Call Closes On March 20 2006 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 invites applicants for small research grants for post graduate and undergraduate students in East and Southern Africa. Students are encouraged to submit focused proposals that look at a specific issue and either organise secondary evidence or gather empirical evidence in one of the priority areas of EQUINET work listed below. 1. Building comprehensive, universal and integrated national health systems i.e exploring, evaluating, providing evidence on or carrying out policy analysis on specific features health systems that address inequalities in health or that promote social solidarity and cohesion. 2. Fair trade and economic policy i.e studies that examine the influence of World Trade Organisation and bilateral trade and investment agreements and other economic policy measures on commercialization of health systems, on access to health care and to essential medicines. Studies that explore actions or measures within and beyond the health sector to ensure health promoting economic and trade policy. 3. Fair financing of health systems i.e studies that document, assess, review or explore using an equity lens health financing both in how resources are mobilized for health, and how they are allocated. This includes issues such as meeting the Abuja commitment of an allocation of 15% of government spending to health; reducing out of pocket funding for health; strengthening the solidarity and cross subsidies in health financing and so on. 4. Human resources for health i.e exploring the negative effects on ordinary people of missing health workers and options for how countries can value and retain health workers. 5. Organising people centred health systems i.e exploring and assessing mechanisms for participation in health and work with civil society and parliaments and their effectiveness in strengthening community roles and voice in health. The application should be made jointly by students and their mentors/ supervisors. Each applicant is expected to have a supervisor from the academic or professional staff of the institution receiving the grant. Grants will only be awarded to institution in the east and southern Africa region. Supervisors are expected to have an experience in health, health equity, in the area of the study. Those active in EQUINET work are encouraged to apply. Applications in French or Portuguese will be considered. Applications should include *The research proposal setting out clearly the background, aims, methods to be used, expected data to be gathered and analysis to be implemented, time frame (should be 3 months or less) relevant ethical clearances to be obtained and how the results will be used *A brief CV of the student and the mentor *The name of the institution that will receive the grant for the student Applications be submitted to admin@equinetafrica.org with STUDENT GRANTS in the subject line or by fax to 263-4-737220 by March 20, 2006. Applicants will be informed of the outcome of the application by March 1 2006. The focal point for queries on this programme is the EQUINET Secretariat, Training and Research Support Centre (TARSC) Zimbabwe.