Job Description

Background
Nal’ibali (isiXhosa for “here’s the story”) seeks to spark and embed a culture of reading in children from birth to 12 years of age across South Africa by cultivating enticing reading content in all South African languages.

We are seeking six dynamic individuals with exceptional training skills to assist with the implementation of a USAID-funded programme in the Msunduzi Municipality in the uMgungundlovu District of KZN. The programme will strive to improve the early learning outcomes and school readiness of children from the local communities. The activities will be focussed on supporting families, early childhood educators and other community members engaging with young children. Each Literacy Mentor will be coordinating a team of Story Sparkers to support implementation.

Key Responsibilities
Training Plan, coordinate and run training sessions for parents, caregivers, ECD practitioners, and community volunteers, incl. play-based learning, book sharing, story time with children and literacy development. Support training through video screenings at the local hubs, WhatsApp bots and parent network meetings. Work with Story Sparkers to run parent workshops and coordinate events. Stakeholder Relations Build and nurture relationships with Nal’ibali project partners, incl. community leaders, education officials, ECD centres and project participants. Liaise with and attend stakeholder meetings. Ensure the Story Sparkers build strong relationships with parent groups and families.

Systems & Project Management Ensure the timely delivery of reading materials to programme participants and that all project-related documents are properly updated and maintained. Provide regular updates on project status and identify concerns, bottlenecks and challenges. Troubleshoot and develop remedial actions in consultation with the Chief of Party where required.

Monitoring and Evaluation Ensure Story Sparkers submit high-quality data on time.
Team Leadership Develop work plans and guidelines for Story Sparkers’ activities and support the LFs to ensure timely, high-quality and effective implementation. Ensure that the LFs adhere toNal’ibali’s values, policies and standard operating procedures.

Requirements
• At least three-years' experience in community-based project implementation
• Relevant NQF level 7 qualification
• Outstanding training and facilitation skills
• Sound understanding of literacy development/education in South Africa
• Track record of building successful partner relations
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and isiZulu
• Outstanding planning and organisational skills
• Good MS Office 365 computer literacy
• Previous line management experience would be ideal
• Driver’s license advantageous

Literacy Mentors must be based in the uMgungundlovu District for the duration of the contract and will be expected to work from Tuesday to Saturday mostly.

Closing date: 13 March 2024

Interested candidates should e-mail a motivational letter and CV to work@nalibali.org, with the subject line Literacy Mentor uMgungundlovu.

For more information, please have a look at our website, www.nalibali.org. If you do not hear from us by 15 April 2024, please consider your application unsuccessful.

uMgungundlovu District- KZN
2-year contract

Skills Required

• Skills related to field