The Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) is pleased to announce the launching of its prize for the best three doctoral theses produced annually in Africa. This programme has been introduced with a view to promoting the research work of African doctoral students and to celebrate the performance of those among them who produce outstanding studies that are worthy of being given greater visibility than would otherwise be possible in the absence of a special initiative designed to bring them to the attention of a critical international audience.

Thandanani Children's Foundation (TCF) is a well-established NPO situated in Pietermaritzburg. KZN. The present Director has been in the organisation for 8 years and is leaving at the end of March 2004. TCF therefore wishes to employ a new Executive Director of calibre and with experience in the NPO sector and children's issue; who is dynamic, a powerful leader and is business minded.

The UN refugee agency this week started distributing an educational kit to inform teenagers in Europe on the plight of refugee youth in Africa. The kit, "Young African Refugees: Building the Future", includes a teacher’s guide and a video, with personal stories highlighting challenges faced by refugee youth. Addressing some 600 students gathered in Brussels from across the European Union, High Commissioner Ruud Lubbers said, "There is a strong need for solidarity, in order to help find a new life for young refugees. But the reality is that solidarity is not there."

"I had little knowledge or confidence in financial management but now my mind has been opened. I have learnt a lot which I'll take back to my organisation." This course provides a practical introduction to financial management for NGOs. It is aimed at senior managers and finance staff of NGOs wishing to expand their knowledge and understanding of financial management and the role it plays in successful programme management. The course content includes the building blocks and tools of financial management: keeping and understanding accounts, financial planning and budgeting, internal control and audit, financial reporting and monitoring.

A regional women's network based in Nairobi, Kenya is seeking to employ a Communications Officer for a two-year full time contract. A probation period of three months shall apply. Applications for this consultancy should be sent by Friday February 20th 2004 to the Executive Director, African Women's Development and Communications Network (FEMNET), P O Box 54562, Nairobi, Kenya, Email: [email][email protected] The application should include a letter explaining your interest in and expectations of this consultancy and your CV with copies of supporting documentation and three references. Please also include samples of your writing, editing and/or audiovisual production with your application.

The new UNICEF Representative in Liberia says her priority would be directed toward children's education. Upon Ms. Angela Kearney's arrival in the Country Tuesday, she said, "I will support the Ministry of Education for the children to go to school," adding that UNICEF would, in collaboration with the Education Ministry, have to build schools, playgrounds, and other facilities for the smooth learning process of children.

Ferial Haffajee really has something to smile about. The 36-year-old journalist has been appointed the new editor of South Africa's weekly Mail and Guardian - making her the first female editor of a major newspaper in her country. The M&G, as it is known in the industry, is an investigative, campaigning newspaper, born during the height of the anti-apartheid struggle in 1985. It appears on the newsstands in South Africa every Friday. Haffajee has come full circle, starting at the M&G as a journalist trainee in 1991. She takes up her new job as editor on 1 February. Her appointment comes in an important year for South Africa, which is celebrating its 10th democratic anniversary and preparing for the country's third non-racial elections. In this interview with allafrica.com, she outlines her future plans for the newspaper.

What is multigrade teaching? How do teachers manage a multigrade classroom? The websites provided (http://multigrade01.tripod.com/multinset/ and http://petermerckx.tripod.com/multinset/) give guidelines for organising a multigrade teaching workshop, tips for the multigrade teacher and demonstration lesson plans.

The 2003 (6th) edition of the Corporate Social Investment (CSI) Handbook is out. If you engage with - or want to engage with - the corporate sector in a development context, this is a must-read. CSI Handbook captures the breadth and depth of the social investment arena through a combination of in-depth primary and secondary research and independent editorial content.

The Africa Business Club at Harvard Business School presents: The Way Home: Cultivating Opportunities in Africa, February 27-29, 2004.
Distinguished Keynote Speakers:
Sam E. Jonah, CEO, Ashanti Goldfields, Ghana
Maria Ramos, CEO, Transnet, South Africa
Alex Cummings, CEO, Coca-Cola Africa
Panel Highlights:
Titans: African CEOs Speak
Young Africans: Living and Working in Africa
Women in Business: Challenges and Opportunities
Spotlight on the Media: Bringing Africa to the World
Information and Communications Technology: The Big Leap Forward
Social Marketing: New Approach to Development
Private Equity in Africa: Show Me the Money
Multilateral Organizations: Providing the Building Blocks
Other Conference Highlights include:
Featured Companies: Successful entrepreneurs share their stories
Career Fair: Network with potential employers, investors and business partners [Alumni Reception]

The Sixth Section is a groundbreaking documentary that blends digital animation, interviews, cinema verité and home video to tell the story of the transnational organising of a community of Mexican immigrants in New York. The men profiled in the film form an organisation called “Grupo Unión”, which is devoted to raising money in the United States to rebuild the Mexican town that they've left behind. Grupo Unión is one of at least a thousand "hometown associations" formed by Mexican immigrants in the United States. These groups are beginning to have a major impact in the politics and economics of both the U.S. and Mexico.

The U.K. government’s Department for International Development (DFID) recently sponsored a conference on remittances and livelihoods. “Migrant remittances, defined as transfers of funds from migrants to relatives or friends in their country of origin, have become an increasingly important feature of modern economic life.” The website has conference background papers, papers delivered at the conference and links to some organisations working on livelihoods and/or remittances. For further information, contact: Doug Pearce, Financial Sector Team, Policy Division, Department for International Development (DFID), Email:[email protected], Tel: +44 20 7023 0963, Fax: +44 20 7023 0437, 1 Palace Street, London SW1E 5HE, UK

Fahamu (http://www.fahamu.org) is looking for a part-time Administrator who will perform duties associated with the production of ourelectronic newsletters and associated websites.

The position involves:
- The transfer of content into new databases;
- The research of relevant material online;
- The writing of summaries for publications;
- Helping with the maintenance and administration of the databases associated with newsletters and websites;
- Assisting with the promotion of newsletters and websites produced by Fahamu;
- Providing such other support to the production of newsletters as may be required from time to time.
 
We envisage that this will be a two and a half day a week position. Applicants must have a high-degree of confidence in using the Internet for communicating, basic research and finding information online.  Ideally the applicant will be based in Cape Town, South Africa and have access to their own computer and internet connection. Please send a CV and a brief covering letter to [email][email protected]

The UN refugee agency has dispatched teams to the border region of Chad to look into reports of some 18,000 new Sudanese refugees fleeing continued violence in western Sudan's Darfur region over the past five days. Local authorities in the border area north of the town of Adre in eastern Chad told a UNHCR team there Tuesday that some 8,000 refugees had arrived in three different sites. The new arrivals had reportedly fled from fighting in Sudan's Djerbira canton since January 16.

Interfund, with assistance from the European Union, is launching a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) Helpline to provide information and advice to NGOs and CBOs. The NPO Helpline will provide callers from NPOs with a range of information and details to assist their organisations to access support to better manage and support their activities.

Nigerian State Security Service (SSS) officers interrogated Tony Eluemunor, the "Daily Independent" newspaper's Abuja bureau chief, on 12 January in connection with the newspaper's 8 January lead story. The story alluded to links between the presidency and an alleged plot to unseat Anambra State Governor Chris Ngige. On 9 and 10 January, SSS officers made repeated visits to the newspaper's Abuja offices to inquire as to the whereabouts of Eluemunor. When they were informed that the reporter was out of town, they left strict orders for him to report to the director of special operations (DSO) at the SSS headquarters in Abuja.

Reporters sans frontières (RSF) has called for the immediate release of "Al-Ayam" editor-in-chief Mahjoub Mohamed Salih. He was imprisoned on 14 January 2004 because of his newspaper's unpaid tax arrears of 90 million Sudanese pounds. Economic security agents went to the daily's offices on 14 January and demanded the immediate payment of tax arrears. Salih was arrested and jailed because he was unable to pay. His paper has been suspended since 3 December 2003.

The successful candidate will serve as the technical and programme leader for this high profile, $200 million, five-year HIV/AIDS prevention and care programme. MPH/MS/MA and at least 10 years experience managing large-scale health programmes, to include at least five years senior level field management experience in Africa.

What happens when African students finish their education? Is there an excess supply of educated labour? What do school-leavers and graduates think about the relevance and quality of their education in light of their subsequent experiences of employment?

What are the challenges faced by developing countries in providing for children with special educational needs? How should special schools and units relate to the aims of mainstream educational provision? Are attitudes towards special education still shaped by the colonial legacy? Do ministerial directives on special education actually influence provision?