The Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) calls for applications from research laboratories and doctoral schools in African universities for the first phase of its initiative to support research in the social sciences and humanities. The objective of this initiative is to restore and/or enhance the seminar culture within research laboratories, doctoral schools in African universities, while encouraging the use of multi and interdisciplinary approaches. After a rigorous selection exercise by an international independent selection committee, selected research laboratories and doctoral schools will receive a grant of 10,000 dollars from CODESRIA, which is expected to be used for: the purchase of books and journals for the benefit of the entire academic community; a scientific seminar exposing PhD students to relevant literature, current debates, and theoretical approaches in relation to a given topic; a methodology seminar, and a scientific writing workshop. Further information can be found at the website.
Jobs and Announcements
HEARD is calling for applications for up to four full-time PhD Research Scholarships in any of the following key areas of strategic focus Sexual and Reproductive Health; Health Systems Strengthening and Economics of Critical Enablers in HIV Programming. Award of the HEARD PhD Research Scholarship is conditional on candidates meeting the requirements for PhD registration at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and on participating in a compulsory training component during the first year of study. The training component will be conducted over four two-week blocks during the first year of study. Candidates will produce a thesis related to one of HEARDs priority research nodes, as detailed above. The Scholarship programme emphasises the mastery of quantitative and qualitative methods for understanding policy problems and for devising, evaluating and/or implementing policy solutions. The intention of providing PhD scholarships is to produce expertly qualified graduates to advise or to be part of influential policy making organisations in Africa. During their PhD, students will be strongly encouraged to present their work at international meetings. Successful candidates will be based in Durban, South Africa, for the duration of the scholarship, with the exception of the time during which they may undertake field research elsewhere. Applications are invited from citizens of all African countries. Female candidates and, in the case of South Africa, those from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, are especially encouraged to apply.
The 11th Annual Conference of the Public Health Association of South Africa takes place between 7-9 October 2015 in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. The conference theme is Health and Sustainable Development: The Future. The 2015 PHASA Conference will be more interactive than previous PHASA conferences. There will be a greater media and social media presence at the 2015 PHASA Conference ensuring that research findings and key issues reach a broader audience. The target audience is policy makers, public health academics and students, health professionals, health service managers and individuals from non-governmental and community-based health organisations.
The Canon Foundation for Scientific Research is seeking applications to provide support for scientists and academics from developing countries in the scientific and engineering fields who would like to attend local or international conferences, symposia and workshops or undertake other postgraduate study. The Foundation welcomes applications from researchers who would like to attend local or international conferences, symposia and workshops or undertake other postgraduate study. In most cases, they will meet all or part of travel, accommodation and registration costs. They also consider offering financial assistance to qualified researchers wishing to further their expertise at an internationally recognised overseas institution.
The 24th African Union Summit declared 2015 as “The Year of Women's Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063.” To embrace this, the 2015 Drivers of Change Awards will recognise people driving change in women empowerment and development, gender equity, the promotion of equality and rights for women and girls. Nominations for the 2015 Drivers of Change Awards are now open!

 The website allows people to nominate individuals, businesses, civil society organisations and governments that are making a real impact in changing the lives of women and girls in southern Africa.
The 3rd Conference of the Association for the Social Sciences and Humanities in HIV (ASSHH) will be held in South Africa. The goal is to ask the kinds of critical questions it is sometimes difficult to pose in other settings, and to contribute to new and creative ways of thinking about the HIV epidemic. The conference will critically examine the growing gap between rhetoric and reality in the national and international HIV response and will provide opportunities for wide-ranging discussion and debate on the following themes: (Re)-writing the history of AIDS: whose facts, whose visions, whose stories?, An ‘epidemic of signification - cultural and media representations 30 years on, in the era of PrEP and ‘universal’ access, Sexual orientation and gender identity - a new or enduring battleground?, The politics of 'practice': research and practitioner perspectives on intervention and programme development, Power, politics and resistance: the demise of agency in the face of constraint, Positive nostalgia(s) and the international HIV response and Renewing social sciences and humanities research.
This World Congress is a challenge to Action Learning / Action Research practitioners to explain how they are contributing to the creation of a fairer world. The ALARA World Congress 2015 will create a space for dialogue over questions such as: How do we know we are asking the right questions to promote sustainable learning? How do we capacitate people to address the intricate interplay of social, economic, political and cultural factors that combine to preserve injustice? How do we ensure authentic collaboration between stakeholders across all levels? How do we use AL/AR to forge innovative, sustainable responses to contemporary complex challenges? How do we know we are successful in mediating sustainable change? Delegates from developing countries should register before 28 July 2015.
The South African Health Review Emerging Public Health Practitioner Award is offered to South African candidates under the age of 35 to submit a chapter dealing with public health or policy in South Africa for publication in the South African Health Review. Click on link for further details.
The workshop and symposium are intended to develop and progress medicines utilization research in Africa. The workshop will cater for all personnel including those just starting research in this area and those already undertaking medicine utilization research. This will be achieved through two workshop streams (parallel sessions) and a one day symposium for researchers to present their projects and findings. Topics will depend on the content of the submitted abstracts. There will be both oral and poster presentations. Particular consideration will be given to abstracts describing current drug utilisation research and activities with ARVs.
The 11th Annual Conference of the Public Health Association of South Africa takes place between 7-9 October 2015 in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. With 2015 being the target date for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, the conference will provide an opportunity to reflect on the challenges faced by South Africa and Africa in trying to achieve the MDGs.