend and participate in the Africawide Movement for Children (AMC) General Meeting that was held at the Sarova Stanley Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya from the 1^st to 2^nd of March, 2012. ZCEA was represented at that meeting by its CFCAD project officer Mr. Daniel Libati. In those two days AMC held its general meeting with a total of 53 children’s rights activists from across Africa.  The AMC is a pan-African platform that was established in 2008 with the purpose of bringing child focused civil society organizations and individuals for collective action. The participants at that meeting comprised of mostly activists, the bulk of whom work in, for or are affiliated in one way or another to nongovernmental organizations, otherwise referred to as civil society organizations in the countries of Benin, Cameron, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somaliland, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia.

The first of that two days meeting was dedicated to reflections of where the Movement was coming from, where it was going and was also an opportunity for the various players involved too have a critical look at the various activities that had been undertaken since 2008. Among the various discussions held during this session were those around the theme of an ‘Africa fit for Children’ based on in country reports from countries that had been tasked to delve into the issue. The afternoon of that day was dedicated to discussions around the regional, African, environment for children’s rights work, funding opportunities, networking and capacity building needs among and for the actors of this kind of work within the African region.

The second and last day of the meeting saw participants discuss the Movement’s key strategic and operational documents that will inform its work over the next three years, i.e. 2012 to 2014, the anticipated budget for that work and also its guiding rules and regulations, i.e. its Constitution. The last half of that day was dedicated to the election of Board Custodians which included the positions of President and Vice President. Once chosen that leadership was expected to dedicate itself to guiding the work of the Movement over the next 2 years until at which time that the next General Meeting will be held.

As the meeting drew to a close and after a very open and deliberative session, the position of President was scooped by Mr. George Nyakora, of the SOS-Kinderdorf International in Kenya, a renowned children’s rights activist while that of Vice President went Ms. Stella Ayo-Odongo of the Uganda Child Rights Network of Uganda. The other positions of Custodian, representing all the five major regions of Africa i.e. North, Central, West, East and Mr. MacBain Mkandawire of the Youth Net and Counseling organization of Malawi representing the South, the same region within which ZCEA operates.

In the end all actors present during that meeting were unanimous in their belief that the new Board of Custodians under the able leadership of Mr. George Nyakora, guided by the strategic plan and budget of 2012-2014 and the Movement’s new Constitution, would make significant strides in moving the Movement many steps closer to its vision of ‘An Africa fit for life, survival and development of children’.

As part of an external evaluation conducted with support from KNH, ZCEA’s CFCAD project held a half day Validation workshop at its Secretariat on Tuesday the 28^th of February, 2012. That workshop whose prime objective was to have stakeholders receive and make comments of the external evaluator’s draft report saw participation from ZCEA Secretariat staff, CFCAD project paralegals from Kitwe, Kabwe and Lusaka and representatives from the Victim Support Unit, the Department of Social Services at the Ministry of Community Development Mother and Child Health (MCDMCH) and the Paralegal Alliance Network (PAN).

Notable in the draft report were challenges encountered in the period under review, i.e. 2009-2011:

-          Children infrequently report cases possibly because of stigma and societal attitudes or fear of abuse on the part of children.

-          Societal attitudes that place women in subordinate positions.

-          Challenges arose both from the perspective of paralegals and also from the organization with regards to such things as the size of the stipend, amount of time spent by paralegals at the desks, infrastructure at the desks, general inadequacy of funding upon which NGOs like ZCEA operate.

-          Getting educated paralegals weighted against persons in the community with regards to mobility of the former.

-          Lack of enforcement of laws and policies e.g. children in conflict with the law or children that experience abuse.

Also notable from the draft report where recommendations made by the external evaluator:

-          Need for advocacy for service training of police officers

-          Need for synergies between the CFCAD and Child Rights Clubs projects

-          Inconsistency in approach by ZCEA in giving money to participants to workshops held under different projects needed to be addressed

-          Need for pro-activity in dealing with emerging issues such as that of child trafficking

-          Need for an analysis of power relations within the communities to be conducted

-          Monitoring and Evaluation should be addressed

ZCEA staff held a retreat from the 11^th to 12^th of February 2012 at Chaminuka Lodge in Chongwe. The retreat focused on strategizing on the ZCEA strategic plan and development of a Monitoring and Evaluation System.  The retreat allowed staff members to reflect on how best to align the organisation with the objectives in the strategic plan that are meant to ensure effectiveness in enhancing children’s rights in Zambia.

Reflecting on her experience at the retreat, ZCEA Executive Director Judith Mulenga said that the retreat would begin the process of developing an M & E system which would be aligned to the current ZCEA strategic plan “three concepts emerged from this retreat; – Understanding, Team and Roles” – “they kept recurring throughout the retreat. As Executive Director this gave me great hope and confidence in the eventual outcome of the process. What more could an effective M & E system ask for but a full understanding of what we want to achieve as an organisation, how we want to achieve it and how to measure that? – How can an M & E system be operationalised but through team work? – How can the team work well without individuals understanding their roles?” she said. Kafupi Banda a member of staff shared that the openness that characterised the atmosphere brought him closer to everyone and home to his own work and place in ZCEA. “My hope is that I can contribute my all to the mission for a living and useful performance based management and M&E system for ZCEA”.

The ZCEA Vice Chairperson Mr. Chris Chirwa, ZCEA member Kiss Abraham and Mary Chavula from Save the children also participated in the retreat. The retreat which further served to provide an opportunity to look at ZCEA’s strategic plan for the period June 2010 to June 2015 was funded by Save the Children.

Zambia Civic Education Association is a non governmental not for profit human rights organisation that promotes and advocates children’s rights. It is an equal opportunity employer.

Core requirements:

• A grade 12 school certificate
• Good traceable references
• At least 3 years experience
• Good  writing skills
• Possess excellent interpersonal and communications skills.
• Organised and capable of handling many tasks
• Self motivated and capable of working with minimal supervision

Responsibilities:

• Operate and maintain organisational vehicles in a safe manner in accordance with the ZCEA Vehicle Policy and the Zambian Highway Code with a focus on safety and staff courtesy
• Report to the supervisor on required maintenance, servicing and repairs to vehicles
• Ensure logbooks and mileage are kept for every trip made
• Report accidents even small dents or cracks
• Preparing accident and incident reports necessary
• Make deliveries and collection of items as required by ZCEA
• When required, drive members of staff to projects sites and other meetings
• Ensure that all vehicles are road worthy. Coordinate and ensure necessary quality repairs
• Ensure that vehicles are kept clean at all times
• Ensure the security of vehicles
• Assist with administrative tasks such as banking errands
• Perform daily pre-trip and post-trip vehicle inspections
• Perform minor maintenance tasks on the vehicles when necessary
• Fuel the vehicles when requested
• Providing safety briefings to staff
• And providing other services as requested by management
  • Ensure inventory of vehicle tools and accessories are in place and accounted for.
  • Able to understand and work according to instructions carefully

• Ensure that organisation’s mail is collected and delivered to the right place timely.

Additional requirements:

• Basic vehicle mechanics knowledge
• Work experience in an NGO

Personal Attributes

• High energy, results oriented.
• Honest, focused and calm even under a lot of pressure
• Well organised and thorough with close attention to detail and follow through
• Thrives in a fast paced work environment
• Adaptive and flexible
• Team player

Closing Date

All applications, accompanied by CVs, at least two (2) traceable referees, day time contact telephone numbers, must be addressed to the Executive Director and must reach her at no later than Wednesday 29^th February 2012.

Only short listed candidates will be acknowledged.

Zambia Civic Education Association is a non governmental not for profit human rights organisation that promotes and advocates children’s rights. It is an equal opportunity employer.

Core requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences.
• Knowledge and understanding of the normative content and implementation procedures of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
• At least 3 years working experience in a non governmental organization.
• Research skills essential.
• Excellent writing skills
• Possess excellent interpersonal and communications skills.
• Should be able and willing to travel extensively to all parts of the country.
• Be computer literate with good skills in Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access and other research related software packages.
• Organised and capable of handling many tasks
• Self motivated and capable of working with minimal supervision

Responsibilities:

• Provide technical support to the Child Rights Clubs that are in community, basic and high schools.
• Liaise with focal point persons for Child Rights Clubs in the Ministry of Education.
• Design, prepare and provide training for children and Child Rights Clubs adult supporters in schools and communities.
• Design and develop training, information education and communication materials for both children and the adult supporters taking into consideration materials for children and adults with special needs such as the visually impaired.
• Ability to develop and elaborate proposals and accompanying activity based budgets
• Ability to manage project budgets according to organisational internal controls and donor specification
• Undertake project planning, implementation and monitoring.
• Ensure proper utilization, care, security and accountability of all project resources.
• Liaise with appropriate stakeholders to achieve the project objectives.
• Maintain good rapport with all ZCEA stakeholders.

• Initiate and undertake research work

• Disseminate information generated by the organisation
• Provide technical support to other CSOs on children’s rights

Additional requirements:

• A diploma in project management will be an added advantage.
• Should have an interest in children’s rights.
• Must have a valid driver’s licence.

Personal Attributes

• High energy, results oriented.
• Ability to set and surpass goals
• Ability to involve and motivate stakeholders
• Well organised and thorough with close attention to detail and follow through
• Strategic, creative, progressive thinker
• Thrives in a fast paced work environment
• Focused and calm even under a lot of pressure
• Persuasive, analytical and innovative
• Adaptive and flexible
• Team player
• Honest, abhors fraud and corruption

Closing Date

All applications, accompanied by CVs, at least two (2) traceable referees, day time contact telephone numbers, must be addressed to the Executive Director and must reach her at no later than Wednesday 29^th February 2012.

Only short listed candidates will be acknowledged.

]]> http://www.zamcivic.com.zm/wordpress/?feed=rss2&p=78 0 http://www.zamcivic.com.zm/wordpress/?p=69 http://www.zamcivic.com.zm/wordpress/?p=69#comments Sun, 08 Jan 2012 17:08:43 +0000 admin http://www.zamcivic.com.zm/wordpress/?p=69

Ending Corporal Punishment Project

 Mrs Zyneb Jammeh, First Lady in The Gambia said: “Discipline, without doubt, is quite cardinal in raising children.  Nevertheless, policy makers and parents should all make sure that the enforcement of disciplinary values does not marginalize or brush aside the rights of the child.  Similarly, violence against children has no place in society and should not be entertained.  Violence would only make children become social misfits and a menace to society and its development”. Quote from Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children Africa Special Report April 2007.

Missed Opportunity to Prohibit Violence against Children at the NCC

Prohibiting violence against children including corporal punishment even in the home is a foundation for child protection. However,Zambiamissed an opportunity to do this when the NCC watered down what had been provided for in Article 42 of the Mungomba Draft Constitution instead of strengthening the provisions. Article 42 of the Mungomba Draft Constitution provided for children’s rights to survive, develop, to participate and to protection thereby adhering to international minimum human rights standards. The NCC removed most progressive parts of Article 42 in its Article 50 which replaced article 42 and relegated these to subsidiary laws.

Kenya on the other hand demonstrated progressiveness and genuine respect for children’s rights to be protected against violence by becoming the second African country after Tunisia to offer full protection of children against violence in its Constitution. The new Constitution of Kenya, which came into force in August 2010, provides for every person’s right not to be subjected to any form of violence from either public or private sources and specifically not to be subjected to corporal punishment or treated or punished in a cruel, inhuman or degrading manner (article 29).

During the deliberations at the NCC protection of children against corporal punishment in all settings raised a lot of dust. Excuses made at the NCC for not prohibiting corporal punishment and other forms of violence against children including in the homes were that corporal punishment is the way Africans discipline their children. Another excuse was that religion permits ‘reasonable’ chastisement. Yet another excuse was that, ‘We are who we are because we were beaten as children.’ IsKenyaa less African country? less religious? And are Kenyans less achievers than Zambians? WhatKenyahas done is an earnest expression of political commitment to work towards preventing violence and to protect children’s dignity and physical integrity whether they are in a public place or in their homes. It is also a strong message to all Kenyans that children are rights holders in their own right and that they are not possessions of their parents like other objects in the home.

Protection against violence is a fundamental human right. However, as observed by the former Chairperson of the Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, Mr Jean-Baptise Zoungrana, ‘thousands of homes have become real laboratories of violence against children,’ which is unacceptable. Children suffer most violence in the homes by the very people that are supposed to protect them and there is need for government to prohibit violence against children.

It is not surprising that a group of children in Kalingalinga when asked to pick a place where they feel safe picked the church first, next a play area and the streets the third. The schools and homes in that order were the last two places they felt safe to be. A society that is violent towards children is violent in many ways. We owe it to ourselves to stop violence of any kind.

From the vehement objections that characterised the debates on prohibition of corporal punishment at the NCC it is clear that leaders in this country believe in violence hence such assertions as, ‘The violence in our political party can not be compared to that other political party’s violence,’ as if there is any justifiable violence. No violence is justifiable no matter the type, scope or degree and by whom. Any form of violence should be prevented and when it occurs should be condemned in the strongest terms. The children ofZambianeed positive role models and do not deserve to inherit a violent country.

ZCEA ‘s Campaigns to End Corporal Punishment

ZCEA has been campaigning for the total abolition of corporal punishment of children either as a discipline tool or as a child rearing tool. Our campaign is two pronged; advocating through lobbying for the prohibition of corporal punishment by law and campaigning the elimination of the practice of corporal punishment.

For example, from a legal reform stand point, ZCEA submitted to the NCC that it maintains in its entirety article 42 of the Mungomba Draft Constitution on children. ZCEA rejected the watered down article 50 in the NCC Draft Constitution because the Mungomba Draft Constitution article 42 offered a more comprehensive protection of children and adheres to international human rights minimum standards as provided for in both the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child to both which Zambia is a state party (UN CRC 6^th December 1991 and ACRWC 10 December 2008).

The NCC suggested leaving the comprehensive protection of children to subsidiary laws. However, since the Constitution is the supreme law of our land and the situation of children in Zambia is dire and since children make up more than half of the Zambian population, there is more protection to be gained in the provisions the Mungomba draft provided for to be entrenched in our Constitution rather than leave the comprehensive protection of children to subsidiary laws.

Regional Experts Consultation on Protection of Children from Violence in Africa ZCEA was represented, through its Executive Director who is also the East and Southern African Representative on the NGO Advisory Council to the UN Study on Violence against Children and its Board Chairperson, Mr. Enoch Mulembe who is also the Zambian Human Rights Commission Director, at a regional experts consultation on protection of children from violence in Africa held in Addis Ababa on the 13^th  and 14^th of December 2010. The consultation meeting was attended by policy makers, practitioners, civil society and academics from 10 selected African countries. Also in attendance were representatives from the AU Social Affairs Department and the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. The meeting was an opportunity the experts to reflect and engage in debate on the steps needed to strengthen national legal and policy instruments concurrent with the appropriate provisions at various levels conform with the rights protected in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

From a social change stand point, ZCEA has been engaging with parents in communities and teachers in schools to campaign for adoption of positive disciplining methods. To support these engagements ZCEA has been collecting voices of children on the issue such as the children in Kalingalinga. ZCEA has also used the opportunities in the media to highlight why it is wrong to hit children as a form of discipline.