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Development Cooperation Projects

Promotion of social dialogue in the education sector

Project title:Promotion of social dialogue in the education sector

Host organization: COLAZ, PTUZ, ZESSCWU, ZIMTA (Zimbabwe); BOSETU, BTU, TAWU (Botswana)

Cooperating organisations: EI; ILO-ACTRAV

Country: Botswana and Zimbabwe

Region: Africa

Start date: 01/10/2018

End date: 30/06/2019

Project Categories:

Communication

Education for All

Human and Trade Union Rights

Organizing, recruiting

Social dialogue

Status of Teachers

Union unity

Description:

Continued support to education unions in Botswana and Zimbabwe to strengthen the capacity of the unions to engage in advocacy on labour law reform with the government and Parliament so as to improve freedom of association and social dialogue for teachers as public employees. The project also aims to strengthen the capacity of EI affiliates to work together and in alliance with other unions and civil society organisations in their national context.

EI has engaged with its affiliates in Southern Africa for a number of years with the aim of strengthening the application of international labour standards, with particular reference to freedom of association and collective bargaining. Unions in Botswana and Zimbabwe have developed joint national action plans including two main elements: a) joint advocacy actions at national level directed at the Parliament and Government concerning labour law reforms; b) advocacy using radio and social media to raise awareness among parents, students and the wider community about the links between respect for trade union rights and social dialogue, and the achievement of quality public education.

Goals:

The EI affiliates in Botswana (led by BOSETU and BTU) will engage with the labour law review committee with the aim of moving agreed reforms through a tripartite consultation process to the November 2018 session of Parliament. The unions will keep their membership and wider public informed of progress concerning the conclusions of the 2018 ILO CAS and the debates in Parliament. At the same time, the unions will campaign for their successful passage through Parliament and implementation in practice. The unions will also, through Education International and the ITUC, keep the ILO supervisory mechanisms informed of progress.

The four EI affiliates in Zimbabwe (led by ZIMTA and PTUZ) will seek to strengthen the collective bargaining machinery by ensuring the establishment of sectoral bargaining chambers. They will keep union members, the teaching profession and wider public informed of progress with the Public Service Act amendments; and their passage through Parliament and implementation in practice.

Activities:

- Capacity building of union members

- National meeting

- Audiences with Members of Parliament and influential actors.

- Press conferences

- Rally or other publicity event

Results:

Expected Results

- Members of EI affiliates in both countries, and members of civil society organisations and the general public, are aware of the need for the government to carry out labour law reforms in line with the ILO CAS and CEART recommendations;

- EI affiliates in both countries have carried out advocacy with the government and legislature to press for labour reforms in line with the ILO CAS and CEART recommendations.

- EI affiliates in both countries have strengthened their cross-union collaboration and their advocacy and communication skills.

- World Teachers’ Day events in 2018 in both countries have been used to focus on the link between quality public education and the right to collective bargaining.

- Key decision-makers in government and Parliament are well-informed and advocating for labour law reforms in line with ILO CAS and CEART recommendations.

Contact:

Dominique Marlet (EI)

Funding:

ILO-ACTRAV
Girls Not Brides

Project title: Girls Not Brides

Host organization: Zimbabwe Teachers' Association (ZIMTA)

Cooperating organisations: Girls Not Brides Zimbabwe; The Zimbabwe Alliance to End Child Marriage; Tanzania End Child Marriage Network; The Zambia Ending Child Marriage

Country: Zimbabwe

Region: Africa

Start date: 03/09/2018

End date: 31/12/2020

Project Categories:

Education for All

Gender

HIV-AIDS

Research

Policy Development

Description:

Child marriage is defined as marriage of any young person below 18 years of age in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children (Article 1) United Nations 1990). Approximately about 15 million girls between the ages of 15 and 19 give birth every year in the world (UNICEF, 2007). The phenomenon is prevalent amongst both boys and girls however, it disproportionally affects girls the more (Svanemyr et al, 2012, UNICEF, 2010, Sibanda 2011, Nour, 2006, UNICEF, 2005).

According to Langa (2015), between 2000 and 2011, the prevalence of child marriages in Zimbabwe hovered around 31% and was among 41 nations with the highest rates. To buttress this, Garbus and Sakutukwa (2003) argued that it is estimated that 3 out of every 10 girls in Zimbabwe are married before they attain 18 years, which is the legal age of majority for girls. Laiton (2016) notes that the Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe recently outlawed child marriages.

There are several challenges brought on the girl child who are in child marriage. Girls who got married before the are 18 years old are not physically, emotionally and mentally prepared for their roles as mothers and wives (Mutyaba, 2011). In addition, the author stated that child marriages have also resulted in a large number of girls dropping out of school as most tend to get pregnant due to the sexual abuse, arising from their marital obligation to have sex with their husbands.

According to Raj, et al (2010), studies document that girls marrying as minors are more likely to bear children as minors and are thus at increased risk for maternal and child morbidities and maternal and infant mortality. Hanzi, (2006) also mentioned that the risk of death from pregnancy related causes is four times higher in the age group under 18 than in women who are over 20 years of age. According to Mutyaba (2011) young girls who get married before they attain the age of 18 are susceptible to HIV infection. The author added that, the subordinate role that young girls occupy in their marriages makes them vulnerable to HIV infection because they are less likely to either question their husbands about their HIV status or insist on protected sex.

In many cases, child marriages are part of social norms (Dube, 2015). The process of eradicating child marriages is in no way an easy one simply because in most societies the practice has come to be an engrained norm. In some instances, the normative practices are deeply rooted in religion and tradition. As part of culture and tradition, most communities have socially sanctioned child marriages despite its negative effects of the children's psycho-social and economic development. The phenomenon of child marriage occurs as a result of socio-cultural drivers for child marriages vary between urban, semi-urban and rural areas.

It is against this background that ZIMTA has taken a bold position to play a part in ending child marriages. Due to the fact that:

? ZIMTA has the largest teacher membership and one would find at least one member in each of the Zimbabwean primary and secondary schools and it is for that reason that we bring the human resources required into the programme. Naturally as an organization which works with teachers, our organization has easy access to all schools.

? Our good working relationship with the Ministry of education Primary and Secondary, helps in getting the required support from the ministry and opening access into schools.

? Being agency of change that we are, we can have advocacy activities that can make girl child protection policies. Through Advocacy, Awareness and Trainings greater impact will be achieved.

? ZIMTA has offices in all the ten provinces. This helps to ensure a wide if not total coverage in terms of advocacy, awareness and trainings. It is the largest union in Zimbabwe and has the capacity to reach out to girls, parents, teachers, religious leaders.

Goals:

- To end child marriages by 2020

- To identify social norms, behaviours and structural factors that promote or inhibit child marriage in both rural and urban settings

- To establish intervention strategies to curb he socially normative behaviours and structural factors

Activities:

1. Base Line survey

2. Interventions:

2.1 Educational Programmes

2.2 Workshops with traditional leaders to raise awareness

2.3 Influence Stronger policies

Results:

/

Contact:

Rugare Samati

Funding:

/

Website:

www.zimta.org.zw
ZIMTA Recruitment and Retention Project

Project title: ZIMTA Recruitment and Retention Project

Host organization: Zimbabwe Teachers' Association (ZIMTA)

Cooperating organisations: Lärarförbundet (Sweden)

Country: Zimbabwe

Region: Africa

Start date: 2016

End date: 2018

Project Categories:

Organizing, recruiting

Description:

This was a wholistic project aimed at recontsruction, of ZIMTA various structures. It was also to strenthen ZIMTA leadership and build its structures right from grassroot to national level. The project also is aimed to increase activism of members and leaders by increasing knowledge on trade union issues and conditions of service. It also increased the capacity of the negotiators to be able to engage in collective bargaining.

Goals:

- To increase ZIMTA's membership through recruitment, retention and renewal

- To strenthen ZIMTA's structures

Activities:

- Workshops' for teachers

- Production of literature

- School visits

- Study circles

Results:

- Stabilising ZIMTA's membership

- Creation of ZIMTA's structures

Contact:

Angelina Lunga

Funding:

Lärarförbundet and ZIMTA contributions

Website:

www.zimta.org.zw
Capacity Building

Project title: Capacity Building

Host organization: College and Lecturers Association of Zimbabwe (COLAZ)

Cooperating organisations: CAUT/ACPPU (Canada)

Country: Zimbabwe

Region: Africa

Start date: 02/01/2012

End date: 31/12/2019

Project Categories:

Gender; Higher Education and Research; Human and Trade Union Rights; Organizing, recruiting

Description:

Union capacity building

Goals:

* Improve organizational structure and internal organization of union

* Provide support for advancing rights of women members and members with disabilities

* Build membership

Activities:

Workshops and union conferences.

Results:

Funding:

Contact:

David Robinson: robinson@caut.ca

Website/social media:
Union Capacity Building (COLAZ)

Project title: Union Capacity Building (COLAZ-Zimbabwe)

Host organization: College Lecturers Association of Zimbabwe (COLAZ)

Cooperating organisations: CAUT/ACPPU (Canada)

Country: Zimbabwe

Region: Africa

Start date: 2014

Project Categories:

HiEd Res

VET

Description:

Providing financial and technical support to build the union's capacity to practice good governance and expand its membership.

Goals:

To build sufficient capacity and increase membership to self-sufficient levels.

Activities:

Financial support to furnish supplies for the national office.

Assistance in organizing a national delegates conference.

Assistance in renewing the union's Constitution.

Contact person:

David Robinson
Promoting social dialogue to eradicate child labour and strengthen quality education provisions

Project title: Promoting social dialogue to eradicate child labour and strengthen quality education provisions

Host organization: ZIMTA and PTUZ (Zimbabwe)

Cooperating organisations: EI

Country: Zimbabwe

Region: Africa

Start date: 01/02/2019

End date: 31/12/2020

Project Categories:

Child Labour

Description:

Since 2015, ZIMTA and PTUZ develop activities against child labour in Chipinge through the “Out of Work Into School– Continuation of Education unions work” project, in 11 schools. Building on this involvement, the unions selected 13 additional Chipinge schools to implement activities against child labour to consolidate the “Out of Work Into School” project through the development of social dialogue with the Chipinge district authorities and an extension to a broader area. The district is among the worst affected areas ravaged by Cyclone Idai.

Some of the main forms of child labour in the region are agriculture work, cattle breeding, domestic work.

Goals:

To change the social norm about child labour and make education desirable and relevant in Chipinge,

To increase school attendance and move towards a zone increasingly free of child labour, with a specific focus on girls education and gender equality,

To include local authorities, including the local education authorities, at every stage of implementation of the project, in order to ensure its sustainability and to strengthen the social dialogue,

To strenghten the education unions.

Activities:

Among the main activities:

- Production and distribution of pedagogic material related to child labour and children rights,

- Training of 60 teachers on child labour related issues,

- Capacity building workshops for School Development Committee Members, ward Counsellors and Ministry of Education local representatives,

- Using the radio to sensitize at local and national level on child labour,

- Engagement of tea companies in the struggle against child labour,

- Community mobilizations

Results:

/

Contact:

Samuel Grumiau (EI): samuel.grumiau@ei-ie.org

Funding:

Mondiaal FNV
Out of Work Into School - Continuation of Education unions work

Project title: Out of Work Into School - Continuation of Education unions work

Host organization: ZIMTA and PTUZ (Zimbabwe)

Cooperating organisations: EI

Country: Zimbabwe

Region: Africa

Start date: 2015

End date: /

Project Categories:

Child Labour

Description:

Since 2015, ZIMTA and PTUZ have been active in the development of projects against child labour in Chipinge rural district, Wards 8, 6 and 19. ZIMTA has been active in former Tanganda Tea Estate Schools spread over wards 6, 8 and 19, whereas PTUZ concentrated is activities on Ward 8 schools. 11 schools have been involved in this project.

The district is among the worst affected areas ravaged by Cyclone Idai.

Some of the main forms of child labour in the region are agriculture work, cattle breeding, domestic work.

Goals:

/

Activities:

Main activities:

- Professional development courses focused on training teachers on international standards and children’s rights,

- Training teachers to work in bridge schools, which help reintegrating children in mainstream education,

- Development of school child protection committees made up of teachers and learners in each school,

- Training teachers in child friendly approaches, such as how use alternative disciplinary measures in class,

- Focussing on the girl child: ensuring safe routes to school, supporting for menstrual management, building community awareness about early marriage,

- Raising the awareness of the communities on children rights/child labour: through road shows, celebrations of World Day Against Child Labour, sport and art activities,

- School-based Income-generating projects.

Results:

Among the main results:

- Most of the schools have experienced an increase of their enrolment rates, of their pass rates and a reduction of their dropout rates,

- Through this project, ZIMTA and PTUZ continue to develop a mutually beneficial collaboration in spite of their historic differences,

- Increased membership of both ZIMTA and PTUZ,

- Improved inter-union relations,

- Improved relations between education unions and parents, local communities and district authorities,

- Enhanced opportunities for advocacy at district and national levels.

Contact:

Samuel Grumiau (EI): samuel.grumiau@ei-ie.org

Funding:

GEW Fair Childhood Foundation, AOb, Mondiaal FNV, HIVOS
Stop Child Labour

Project title: Stop Child Labour

Host organization: PTUZ, ZIMTA (Zimbabwe)

Cooperating organisations: EI; GEW Fair Childhood Foundation (Germany); AOb, Mondiaal-FNV (Netherlands)

Country: Zimbabwe

Region: Africa

Start date: 2014

End date: 2020

Project Categories:

Child Labour

Description:

The project aims at developing Child Labour Free Zone in Chipinge District, Manicaland Province, Zimbabwe. PTUZ and ZIMTA are working together on this project.

Goals:

- To eradicate child labour

- To raise awareness on issues of children's rights among teachers and learners

Activities:
- Teacher training workshops

- Advocacy meetings with local authorities, school community leaders, tea companies (among the main employers in the region)
- Campaigns

- Production of advocacy material

Results:

Teachers trained and knowledge increased

Out of school children brought back to school

Children aware of their rights

Contact:

Samuel Grumiau

Funding:

PTUZ, ZIMTA, GEW Fair Childhood Foundation, AOb, Mondiaal-FNV

Website:

Zimbabwe unions against child labour
HIV and AIDS

Project title: HIV and AIDS

Host organization: Zimbabwe Teachers' Association (ZIMTA)

Cooperating organisations: AFT (USA); EI

Country: Zimbabwe

Region: Africa

Start date: 1999

End date: 2007

Project Categories:

HIV-AIDS

Description:

This was a project aimed at breaking the silence associated with sex and sexuality and HIV and AIDS among teachers and later it included learners. The project raised knowledge levels on matters of HIV and AIDS.

Goals:

- To increase knowledge on issues of HIV and AIDS among teachers and learners

- To reduce incidence of HIV infection among teachers and learners

- To reduce stigma and discrimination among people living with HIV

Activities:

- Training on HIV for teachers and learners

- Production of training material

- Policy advocacy meetings

Results:

700 teachers trained on HIV

Learners reached

Increased knowledge on HIV and AIDS

Contact:

Angelina Lunga

Funding:

AFT/EI/ZIMTA contributions

Website:

www.zimta.org.zw

Promotion of social dialogue in the education sector

Girls Not Brides

ZIMTA Recruitment and Retention Project

Capacity Building

Union Capacity Building (COLAZ)

Promoting social dialogue to eradicate child labour and strengthen quality education provisions

Out of Work Into School - Continuation of Education unions work

Stop Child Labour

HIV and AIDS