CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS Training Workshop on Participatory methods for research and training for a people centred health system Training and Research Support Centre (TARSC), The Ifakara Health Research and Development Centre (IHRDC) with the The Southern African Regional Network on Equity in Health (EQUINET) and CHESSORE Zambia Call Closes On January 23, 2006! This call invites applicants to participate and share experiences in a Workshop on Participatory Methods for for research and training for a people centred health system being held in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, March 1-4, 2006. The call: TARSC and IHRDC under the EQUINET umbrella and with support from CHESSORE have developed a toolkit of materials on participatory reflection and action (PRA) methods for research and training for a people centred health system. The materials provide information on areas for strengthening community voice and roles in health systems and introduce and provide examples of participatory approaches for training and research that supports this. The toolkit provides practical examples that can be used in field work, but also builds broader understanding of the elements of participatory methodologies for health. It aims to support work at national, district and local level with health systems and communities in health, with a major focus on the interactions at primary health care level. The skills workshop uses the toolkit in a practical way to build understanding of PRA approaches and their use in strengthening people centred health systems. It will work through practical examples of PRA approaches. We will provide time for application of these approaches and capacities to areas of work that participants are practically involved with at community level. It is likely that the follow up work on the application of the training will link to the ongoing programme of work on participation and health in EQUINET. We will also take feedback from participants on the course and toolkit. At the end of the course, we hope that the participants will have learned and be able to use various methods for participatory approaches to research and training within various areas of work aimed at building people-centred health systems. The workshop uses experiences from different countries in the east and southern African region. We invite health workers, health researchers, academics, civil society organisations, NGOs, community leaders and workers and others who are involved in work with communities on strengthening community voice and roles in health to apply for participation in the regional training workshop. There are limited places in the workshop. We invite interested organisations and individuals to submit an application to participate and to provide the full information shown below. The workshop will cost delegates their airfares and local costs of about $400 to cover their accommodation, meals and airport transfers in Bagamoyo. EQUINET will sponsor a limited number of accepted delegates for airfare or local costs or both based on need. Participants of existing EQUINET programmes are welcome to apply. Information requested from applications: Interested applicants should submit ? a 1-2 page ‘expression of interest’ that outlines the research or training work that they and their institution are doing / are proposing to do on strengthening community voice and roles in health systems, what their own role in this work is, where the work is being done, whether it is funded, what changes it is aiming at producing and why participatory reflection and action (PRA) methods will enhance the work ? a personal CV including community based research and training and any prior experience of, training in or use of PRA methods, ? brief information on the institution that they work in, and ? clear information on whether they are able to meet all costs, or need EQUINET sponsorship for airfare ONLY, local costs ONLY, or ALL costs. Applicants should submit this information by 23th January 2006 to the EQUINET secretariat admin@equinetafrica.org / Fax 263-4-737 220 and copy it to rene@tarsc.org and mbuyita@yahoo.com. Accepted delegates will be notified by Wednesday February 1 2006 on the outcome of their submission, including sponsorship and of the logistic details for the meeting. Focal points for queries on this programme are Mr. Selemani S Mbuyita at Ifakara Health Research and Development Centre, and Dr Rene Loewenson, Training and Research Support Centre. Please send queries through admin@equinetafrica.org and copy it to rene@tarsc.org and mbuyita@yahoo.com.