This new program approaches health outcomes from the demand side through a multisectoral perspective, looking into mechanisms such as Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs), and Sector Wide Approaches (SWAPs). The course underscores the different roles necessary at each different sector for a multisectoral approach, the need for coordination at the central level, and also alignment of donors with national processes - especially budgets - to ensure harmonization. This course will build capacity for developing multisectoral health outcome strategies, emphasizing that better effective interventions, actions and policies exist and that adaptation to the country situation is critical. The application deadline is 22 February 2008.
Jobs and Announcements
Global Course: Accelerating Progress Towards the Health Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other Health Outcomes
World Bank Institute Human Development (WBIHD),
South Innovation Perspectives Series Seminars
South Centre
The seminar series aims to provide a forum where cutting-edge research and ideas on innovation, access to knowledge and intellectual property, from a development perspective, are presented and debated. Speakers are researchers and policy analysts especially from the South who focus their work on key issues for developing countries and the international community more generally. The seminar series plays an important role in linking local/national circumstances and challenges, and the norm-setting activities in various international institutions and process. By engaging negotiators and key players in international processes, the seminars will also contribute to promoting evidence-based norm-setting in key institutions such as the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Trade Organization (WTO), among other organisations and processes.
Vacancy: Research Fellow – Innovation, Public Health and Intellectual Property
South Centre
The Innovation and Access to Knowledge Programme (IAKP) of the South Centre seeks applicants for a 12 month Research Fellowship in Innovation, Public Health and Intellectual Property. Applicants should send their applications indicating their interest and highlighting their relevant qualifications and experience as well as detailed CVs, letter of interest, references, preferably by email, by 18h00 Central European Time (CET) on 14 December 2007 to: Ms. Caroline Ngome Eneme, Administrative Assistant, Innovation and Access to Knowledge Programme, South Centre, Chemin du Champ D’Anier 17, P.O.B. 228, 1211 Genev
Call for abstracts: Geneva Forum towards global access to health, 25-28 May 2008
Geneva Health Forum, 2007
Participants are encouraged to submit abstracts that present concrete and innovative projects, case studies, and direct field/personal experiences relevant to the improvement of global access to health, and more specifically the 2008 theme: ‘Strengthening of Health Systems and the Global Health Workforce’. Preference will be given to abstracts that promote systemic approaches to the problems posed. Abstracts must fall under one of the following categories: Health Services Delivery Equity and Social Issues Patient- and People-Centred Initiatives The Global Health Workforce and Migration Health Research and Policy Health Financing The Role of Universities, Hospitals, and Training Institutions Health Technologies, Health Information, and Biotech Medicines, Vaccines, and Diagnosis. The deadline for submission of abstracts is 15 January 2008.
Call for comments: Human Rights Guidelines for pharmaceutical companies in relation to access to medicines
Hunt P and Health Action International (HAI), 19 September 2007
This analysis has been developed keeping in mind the responsibilities of States, many of its elements are also instructive in relation to the responsibilities of non-State actors, including pharmaceutical companies. The draft Guidelines are grouped into overlapping categories; at the beginning of each group, there is a brief italicised commentary signalling some of the elements of the right-to health analysis that are especially relevant to that category. Importantly, the present Guidelines remain a draft. Comments on this draft are invited and should be sent as soon as possible - and before 31 December 2007.
Call for papers on Human Resources for Health
Global Health Workforce Alliance, 30 October 2007
A call is now made for submission of abstracts for presentation during the First Global Forum on Human Resources for Health. The abstracts should present experiences, lessons learnt and/or other intriguing new information that contribute to the achievement of the forum objectives and should be developed under any of the following Forum Themes: Leadership Education, Training and Skill mix, Migration and Retention, Financing, Management, Partnerships and linking up for action. Abstracts should be submitted to the Forum Organizing Committee (FOC)via email by 31 December 2007.
Call for papers: Intellectual property and access to medicines
Sur Journal, 2007
Sur Journal welcomes contributions to be published in a Special Issue of Sur – International Journal on Human Rights on Intellectual Property and access to medicine. The Journal aims at disseminating a Global Southern perspective on human rights and to facilitate exchange among professors and activists from the Global South without disregarding contributions from other regions. For the next issue, they will prioritize articles which, preferentially but not exclusively, address the following topics related to the debate of intellectual property and access to medicine: Alternative models to stimulate innovation; The impact of Intellectual Property on medicines for neglected diseases; Implications of the adoption of compulsory licenses; Best practices on guaranteeing access to medicine; The Judiciary role in the promotion of access to medicine. Closing date for submissions is 3 December 2007.
Job posting: Program Manager - ACACIA and Connectivity Africa Initiative
International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
The Acacia and Connectivity Africa Initiative goals are to empower sub Saharan communities with the capacity to apply information and communication technologies to their own social and economic development and to improve access to information and communication technologies in Africa, particularly in the sectors of education, health, agriculture and community development. This initiative is designed as an integrated program of research and development with demonstration projects that address issues of applications, technology, infrastructure, policy, and governance. Based at the IDRC head office in Ottawa, Canada, the Program Manager directs the overall development and implementation of its strategic and operating plans and establishes contact with national and international agencies and governments to: develop new partnerships and strengthen existing ones; strengthen and increase fundraising and donor support; and to work towards the achievement of the CCA’s programmatic objectives. The closing date for applications is 18 November 2007.
African health care worker shortage: Forum on private sector responses
Duke University
About 2.4 million doctors, nurses, and midwives are needed in fifty-seven countries with critical health care shortages. The challenge is greatest in sub-Saharan Africa which has only three percent of the world’s health workers and twenty-four percent of the global burden of disease. There is an increasing recognition that the private sector can strengthen public health systems by offering resources, knowledge, and skills. Duke University will host a conference on November 29-December 1 2007 in Durham , North Carolina , USA , to identify successful and emerging private sector responses to the health care worker shortage.
Call for letters of intent. The Economic Globalisation, Growth and HIV/AIDS Initiative: Research grants
The Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division (HEARD)
The Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division (HEARD) based at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) based in Canada, invite letters of intent from teams led or co-led by researchers from low- and middle income countries interested in conducting innovative projects exploring the linkages among economic globalisation, growth and HIV/AIDS along two themes: Exploring how HIV/AIDS interacts with efforts to facilitate inclusive or pro-poor growth strategies; and exploring the impacts of economic globalisation and growth on vulnerability and resilience to HIV/AIDS. The initial funding round will support up to five grants at a maximum of Canadian$100,000 (approximately US$90,000) each for one- to two-year projects. The application process is in two stages: letters of intent and then full proposals. Letters of intent will undergo competitive peer review, and successful applicants will be provided with Canadian$2,000 to support development of the full proposal. Full proposals will undergo competitive peer review. The deadline for application is 1 November 2007.