CALL FOR APPLICANTS FOR STUDENT RESEARCH GRANTS ON EQUITY IN HEALTH, AUGUST 2005 Call Closes On August 31 2005. This briefing describes the programme of student research grants in EQUINET and invites applicants for the third round of grants. The Regional Network for Equity in Health in Southern Africa (EQUINET) promotes policies for equity in health across a range of priority theme areas (See www.equinetafrica.org) EQUINET has over the years, organized its work in various theme areas, including: economic and trade policy and health; human rights, governance and participation, equity in health sector responses to HIV/AIDS, human resources for health; monitoring and surveillance and others. Within these areas of work EQUINET aims to identify, recruit and build capacity and analysis. After a successful pilot initiative in 2003 in co-operation with the Malawi Health Equity Network member in the EQUINET steering committee, EQUINET has now launched a programme of student research support that provides small research grants for students at college or university in various programmes in east and southern Africa. The programme will give priority to student research applicants who propose projects in areas of research relevant to EQUINETs priority areas of theme work, and who provide evidence of supervision from expertise in these areas. EQUINET will award a number of small grants to post graduate students and undergraduate students in East and Southern Africa for research proposals in the areas of 1. Revitalising and building national peoples’ health systems Knowledge for publicly-funded comprehensive, people centred and people driven equitable and universal health systems. 2. Organising people’s power for health Knowledge to support building critical mass of people working together towards a common vision of the right to health for all as a constitutional right and within a democratic system. 3. Ensuring fair financing of an equitable health system Knowledge on fair, sustainable and equitable financing for health at national, regional and global level in order to secure the universal right to health. At a national level, this means rising investment that strengthens the national health system through the public health sector, with mechanisms that ensure universality, solidarity and transparency and that promote public over commercial interests. 4. Ensuring the human resources for health Knowledge on how to produce adequate, well-trained, equitably distributed and motivated health workers. 5. Challenging trade liberalization and encroachment on health Knowledge on how to ensure a fair and just international trade system, where people are put before profits (health over commercial interests); and where our states and governments maintain sovereignty through regulatory flexibility for development. Knowledge on how to organise towards reversing unfair flows of resources from south to north. The grants are for students to carry out supervised, small research projects in the course of their studies and are set at a maximum of $750. Applicants are requested to provide brief information in 2-3 pages on . The name, institution, course and year of study of the student . The name, department and institution and contact email/fax for the proposed supervisor for the study . The theme area of the proposal . The hypothesis, research question or research objective(s) . The methods to be used, and indicators / (quantitative, qualitative information) to be collected and the intended analyses to be carried out . The time frames and budget The application should be made jointly by mentors / supervisors and their students. The grants will be awarded on condition that they are mentored by a professional from an institution in the region. Preference will be given to mentors that are EQUINET Members or individuals that have worked with EQUINET before. Applications should be submitted to admin@equinetafrica.org with STUDENT GRANTS in the subject line or by fax to 263- 4-737220 by August 31, 2005. The selection of grants will be made on the basis of relevance of subject area and quality of proposal but with some attention to ensuring equity in the distribution of grants across countries in the region. Applications in French or Portuguese will be considered. EQUINET web based resources, newsletter and expertise in the theme areas will be available to the students. The reports of the research projects will be made available on the EQUINET website. Publication from the research is encouraged, with acknowledgement of the support from EQUINET. EQUINET will also have the right to use the research in its theme work and will encourage the students participation in future EQUINET activities and information exchange. The Focal point for queries on this programme is G Musuka at the EQUINET Secretariat (TARSC). Please send queries through admin@equinetafrica.org )