Climate Justice National Project Officer
MACUA WAMUA Advice Office (MWAO) is a non-profit, civil society organisation working with mining affected communities across South Africa. Mining Affected Communities United in Action (MACUA) and Women Affected by Mining United in Action (WAMUA) branches which are located across the country, conduct social audits of mining companies` Social Labour Plans (SLP).
Women in rural and peri-urban areas, where MACUA and WAMUA organise, play key roles as food producers and caregivers. Many depend on natural resources for their livelihoods. So extreme climate-related droughts, flooding and other disasters disproportionately impact women’s health, food security and livelihoods. In places where mining and extractive industries produce greenhouse gases and associated chemicals that cause severe environmental problems, women often bear an unequal share of social, economic and environmental risk. Contamination of fertile farmland destroys their livelihoods and forces many women into transactional sex work; mining communities tend to have higher numbers of sex workers. Mining pollution also threatens women’s reproductive health, resulting in higher rates of miscarriage and children born with abnormalities.
Rural women’s health and livelihoods, which are directly affected by the quality of their environment are important entry points for grassroots organisations to help communities understand women’s rights and the impact environmental degradation, including climate change, has on their lives.
MWAO seeks to appoint a Climate Justice Project Officer on an initial 12-month contract, to be based in Johannesburg. The successful candidate will be required to travel to various locations around the country to set up and support local Climate Justice Teams (CJT) of MACUA & WAMUA branches.
Remuneration: Commensurate with experience.
The overall purpose of the Climate Justice Project Officer is to:
- ensure the needs, hopes and aspirations of rural, low-income and communities, women, girls, and vulnerable groups, who are impacted by mining activities, are reflected in policies and practices related to natural resources and climate justice.
- strengthen the capacity of MACUA and WAMUA branches in affected communities to protect their lands and livelihoods from destruction by build strong resilient organisational structures.
- strengthen the ability of mining affected communities to collect and record data and information which can be used as both an evidence base, but also as a means of developing their own knowledge of the impacts of climate and to identify the structural pillars which enables their continued exposure to the impacts of climate change.
The Climate Justice Project Officer will undertake the following responsibilities:
- Writing project reports, documenting project development processes, and recording the minutes of project meetings.
- Conducting research and policy analysis in support of the project.
- Arranging and conducting capacity building programmes to mentor and support CJT’s
- Corresponding with project partners and counterparts.
- Representing MWAO at various fora.
- Facilitating project partnerships.
- Supporting project logistics, administrative tasks, and new proposals.
- Development of project knowledge products and outputs.
- Develop a record and database of Climate Impacts received from CJT’s and MACUA & WAMUA branches.
- Facilitate and develop support networks with environmental Justice organisations and other service providers to support the work of the CJT’s
Requirements:
The successful candidate should be committed to human rights, access to justice, development and empowerment of the marginalised and excluded with integrity, vigour and has respect for confidentiality. The candidate must be able to work in a team and with a transparent, accountable and consultative style that embraces the values, vision, strategies and policies of the MACUA WAMUA Advice Office. The successful candidate will be required to possess:
- A graduate degree or relevant qualification;
- Minimum of three years relevant work experience;
- Committed to addressing inequality and injustice and to protecting and furthering women’s rights;
- Have superb interpersonal skills; the ability to work collaboratively with others;
- Excellent networking skills;
- Have excellent writing and presentation skills;
- Have a strong commitment to high quality work and service;
- Highly organised with strong people management skills;
- Assertive and confident;
- Friendly, compassionate / empathetic, insightful and patient with people;
- Computer skills (Microsoft Word, Excel, Internet, Email);
- Basic research skills.
Knowledge:
- Knowledge of the South African Constitution and Bill of Rights and Environmental Issues.
- Updated knowledge of the laws and policies relevant to the protection of human rights, the environment and mining, with an emphasis on social and economic rights, and the rights of women and girls;
- Knowledge and understanding of the different spheres of government, departments and agencies, and Chapter 9 institutions;
- Knowledge and understanding of local civil society networks and organisations.
To apply, submit your CV (maximum three pages), letter of motivation and three contactable references to info@macua.org.za
Application close on 21 April 2022.
No late applications will be accepted.
Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview.
If you do not hear from the organisation within 30 days of the closing date, consider your application unsuccessful.