Programmes Officer Equal Education South Africa

Equal Education South Africa
is looking to welcome new colleagues on regional exchange!

About Equal Education

Equal Education is a movement of learners, parents, teachers, and community members working for quality and equality in South African education, through analysis and activism. Equal Education is organised in five provinces: Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and the Western Cape. Equal Education works by identifying systemic and localised problems affecting the quality of education and addresses these problems through local and national campaign; a commitment to robust political education and campaign strategizing with members; and building a strong research base through primary and secondary research.

A democratic movement, EE’s National Council, made up of learners, parents, post-school youth, and experienced activists, along with its General Secretary and Deputy General Secretary are elected at our National Congress; hosted every 3 years. The National Congress along with the National Council is mandated to direct the work EE undertakes during each 3-year period.

Equal Education’s Culture
Equal Education aspires to be a place where all our members become conscious and active participants in society who strive to resist patriarchy, tribalism, ageism, sexism, racism, and other forms of discriminatory practices that operate in our homes, communities and places of work.

As a member of staff, one must commit to upholding EE’s principles for a safe and welcoming work environment. Our principles aim to create an environment that enables growth, is inclusive and safe for all who pass through the organisation.

PROGRAMMES OFFICER

PURPOSE

The position is within the Office of the General Secretary. The Programme Officers play an important role in Equal Education’s (EE) advocacy and activism. Their work is informed and guided by the lived experiences of the movement’s members. The Officer mobilises resources for the movement to achieve its goals.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Organisational work

• Resource Mobilization to further EE’s strategic advocacy activities in line with the organizational vision 2028.
• Together with the General Secretary, lead the development of long-term strategies to achieve long term goals for EE.
• Design and implement adequate indicators, surveys, and monitoring tools for the evaluation of programmes and campaigns. Promote knowledge management and institutionalisation of past experiences.
• Strategies and proposal writing from their host organization and explore opportunities for national and regional collaborations, projects, and programs.
• Together with the Fundraising Department, enhance EE’s endowment contributions and explore opportunities for institutional sustainability.
• Together with the Finance Department, ensure that budgets are cost-effective and realistic and aligned with organisational fundraising and other planning.

Office of the General Secretary

• Assist and contribute to furthering the department’s goals, objectives in line with EE vision 2028 & congress resolutions.
• Strong administrative support to the General Secretary, Deputy General Secretary & Governance Coordinator within a fast-paced environment.

Governance work

• Work closely with EE board members from different membership spaces (eg. Parents, learners, professionals)
• Assist with building and capacitating a strong board membership at EE with programmatic and administrative work.

Campaign work

• Provide campaign support to all provinces and ensure campaign synergies across the provinces.

Fundraising

• Assist annual fundraising planning process and develop effective strategies for achieving those targets. Ensure that fundraising targets are met.
• Network building and strengthening activities and collaboration with the partner organizations.
• Develop fundraiser relationships and retention of relationships. This includes the development of new donors.

Exchange

• Exchange participants will seek out opportunities to collaborate and engage with partner work, as well as champion the Norec exchange through engagement with partnership organizations.
• Former exchange participants will share on best practices related to resource mobilization.

REQUIREMENTS

• A university degree – preferably at postgraduate level in Education or Social Sciences.
• Three years’ work experience in the same or a similar role.
• Strong writing and editing experience.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills.
• Knowledge of the South African education system and education policy and previous experience in a social movement, community-based organisation or public interest law centre would be beneficial.
• Proficient in MS Office and G-suite.
• Must be able to work efficiently and independently, and to manage multiple projects concurrently.
• Applicants must be between the ages of 18-30 years old.

THE EXCHANGE
This opportunity is part of the 2025 regional exchange between The Youth Empowerment and Transformation Trust in Zimbabwe, the Zambian National Education Coalition in Zambia and Equal Education in South Africa, supported by the Norwegian Agency for Exchange Cooperation (Norec).

The exchange will last for a period of 14 months (February 2025 – April 2026), with 12 months abroad in South Africa followed by 2 months follow-up work with your ‘sending’ organization; ZANEC in Zambia.

Through international exchange, the overall objective is to empower young people to have the agency and means to meaningfully participate in the pursuit of access to quality and inclusive education for all.

The following expenses will be covered by Equal Education:

• Housing costs, including gas, electricity, water, etc.
• Travel insurance and health insurance for the whole exchange, including during the training period.
• Monthly stipend/salary.
• Travel costs to and from your home country, and to and from mandatory Norec Preparatory and Homecoming trainings.
• Departure/start-up funds that may cover passport fees, visas, necessary vaccinations, work permits, etc.