African health and environment ministers will gather for the first time from 26 to 29 August, 2008, in Libreville, Gabon to enhance political commitment and investments for reducing environmental threats to health. The First Inter-Ministerial Conference on Health and Environment in Africa will be hosted by the Government of Gabon, together with WHO and the United Nations Environment Programme. Participants will come from health and environment ministries, multilateral and bilateral agencies, media, non-governmental organizations and civil society. The conference will explore ways to address key priorities and links in line with its theme “Health security through healthy environments”. It will review existing mechanisms and opportunities to address environmental challenges facing Africa. An agreement on specific actions required for changes in institutional arrangements and investment frameworks will be discussed.
Jobs and Announcements
This workshop aims to highlight and share best practice lessons that will improve policy, practice and implementation on HIV programmes. The workshop targets senior staff in organisations that operate in the AIDS sector.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) invites all interested parties to attend a satellite meeting on the impact of the health care worker shortage on access to HIV/AIDS treatment and lessons learned from clinicians and advocates working on the ground to overcome this gap. Date: August 3, 2008, 9am - 1pm. Venue: Melia Reforma Hotel, Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City, Mexico.
Oxfam is organising a two-hour round-table discussion for sharing thoughts and ideas and initiate a debate on health insurance, which gained significant importance on the political agenda recently as a way of financing health care. The workshop will call for the participation of different stakeholders among them are governments, international organisations and civil society organisations. The workshop will be organised at the XVII International Aids Conference in Mexico (date of discussion: 4th of August, 17.00-19.00). It is a good opportunity to share experiences and knowledge on health insurance as it is being implemented and promoted in several countries, as well as the risks that need to be taken into account with regard to the goal of achieving universal coverage, equity and access for all.
Progressio is currently advertising a new vacancy based in Lilongwe, Malawi. The position of HIV and AIDS advocacy adviser (two-year placement) is available, where you will be working alongside the Malawi Interfaith AIDS Association (MIAA) and the Malawi Network of Religious Leaders living with or personally affected by HIV and AIDS. Contact Ricardo Tomaz, Recruitment, selection and training coordinator, at: Progressio, Unit 3, Canonbury Yard, 190a New North Road, London N1 7BJ, United Kingdom. Tel: (44) (0) 20 7354 0883 (switchboard) Fax: (44) (0) 20 7359 0017. Note that Progressio is the new name of the Catholic Institute for International Relations (CIIR).
A social scientist/demographer/epidemiologist is sought to play an important role in a large Wellcome Trust-supported research programme based in northern Malawi. The programme includes demographic surveillance in a population of 32,000, and an HIV and sexual behaviour survey. This represents an unusual opportunity for involvement in a major long-term programme. The closing date for applications is 27 August 2008.
In order to ensure a broader participation of social movements and organisations in the building of objectives for the World Social Forum 2009, the Belem's Organising Committee and the IC Methodology Commission has agreed to extend the consultation period to 25 June 2008. Civil society organisations and social movements are invited to visit the website and make their comments about the nine goals established for the 2007 WSF in Nairobi, as well as make suggestions of new objectives to the World Social Forum 2009.
The NGO Delegation to the UNAIDS PCB has vacancies for two-year terms, beginning 1 January 2009 and ending 31 December 2010, for the position of Africa Alternate Delegate. This represents a unique opportunity for committed activists and HIV/AIDS advocates to make a difference to HIV/AIDS policy implementation in their regions. The position of NGO Delegates to the UNAIDS PCB is important to the effective inclusion of community voices in the key global forum for HIV/AIDS policy. NGO Delegates represent the perspectives of civil society, including people living with HIV, within UNAIDS policies and programming. The closing date is Tuesday, 31 August 2008.
The mission of the International Women's Programme (IWP) of the Open Society Institute is to use grant-making and programmatic efforts to promote and protect the rights of women and girls in priority areas around the globe where the principles of good governance and respect for the rule of law are absent or destroyed because of conflict. IWP seeks to promote the advancement of women’s rights and gender equality in law and practice, and the empowerment of women to ensure participation in the democratic processes. Organisations can apply for one- to three-year grants, ranging from US$25,000 to US$200,000. The deadline for proposal submissions is 7 July 2008.
The aim of this new initiative of the WHO World Alliance for Patient Safety is to stimulate research in patient safety worldwide by providing funding for small research projects. It is envisaged that the initiative will also contribute to building local research capacity as well as help raise awareness about patient safety issues. Proposals to identify, develop and/or test local interventions for improving patient safety, as well as studies on the cost-effectiveness of risk-reducing strategies, are invited. Funding will be available to support up to 30 projects to begin in 2009. Grants of between US$10,000 and US$25,000 per project will be awarded on a competitive basis. The grants will target well-defined research projects that can be completed within 12–18 months. Research in all methodological and clinical disciplines that address patient safety is encouraged. The proposed studies may be conducted in any health-care setting. Research to be conducted in developing countries and countries with economies in transition is particularly encouraged. The deadline for submissions is 30 September 2008.