How South Africans Invited to Shape Future Can Apply as Facilitators or Rapporteurs
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South Africans across every province are being invited to shape future conversations that could influence how the country addresses some of its most pressing social and economic challenges. The National Economic Development and Labour Council has opened applications for two short-term contract positions that form part of the National Dialogue Pilot Phase, a nationwide initiative designed to bring ordinary citizens, community leaders, and sectoral representatives into structured conversations about the country’s path forward.
For many applicants, this represents more than just a temporary job opportunity. It is a chance to be directly involved in a process that aims to capture the voices of marginalised and vulnerable groups who are often left out of national decision-making.
The two roles being advertised, Facilitator and Rapporteur, are central to how these dialogues will run and how their outcomes will be recorded. Together, 240 positions are available nationwide, with 120 Facilitator roles and 120 Rapporteur roles spread across various provinces. Both positions close on 09 July 2026, giving interested applicants a defined window to prepare and submit their applications.
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What the Facilitator Role Involves
The Facilitator’s main purpose is to lead inclusive, trauma-informed, respectful, and participatory ward-based and sectoral dialogues during the Pilot Phase. This is not simply about running a meeting. It requires creating a safe and enabling environment where every voice, particularly those belonging to marginalised and vulnerable individuals, can be heard without fear of judgement or dismissal.
Facilitators will be expected to manage group dynamics, navigate conflict, and address power imbalances that can arise when diverse groups of people come together to discuss sensitive or contested issues. They will also need to ensure that persons with disabilities are able to participate actively and meaningfully, which speaks to the inclusive design of the entire dialogue process.
Beyond the dialogues themselves, Facilitators are required to uphold a set of guiding principles throughout their work. These include neutrality, respect, inclusivity, and Ubuntu, a value system rooted in shared humanity and communal responsibility. Trauma-informed facilitation techniques are also a core requirement, recognising that some conversations may touch on difficult or painful community experiences.
Facilitators will not be working in isolation. Pre- and post-session support is built into the role, meaning Facilitators must attend pre-dialogue briefings and orientation sessions before engaging with communities. They will also collaborate closely with Rapporteurs to ensure that discussions are accurately documented, creating a coordinated approach between the two roles.
Ethics and compliance are taken seriously throughout this process. Facilitators must maintain strict neutrality and confidentiality, and they are required to adhere to the National Dialogue Code of Conduct along with its safeguarding principles. This level of structure reflects the seriousness with which the organisers are approaching community engagement.
Minimum Requirements for Facilitators
Applicants hoping to be considered for the Facilitator role need proven experience in facilitating community dialogues, public consultations, workshops, or similar participatory processes. This experience should reflect active involvement in community or sectoral work within the last two years, meaning the role is best suited to those already embedded in grassroots or sector-specific engagement.
Language ability is another key requirement. Applicants must be fluent in at least two official South African languages and should have a strong command of the dominant local language spoken in the community they will be assigned to. This ensures that Facilitators can build trust and rapport quickly with the people they are working alongside.
Strong interpersonal, listening, and conflict management skills are essential, as is cultural sensitivity and emotional intelligence. Given the trauma-informed nature of the work, Facilitators will often need to read a room carefully and respond to emotional cues with care rather than detachment.
It is worth noting that Steering Committee members and government employees at national, provincial, and local levels are not eligible for paid facilitation roles under this process. This restriction helps preserve the independence and neutrality that the National Dialogue is built on.
Facilitators will receive R2,500 per dialogue. This is an all-inclusive fee paid only once a dialogue has been successfully completed and all required reports and supporting documentation have been submitted to the satisfaction of the National Dialogue Secretariat.
What the Rapporteur Role Involves
While Facilitators guide the conversation, Rapporteurs are responsible for capturing it. The main purpose of this position is to accurately capture, synthesise, and produce high-quality, impartial records of National Dialogue sessions.
Rapporteurs must ensure that key points, diverse perspectives, agreements, and outcomes are documented comprehensively. This documentation will support a broader national synthesis process and contribute to the development of social compacts, making the accuracy and neutrality of these records especially important.
The documentation responsibilities are detailed and specific. Rapporteurs must take detailed, accurate, and neutral notes during each dialogue session, capturing not only the main discussion points but also divergent views, agreements reached, and any recommendations that emerge. Sessions must be recorded and transcribed, which means applicants will need access to a recording device as part of their toolkit.
Once a session has concluded, Rapporteurs move into report writing. They are expected to produce clear, structured, and objective dialogue reports using an approved template, and to synthesise often complex, multi-layered discussions into coherent summaries that accurately reflect what was said. Quality assurance is built into this process as well.
Rapporteurs will collaborate with Facilitators to verify the accuracy of captured content and to ensure that final reports reflect the full diversity of voices heard during the dialogue.
As with the Facilitator role, compliance is a key pillar of the Rapporteur position. Rapporteurs must maintain confidentiality and uphold ethical documentation standards throughout their engagement.
Minimum Requirements for Rapporteurs
Applicants for the Rapporteur role need a minimum of one year of experience in minute-taking, rapporteur work, report writing, transcription, or similar documentation-focused roles. This is a slightly lower experience threshold than the Facilitator role, which may make it more accessible to candidates earlier in their careers who have strong writing and listening skills.
Excellent listening, note-taking, and writing skills are non-negotiable for this position. Applicants must also be fluent in English and at least one other official South African language. The ability to remain neutral and objective under pressure is essential, particularly during dialogues that may become emotionally charged or contested.
Rapporteurs will be paid R1,500 per dialogue, again structured as an all-inclusive fee payable only once the assigned dialogue has been successfully completed and all required documentation submitted to the satisfaction of the National Dialogue Secretariat.
Why This Initiative Matters
South Africans invited to shape future national conversations through this Pilot Phase are stepping into something larger than a short-term contract. The process is designed to give a structured, respectful platform to communities and sectors that may not always have direct access to policy-making spaces. By prioritising trauma-informed facilitation and neutral, accurate documentation, the initiative is attempting to build a foundation of trust between citizens and the broader national conversation about the country’s future.
For facilitators, the role offers an opportunity to apply existing community engagement skills in a formal, structured national process. For rapporteurs, it offers a chance to contribute behind the scenes, ensuring that what is said in these rooms is not lost but carried forward into national synthesis and social compacts. Both roles, though different in nature, depend on each other to produce dialogues that are not only inclusive but also accurately remembered and reported.
How to Apply
Applicants interested in either the Facilitator or Rapporteur positions should visit www.nedlac.org.za to view the full advertisement, application requirements, and response details. Applications can be submitted via email to NDRecruitment@nedlac.org.za.
Applicants should also note that if they do not receive a response within 21 days of submitting their application, they should consider their application unsuccessful. Given that both roles close on 09 July 2026, interested candidates are encouraged to prepare their applications well ahead of the deadline.
NEDLAC has stated its commitment to Employment Equity and aims to attract and retain talented individuals in line with its equity objectives. People from designated groups, including those with disabilities, are encouraged to apply.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many Facilitator and Rapporteur positions are available?
There are 120 Facilitator positions and 120 Rapporteur positions available nationwide, for a combined total of 240 short-term contract roles.
What is the closing date for these applications?
Both the Facilitator and Rapporteur positions close on 09 July 2026.
How much does each role pay?
Facilitators receive R2,500 per dialogue, while Rapporteurs receive R1,500 per dialogue. Both fees are all-inclusive and paid only after successful completion of the assigned dialogue and submission of all required reports.
Can government employees apply for these roles?
No. Steering Committee members and government employees at national, provincial, and local levels are not eligible for paid facilitation roles under this process.
What languages are required for the Facilitator role?
Facilitators must be fluent in at least two official South African languages and should have a strong command of the dominant local language in their assigned community.
Is a recording device required for the Rapporteur role?
Yes. Rapporteurs must have access to a recording device, as dialogue sessions need to be recorded and transcribed.
How long is the experience requirement for each role?
Facilitators need proven community dialogue or participatory process experience within the last two years. Rapporteurs need a minimum of one year of relevant documentation or transcription experience.
How do I submit my application?
Applications must be submitted by email to NDRecruitment@nedlac.org.za, with full details available at www.nedlac.org.za.
What happens if I don’t hear back after applying?
If no response is received within 21 days of submission, applicants should consider their application unsuccessful.
Is this a permanent position?
No, both roles are short-term contracts tied to the National Dialogue Pilot Phase.
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