The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Public Library of Science (PloS) are calling for papers for a joint WHO/PLoS collection on the theme of the 2012 World Health Report on Research for Health. This flagship report from WHO will, for the first time in its history, focus on research for better health. The primary target audience of the report will be ministers of health in the WHO member states, and the goal of the report is to provide new ideas, innovative thinking, and pragmatic advice for member states on how to strengthen their own health research systems. In addition to primary research (both quantitative and qualitative) and well-developed case studies, WHO and PLoS also invite the submission of review and policy articles on how national health research systems contribute to the broader international research endeavour, especially in the context of the following areas: global health research governance; inequitable access to the benefits and products of research; global standards for responsible research conduct; and future research trends with implications for the developing world.
Jobs and Announcements
This conference will consider the link between and contributions of the social sciences and humanities to HIV research and action. The International Association of HIV Social Scientists, which is organising the event, argues that social science emphasises a critical, reflexive stance and willingness to confront the social, ethical, and political dimensions of scientific investigations of the HIV epidemic, which has made it instrumental in successful HIV prevention efforts such as the normalisation of condom use against sexual transmission and the introduction of safe injecting equipment for injecting drug use. Social scientific research has also provided insights into issues related to the treatment and care of people living with HIV and AIDS, and has addressed the broader social and political barriers to effective responses to HIV. Yet there have been few forums in which scholars from different social science and humanities disciplines can come together to develop connections among the various phenomena we study, and between ourselves and our biomedical, policy and community based colleagues. This conference is a forum for those keen to extend the scope of the social sciences and its capacity to trace connections between all kinds of phenomenon, notably those that contribute to the complexity and changing nature of the epidemic. Themes include: treatment as prevention, HIV and the body, social epidemiology and social networks, global politics, and responsibility and risk governance, as well as new directions for HIV and AIDS treatment.
This symposium will consider infectious diseases in Africa, including bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic diseases, which comprise a major cause of death, disability, and social and economic disruption for millions of people in Africa’s developing countries. This conference will aim to look at the borderless effect of infection, its impact on children and the importance of intervention. International speakers will talk about how to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases and discuss new diagnostics vaccines and drug treatments.
This first Southern African Network of Nurses and Midwives (SANNAM) biennial conference will present evidence demonstrating how nurses, as key members of the health team, promote and contribute to quality and access to health care. It will also demonstrate the importance of connecting other health workers and the community at large in accelerating the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The conference will feature plenary sessions, which will set the stage for discussion of critical issues that either facilitate or impede the achievement of the MDGs. Concurrent sessions, symposia, poster presentations, debates and panel discussions will address issues to demonstrate the intricate links between the MDGs SANNAM is calling on all professionals and communities to work collectively at the conference in addressing the links.
The International Society for Equity in Health- ISEqH - will hold its Sixth International Conference: Making Policy a Health Equity Building Process in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia - September 26-28, 2011. Equity is an important issue to champion for, however nobody disagrees with it because is too broad. The conferebce aims to provide more detail, to be more specific and, at the same time, offer a multi-disciplinary look. The organisers call for submissions for organised sessions by 4 March and individual abstracts by 15 April 2011. All participants are invited to submit an abstract for symposia and/or oral and/or poster presentations to abstracts@iseqh.org. It is not necessary to be a member of the International Society for Equity in Health to submit an abstract.
Is aid for trade working? This is the question that the Third Global Review of Aid for Trade will seek to address when it convenes in July 2011. The Review will evaluate progress in terms of the Aid-for-Trade Work Programme 2010-2011, which was issued on 27 November 2009. The work Programme’s aim is to keep an on-going focus on aid for trade, which will generate continued impetus to resource mobilisation, mainstreaming, operationalisation and implementation of aid for trade projects. The Work Programme is complemented by Aid-for-Trade meetings, culminating in the Third Global Review of Aid for Trade. The World Trade Organisation is hosting the event.
The University of Cape Town (UCT) in partnership with the Sigrid Rausing Trust announces a new opportunity to benefit academic scholars at risk.
The proposed opportunity is aimed at helping academic scholars who are at political risk in African countries, and/or those academics within African countries at risk through lack of resources and governmental support, many of whom are women. It will include some academics defined as 'at risk' through the New York - based Scholars at Risk organization.
The Programme varing from 3 months to 12 months duration, started in 2007. 'At risk' academics will be able to further their studies at UCT, to build their CVs, and re-establish their careers. Candidates will be selected based on their ability to add to academic endeavour, whether they can be suitably housed within the various host faculties and their departments, and on their need. The Application form and further information can be requested from Ms Norma Derby, International Academic Programmes Office, norma.derby@uct.ac.za
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is inviting submissions of papers describing research that addresses violence against women. WHO is particularly interested in research with a strong intervention focus, including ways to get violence against women onto different policy agendas, lessons about how to address some of the challenges policy-makers face, and innovative approaches to prevention or service provision, including community-based programmes in both conflict- and crises-affected and more stable settings. Papers may address more neglected forms of violence against women or provide evidence on the costs and cost-effectiveness of intervention responses. Descriptive research that contributes to a better understanding of the global prevalence and costs of violence, or that provides evidence about the root causes of such violence, will also be considered.
The World Health Organisation and UNITAID are looking for individuals wishing to serve on UNITAID’s Advisory Group on Funding Priorities (AGFP). The AGFP aims to contribute to scaling up access to treatment for HIV and AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis for people in developing countries by leveraging price reductions of quality drugs and diagnostics, which currently are unaffordable for most developing countries, and to accelerate the pace at which they are made available. It is an independent expert panel that assists in identifying – according to the UNITAID Strategy endorsed by the Board - potential priority niches of high-market and public health impact to be funded by UNITAID. Members of the AGFP are high-level experts with academic or major organisational experience in their fields of work, which will also be the areas of UNITAID's focus. The panel is broadly constituted, comprising members with expertise in the public health aspects of UNITAID’s areas of work, health economics, market dynamics, programme management, health research and new product development. Submissions should be sent to arrive no later than Sunday 20th March 2011.
Fondation Ensemble’s Small Grants Fund provides funding in the areas of animal biodiversity, water and sanitation, and sustainable development. The Small Grants Fund of the Foundation represents the 15% of its annual endowment and it has no geographical priorities (proposals can be submitted from around the world). Small and medium-sized NGOs are especially encouraged to apply to this Fund. Please note that half the funds are available for programmes to conserve threatened animal species, while the other half is evenly shared between water and sustainable development projects. The maximum amount of money that will be invested per project by the Foundation is 30,000 Euros. Fondation can provide up to 50% of the total budget. There are two separate application forms under this Fund. For projects relating to water and sustainable development, please note that you should use the Small Grants form.