About Sonke 

Founded in 2006, Sonke is a women’s rights organisation that is committed to feminist principles, using a rights-based and gender transformative approach to achieve human rights and gender justice. Our vision is a poverty-free world in which women, children, men and gender non-conforming individuals enjoy equitable, caring, healthy and happy relationships that contribute to the development of gender just and democratic societies. Sonke strengthens governments, civil society and citizen’s capacity to advance gender justice and women’s rights, prevent gender-based violence and reduce the spread of HIV and the impact of AIDS, and in this way contribute to social justice and the elimination of poverty. (http://www.genderjustice.org.za/) 

About the Position

The Senior Trainer is responsible for providing Gender Equality and Youth inclusion knowledge, skills to adolescents and Youth in and out of school, and to Community Based Organisation representatives, including Government Departments, especially the Department of Education (DOE), the Department of Social Services (DSD), the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the South African Police Services (SAPS). The Senior Trainer will also provide capacity building support and mentoring to the trained Youth Ambassadors and other Community Action Team members. They will also work with relevant stakeholders to enhance the enablement of Youth’s agency to access SRHR and prevent GBV.

They will further provide training and technical support on how to engage the targeted community in activities that change society’s knowledge, attitude and behaviour that will lead to the promotion of equality amongst learners, including the promotion of Sexual Health and Reproductive Rights of Adolescents Youth.

Key duties and responsibilities

Training of Social Services Professionals and Community Based organisation representatives 

• Plan, recruit and facilitate the training of Ambassadors (Change Agents) and Community Action Teams and Community Based Organisations such as Traditional Leaders, Faith Based Leaders, Community Influencers including parents and caregivers.
• Work with Youth to undertake youth-led advocacy and implementation of localised GBV laws in the province

Recruitment 

• Recruit Youth and other participants for workshops.
• Recruit Youth out of school for community dialogues. 
• Recruit participants for project research related activities. 
• Recruit participants to participate in the media project related activities. 
• Recruitment of learners & CBO’s representatives (in selected sites).
• Facilitate some activities after school pending on the understanding with the school.
• Recruit participants for equitable parenting and gender violence prevention programs. 

Support Community sessions, GBV forums and CBO’s 

• Establish and strengthen the Youth Ambassadors forum.
• Support and Monitor Parenting sessions. 
• Ensure monthly GBV and SRHR meetings are carried out.
• Attend all scheduled meetings on a weekly basis. 

Community Mobilisation 

• Provide inputs to formative research conducted by RMEL, including identifying communities to work in, focusing on areas in which Sonke is already active or in which new CAT branches are going to be established.
• Identify ‘Youth settings’ within those communities, such as schools, taverns and churches through community mapping exercises.

Community Events 

• Liaise with Community Leaders for the recruitment of larger community events.
• Conducting community events such as dialogues, community imbizos. 
• Secure expert speakers for public events. 

Facilitation of Sonke dialogues and workshops 

• Prepare logistics for the training. 
• Facilitate SSP’s & CBO’s training as per the planned activities.
• Conduct and administer M&E tools.
• Support the provincial manager to facilitate provincial stakeholder`s training and meetings. 
• Administer referral system.

IEC Talks

• Conduct IEC talks at different places as and when need arises.
• Distributing IEC materials such as Access to Justice, Equitable Parenting, Gender and SRHR pamphlets.
• Mural painting

Reporting 

• Record one on one reports.
• Collate all CAT reports.
• Timely collation and submission of monthly activity reports.
• Send data evidence to the designated M&E staff member.

Administration 

• Ensure that you are familiar with Finance, Administration and Procurement procedures and ensure that these are consistently adhered to.
• Ensure requisitions, quotations and payments are prepared in line with the payments processes. 
• Ensure that all M&E are correctly completed and submitted timeously. 

 General 

• Facilitate a smooth exit from the target area at the end of the project period. 
• Other related tasks as assigned.
• Attending all staff meetings, staff retreats, staff trainings and international meetings as required.

Qualifications and experience 

• Matric and a University Degree in Health Sciences – gender studies, political science, or another field
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in the field of HIV/AIDS & reproductive health, the prevention of gender-based violence and community mobilisation. 
• Good knowledge of the Public, Private and NGO sectors in South Africa. Expertise in training Professionals on Parenting, Gender, HIV/AIDS & reproductive health, gender, social cohesion, advocacy, and community mobilisation. 
• Proficiency in African languages 
• Driver’s licence is required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Facilitation skills.
• Presentation skills.
• Communication – the ability to express yourself clearly and concisely.
• Relationship management and can interact at all levels. 
• Report writing skills.
• Ability to prepare and give training.
• Ability to make presentations.
• Ability to work under pressure.

Qualities 

• Confident, assertive communicator who can work comfortably with diverse groups of people and across all levels.
• Attention to detail.
• Able to prioritise work and manage deadlines.
• Innovative and creative, able to see new opportunities. 
• Planning and time management – meets deadlines. 
• Reflective and open to learning.

To Apply 

• Interested applicants should submit their Curriculum Vitae, and a motivation letter detailing your experience and contact details of 3 referees to hiring@genderjustice.org.za; the closing date is 20 May 2024. 
• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview. If you are not contacted by 30 June 2024, please consider your application unsuccessful.
• Sonke is committed to transformation and encourages previously disadvantaged individuals, individuals living with disabilities and young people to apply.  All applications will be considered with the understanding that in terms of Sonke’s employment equity plan, preference will be given to candidates from the designated groups, provided the experience and qualifications criteria are met. 
• Sonke reserves the right not to make an appointment.