Should You Work With Us?

Are you passionate about strengthening social justice?

Do you want to help people and organisations to connect to their purpose?

Do you see yourself taking action for social justice by strengthening transformative processes?

If you’ve answered “Yes” to the questions above – then you should consider joining our dynamic team as an intern or joining our consultant network.

Founded in 2000, we are Southern Africa’s leading socio-economic development consultancy.

Our evaluation work is engaging and meaningful; our training and facilitation is fun and exciting.

Our specialist multi-role consultants are trainers, evaluators, researchers and facilitators, with a deep understanding of the social development field.

We hate boring and we have no time for stagnant, outdated methods. Southern Hemisphere brings planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning (PMEL) to life. We power up planning, magnify monitoring, elevate evaluation and lighten up learning to create tangible, impactful change.

Internship

Entry Requirements

Our ideal candidates should:

  • Have completed an MA program in Social Sciences, Economics, Politics or Research Psychology (Note: both the coursework and thesis components should be complete)
  • Be innovative, organised and flexible
  • Be able to work independently
  • Have a research background (subjects in qualitative and/or quantitative Research Methodology)

Please note: International students are required to make arrangements for their visa application; however, Southern Hemisphere provides support where needed.

Internship Duration

The internship program is offered over a one-year period. Interns are required to work 40 hours per week.

Internship Benefits

Interns will be paid a monthly stipend for the period of the internship.

Interns will get invaluable experience and gain practical skills for development.

How to Apply to an Internship at Southern Hemisphere:

Email us your CV, together with a letter of motivation, highlighting:

  • Your reasons for choosing Southern Hemisphere for your internship
  • Your understanding of what we do as an organisation
  • How you foresee us assisting you during your internship
  • What you want to achieve during the internship
  • The skills that you wish to develop / enhance during your internship
  • The skills that you will be able to contribute to Southern Hemisphere
  • A brief description of yourself as a person

Southern Hemisphere adheres to the South African employment equity framework.

Consultants

Southern Hemisphere’s Consultant Network

We work with a wide network of external consultants across the globe.

We frequently team up with external consultants, many of whom are sector experts, development consultants, evaluators, trainers, and researchers.

Your time with Southern Hemisphere will give you the opportunity to connect with some of the most inspired and renowned minds in the field.

The consultants who join our team tend to want to stay, and often find in us a resource of both friends and collaborators for years to come.

If you’re an intern you can expect to enrich your future endeavors by equipping you with a comprehensive skill set which few organisations on the African continent can offer under one roof.

Please send your CV and covering letter highlighting your interest in working with us to: info@southernhemisphere.co.za or upload below.

Project Coordinator Job Description (MERL Practitioner support)

Purpose

To serve as the administrative and project coordination backbone across Monitoring Evaluation Research and Learning (MERL) projects, ensuring efficient scheduling, tracking, reporting, and liaison, while acting as a core team member under the supervision of the Operations Manager and being answerable to the relevant project manager. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment and enjoys working across multiple projects and countries.

Key Responsibilities

Project Coordination & Administration

  • Coordinate mid-large size evaluation projects, often multi-country or global projects.
  • Manage logistics, schedule fieldwork, coordinate events, knowledge management (e.g. filing),
  • coordinate meetings, manage fieldwork advances and reconciliations, coordinate fieldworker
  • schedules.
  • Support the Lead Coordinator involvement across projects – manage scheduling, meeting
  • logistics, documentation, deadlines.
  • Maintain tracker for each of assigned projects (e.g. cap of 4 projects per coordinator) to prevent
  • overcommitment.


Communication & System Support

  • Prepare meeting minutes, action point follow up, document submissions, and internal/external
    reporting.
  • Coordination and timely delivery
  • Communicate with consultants internal and external to Southern Hemisphere


Reporting Into / Relationships

  • Reports to: Operations Manager
  • Works closely with: Team Leaders and Project Managers including Senior Consultants and
    Consultants; Lead Project Coordinators including Consultants and MERL Practitioners; Admin
    and Finance Staff
  • Coordinates:
  • All project related activities including but not limited to: scheduling and organising all meetings,
    interviews, focus groups; document and knowledge management; taking meeting minutes etc.

Qualifications & Skills

  • Education: Qualification in Project Management / Business Administration or related field.
    Relevant certifications (CAPM, PMP, Prince2) are pluses.
  • Experience: at least 3 years in project coordination or administrative roles; experience within
    Research, Consulting or NGO environments strongly preferred.
  • Skills:
    o Strong organisational and administrative capacity
    o Excellent multitasking and time management
    o Clear communicator, adept at minute taking, action item tracking, and follow-up
    o Proficient in tools such as Excel/Google Sheets, project trackers, cloud-based planning
    o Able to work within matrix structures, supporting cross functional teams
    o Adaptive, growth oriented, and receptive to coordinated learning culture


Behavioural Characteristics
The ideal candidate demonstrates a combination of professionalism, emotional intelligence, and
initiative. They are:

  • Assertive: Comfortable setting boundaries, following up on actions, and ensuring
  • accountability.
  • Proactive: Anticipates needs, identifies gaps, and takes initiative to keep project activities on
  • track.
  • Detail-oriented: Pays attention to accuracy in documentation, scheduling, and logistical
  • coordination.
  • Organised and methodical: Applies structured approaches to managing multiple tasks and
  • workflows effectively.
  • Emotionally intelligent: Able to read interpersonal dynamics and adjust communication style
  • appropriately across teams.
  • Resilient and calm under pressure: Manages competing priorities and tight deadlines.
  • Collaborative: Works well with technical and support staff, contributing to a positive,
  • responsive team culture.
  • Discreet and trustworthy: Maintains confidentiality, especially in handling sensitive project
  • information.
  • Commitment to Southern Hemisphere values, vision and staff
  • o Commitment to children’s rights and humanitarian principles is supported and
  • demonstrated
  • o Upholding and promoting high standards of conduct
  • o Trust (in relation to children, other organisations and one another)
  • o Providing outstanding service
  • o Establishing interactive relationships with clients
  • Kind: Demonstrates empathy, consideration, and respect in interactions with colleagues,
  • clients, and stakeholders; treats others with courtesy and compassion.
  • Adaptable and flexible: Able to adjust to changing priorities, environments, or challenges;
  • responds positively to new situations and is open to alternative approaches.
  • Strong leadership skills: Inspires, guides, and supports others; takes responsibility for outcomes, makes informed decisions, and encourages collaboration and growth within the team.


Relevant Experience:

  • Research, fieldwork management and coordination experience, ideally in monitoring, evaluation, research, or learning contexts.
  • Previous work in a research agency or consultancy environment.
  • Hands-on experience as a research assistant or fieldwork coordinator, or project administrator.
  • Experience supporting coordination of multi-country or complex projects, with exposure to diverse stakeholders.
  • Proven track record in coordinating project logistics, knowledge management systems, and administrative project processes.


Appointment date
Immediate – Permanent
Cape Town
Southern Hemisphere adheres to the South African employment equity framework.

Salary
Suggested package for this role: R 20 000 (cost to company, which includes a contribution for
medical aid, retirement annuity)


Please send your motivation letter and cv to info@southernhemisphere.co.za by 10 November 2025.