African Job Shadow Programme

Overview: As part of its mission of facilitating co-operation and learning in the area of HIV/AIDS, HIVAN sponsors a Job Shadow Programme between KZN workers in HIV/AIDS-related fields and partners elsewhere in South Africa and on the African continent.

Overview: As part of its mission of facilitating co-operation and learning in the area of HIV/AIDS, HIVAN sponsors a Job Shadow Programme between KZN workers in HIV/AIDS-related fields and partners elsewhere in South Africa and on the African continent.

The purpose of the Programme is to permit opportunities for sharing of experience and expertise by workers in HIV/AIDS-related fields who believe they can gain from close interaction with one another. By sponsoring such exchanges, HIVAN hopes to facilitate mutually beneficial relationships between the individuals and organisations involved.

The job shadow process:

An organisation or individual in KwaZulu-Natal and an organisation or individual elsewhere in South Africa or Africa (*now extended in exceptional circumstances beyond Africa) submit an application to HIVAN?’s African Job Shadow Committee. If the application is successful, each partner then hosts the other: the KwaZulu-Natal partner visits and works with the external partner, and the external partner visits and works with the KwaZulu-Natal partner. HIVAN funds the exchange.

Eligibility:

The Programme is limited to participants who live and work in Africa (*). Each partnership must involve a resident of KwaZulu-Natal and a partner from elsewhere in South Africa or on the African continent (*). Although academic institutions and their employees are not excluded, preference is given to workers from the public, private and civil sectors of society. African academics and researchers who are interested in working in KwaZulu-Natal should consider directing applications to the HIVAN Fellowships Programme.

Funding:

HIVAN provides funding for travel costs, health insurance and a small per diem for each partner. It is expected that each partner will accommodate the other or, failing this, will take responsibility for accommodation, subsistence, local transport and the like.

Duration:

The expected duration of each visit is two weeks; that is, each partner visits the other for a two-week period. Depending on the circumstances, HIVAN will consider proposals for exchanges of up to four weeks in duration.

Application process:

Applications should be submitted jointly by the partners and should include the following:

• A motivation for the exchange focusing particularly on the expected benefits and outcomes to each partner and his or her organisation;
• An outline of planned activities during the visit of each partner;
• Curriculum vitae of each partner;
• Job descriptions of each partner;
• A budget outlining all costs (flights, other transport, insurance, visa costs, subsistence, materials etc); and
• Letters of support from the employing agencies of each partner.


Deadline:

There is no deadline for applications, as the HIVAN Job Shadow Selection Committee sits on a regular basis and will accept applications at any time. However, applications should be submitted to HIVAN three months prior to the intended commencement date, to allow HIVAN time for adequate assessment, modification and planning of the proposed experience. Successful applications should be taken up within six months of notification, unless otherwise negotiated.

Guidelines and expectations:

1. HIVAN acts solely as the sponsoring agency and takes no responsibility for the partnership or the wellbeing of the partners while away from home. The personal and professional success of the partnership is entirely up to the partners themselves.

2. Applicants should note that the award is made to their employer organisation, not to the individual. It is therefore essential that applications include letters of support from employers. In the event that applicants are volunteers or unattached to an organisation, HIVAN will maintain control of the funds for the exchange.

3. The maximum award per partner is R15 000, i.e. R30 000 for each full exchange. The per diem is R173 per day, however should accommodation and/or meals be subsidized, then the per diem will be reduced accordingly.

4. Participants may stay on longer at their own expense but are expected to return home within 14 days of the cessation of the job shadow experience.

5. While HIVAN may agree to assist peripherally with the process, all arrangements, from travel bookings (including and especially valid travel visas) to accommodation and health insurance, are to be arranged by the partners.

6. All participants are expected to submit to HIVAN full reports on their activities, including detailed descriptions of the HIV/AIDS-related projects they visit and in which they are involved.

7. All participants are expected to contribute a short report for the HIVAN Website outlining their experiences and resultant personal reflections. This must be provided within one month of the job shadow visit.

8. Visitors to KwaZulu-Natal are required to participate in a discussion on the work in which they are involved in their home province or country. They are also asked to promote the work of HIVAN and their job shadow partner organisation upon their return home.

9. Participants from KwaZulu-Natal are expected to be informed about and promote the work of HIVAN when away on the Job Shadow Programme. They are also expected to promote the activities of their job shadow partner organisation on their return home.

Enquiries:

Enquiries should be addressed to the Admin Office at:

E-mail: [email protected]; Facsimile: ++(27) (0)31 209 8883; Phone: ++(27) (0)31 260 268 5809; Address: HIVAN, Davida Centre, McCords Hospital, P.O. Box 37587, Overport, 4067, KwaZulu Natal