The World Health Organization (WHO) is expanding its activities on environmental impact assessment in the health sector. WHO seeks an independent consultant to develop tools, guidance, and monitoring and reporting frameworks for use in assessing and managing environmental issues affected by health sector projects and activities. The scope of work for this consultancy consists of three tasks: design and implementation of customised environmental screening and impact assessment tools; development of environmental monitoring and reporting framework and related information management systems; and contribute to training materials to build capacity for the use of the above. The consultancy will be for six months and will start at the end of February 2010 (or as soon as reasonably possible). The consultant will be remunerated at a monthly rate that is commensurate with their experience and based on the United Nations common salary scale. Expression of interest must be emailed to Michaela Pfeiffer, Technical Officer, WHO, at the email address given, before the closing date.
Jobs and Announcements
Africa has a new continental body, the African Governance Institute (AGI), based in Dakar, Senegal. AGI interim director, Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja, explained that the main ‘added-value’ of the Institute is ‘to institutionalise African reflection on governance in Africa […] because we think that it is important that the people who live the realities of African societies and African states are better placed to understand what is going on and to propose solutions for a better future.’ He announced that AIG will convene a series of Conferences in 2010, including one with Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf on democracy and human rights ‘...to make this added-value a reality.’ The AGI’s programme of action was formally launched at an inaugural workshop on 3-4 November in Dakar. On 24 November, the AGI and ECDPM signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a strategic partnership, which aims to enhance both organisations’ work in supporting the African Governance Architecture and enhancing the dialogue strategies and development support of Africa’s European partners.
Abstract submission for IPA 2010 is still open. Participants wishing to propose papers for oral or poster presentations are invited to submit their abstracts via the Congress website address given here. Abstracts should be limited to 250 words. Topics include: child health and survival; Millennium Development Goals; neurology; cardiology; dermatology; endocrinology, diabetes, obesity and adolescent medicine; genetics, congenital anomalies; infectious diseases; allergy and immunology; development, neurodevelopmental disability and other long term outcome studies; pulmonology; nephrology; nutrition, gastroenterology and metabolism; pharmacology; neonatology; haematology and oncology; education and training; paediatric surgery and surgical sub-specialties; and miscellaneous topics. Only abstracts of authors who have paid their registration fees by 31 March 2010 will be scheduled and included in the final programme.
Carleton University’s Centre for Media and Transitional Societies (CMTS), in collaboration with Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), is launching a call for concept notes, in French or English, outlining proposed research examining the impact of convergence between traditional radio and new information and communications technologies (ICTs) in sub-Saharan Africa. Ultimately, the purpose of this competitive research project is both to generate important research and to support African researchers in their efforts to produce rigorous and analytical social science research findings on the ways that radio and the growth and penetration of new ICTs, such as mobile phones, the Internet and other digital technologies, have affected social, cultural, political and economic development. All interested applicants are required to submit a concept note outlining a synopsis of a proposed research idea. Based on the assessment of the concept notes, shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal in early 2010.
UNITAID is a global health initiative, established to provide sustainable, predictable and additional funding to significantly impact on market dynamics to reduce prices and increase the availability and supply of high quality medicines, diagnostics and related commodities for the treatment of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, primarily for populations in low-income and lower-middle income countries. This is a transparent "call for interest" from individuals wishing to apply for membership of their Proposal Review Committee ("PRC"); an independent, impartial team of experts tasked with providing technical expertise to UNITAID on proposals and related projects submitted to UNITAID for funding. Details of how to submit an application are at http://www.unitaid.eu/en/Requests-for-proposals-RFP.html with individual TORs and expertise criteria.
HEARD at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa is offering to support up to 12 young researchers by linking you to an international academic mentor who will support your writing of an article for submission for publication. If you are a young researcher (35 or under on 1st January 2010), resident in the SADC and EAC region and have exciting and original research on universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support, now is your chance to submit an article to a reputable peer reviewed international journal. Submissions need to include the application form (available on the website address given below) and a 10,000-word paper on a topic engaging with universal access. Papers should be no longer than 10,000 words and must be written in English. All disciplines may submit papers on universal access but topics should focus on social science, humanities or economics issues. Bio-medical topics will not be considered for support. Based on regional priorities, particular attention will be given to papers on issues faced by women – including sexual and reproductive health and rights; prevention topics in general and topics of health and economics.
The MA or Masters in Participation, Power and Social Change (MAP), offered by the University of Sussex, United Kingdom, is an 18-month programme providing experienced development workers and social activists with the opportunity to critically reflect on their practice and develop their knowledge and skills while continuing to work or volunteer for most of this period. The MA combines academic study, practical experience and personal reflection. Students carry out an action research project related to their work, inquiring into the challenges of participation and power relations, reflecting on their actions and assumptions, and exploring what it means to facilitate change. Designed for development workers and social change activists, this course combines academic study, practical experience and personal reflection. Students are able to continue with their work or volunteering activities while pursuing an MA degree, which includes a 12-month period of work-based learning in which they carry out an inquiry into their own practice. IDS is seeking interested people with at least three to five years of experience to join the October 2010 intake.
The Fourth Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights is part of a long-term process of building and fostering regional dialogue on sexual rights and health that leads to concrete action to influence policy particularly that of the African Union and its bodies. The purpose of the conference is to examine the interrelationship between sexuality and HIV and AIDS. In particular, it aims to open up discourse on sexuality in Africa and how this might lead to new insights in reducing the spread of HIV in Africa. The focus will be on identifying new and emerging vulnerabilities and vulnerable people using the concept of sexual rights and sexuality in the fight against HIV and AIDS. It will also explore how the application of human rights framework to sexuality might provide new insights in developing interventions to reduce the spread of HIV and map out new and innovative strategies, programming and funding best suited to deal with those most vulnerable to infection. The conference will provide a framework of how sexuality and the application of sexual rights may lead to openness, responsibility and choices for all people, particularly young people, on sex, sexuality and sexual behaviour.
Cape Town, South Africa will host the 13th International Congress on Medical Informatics from 12–15 September 2010. This is the first time the Congress will be held in Africa. It promises to boost exposure to grassroots healthcare delivery and the underpinning health information systems. This will open the door to new academic partnerships into the future and help to nurture a new breed of health informaticians. The theme is ‘Partnerships for Effective e-Health Solutions’, with a particular focus on how innovative collaborations can promote sustainable solutions to health challenges. It is well recognised that information and communication technologies have enormous potential for improving the health and lives of individuals. Innovative and effective change using such technologies is reliant upon people working together in partnerships to create innovative and effective solutions to problems with particular regard to contextual and environmental factors. The Congress seeks to bring together the health informatics community from across the globe to work together and share experiences and knowledge to promote sustainable solutions for health.
A growing group of health advocates and activists are engaging to promote during 2010 issues relating to accountability and transparency, within a rights and responsibilities approach in health. In common cause, in a collective vow of non-silence, all agree to speak up and voice concerns of questionable practices by both authorities and civil society. According to a petition circulated by the group, they are calling for greater accountability and transparency from institutions, organizations, and individuals in public sector health services.