A campaign backed by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) aiming to help school 450,000 children returning home from displacement camps in the war-torn northern region of Uganda has kicked off. Over the next two years, this scheme will also target 4,500 teachers in 650 schools in the Lango sub-region in northern Uganda.

International communications company BT is to invest R20m in education in SA, China and India over the next three years in terms of a partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef).

Bonkir Benjamin has just begun school at JCC Model Preschool in the southern Sudanese capital of Juba. However, despite his high aspirations, he knows he will probably have to leave the war-torn region if he is to fulfill his dreams.

Uganda wants to teach its children lessons in finance and in doing so hopes to create a generation of entrepreneurs. Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda reports for PANOS from Kampala.

Last month saw the launch of free secondary education in Uganda, part of the government’s strategy to expand opportunities for young people and reduce poverty. The number of students is set to double. This PANOS feature looks at some of the challenges ahead.

The Open Society Initiative for East Africa (OSIEA) is hiring a Programme Coordinator.To Apply: Send cover letter and resume by May 5, 2007 to: [email][email protected] or fax to +254-20-3877663. No telephone inquiries please.

The Institute for Human Rights & Development in Africa requires a Legal Officer based in Banjul, Gambia. Closing date for applications is April 12th 2007 and applications should be sent to: [email][email protected]

Graphic Designer for Raising Vocies. To be considered, submit CV and sample portfolio (nothing over 1mb) or link to online portfolio to [email][email protected] by April 10th 2007.

Wednesday, 28 March, 2007 will go down as a sad day among social researchers all over Africa and beyond: It was the day Professor Archie Mafeje passed away in Pretoria in what was a most quiet exit that has left the very many among us whom he touched directly or indirectly in a state sadness and anger. Archie Mafeje, the quintessential person of science and one of the most versatile, extraordinary minds to emerge from Africa was, in his days, a living legend in every sense: His knowledge was as vast as his grasp of issues – almost all issues - was breathtaking. His discourses transcended disciplinary boundaries and were characterised by a spirit of combative engagement underpinned by a commitment to social transformation. As an academic sojourner conscious of the history of Africa over the last six centuries, he rallied his colleagues to resist the intellectual servitude on which all forms of foreign domination thrive. He was intransigent in his call for the liberation of our collective imaginations as the foundational stone for continental liberation. In all of this, he also distinguished himself by his insistence on scientific rigour and originality: It was his trade mark to be uncompromisingly severe with fellow scientists who were mediocre in their analyses. The power of his pen and the passion of his interventions always went hand-in-hand with a uniquely polemical style that was hardly meant for those who were not sure-footed in their scholarship. This then was the Mafeje who left us on 28 March, 2007 to join the other departed heroes and heroines of the African social research community: A great pan-African, an outstanding scientist, a first rate debater, a frontline partisan in the struggle for social justice, and a gentleman of great humanitarian principles. We will surely miss his thoughtful insights, his strident rebukes, his loyal friendship, his companionship, and – yes, his wit, humour and expert culinary skills that included an incomparable knowledge of foods and wines from all corners of the world.

Archie Mafeje has fought the battle and run the race successfully; for those of he has left behind, especially those of us whom he inspired, the challenge before us is clear: Keep the Mafeje spirit alive by investing ourselves with dedication to the quest for the knowledge we need in order to transform our societies – and the human condition for the better. In the meantime, our thoughts and solidarity go to the members of his family, including his wife Shahida El-Baz and their daughter, Danna.

Fahamu is seeking an experienced programme manager in its Oxford office to take responsibility for managing its growing portfolio of projects.

"The Independent" newspaper, which was banned by the government for publishing a sex photo of former presidential affairs minister, Willie Knuckles, has been ordered by the Supreme Court of Liberia to return to "status quo ante." The court's latest ruling is a result of a challenge by "The Independent" through its legal counsel, Attorney-at-Law Syema Syrenius Cephus, protesting the government of Liberia's order through the court's system.

At least 35 migrants were confirmed dead and 113 others missing and presumed dead after making a perilous sea voyage from Somalia to Yemen, a Somali community leader told IRIN on Monday.

Uganda needs your help to face down an increasingly arrogant regime. It has ignored professional advice to not give 7,100ha of critical forestland to a major sugar company to plant cane. Now it is up to 'common' Ugandans to make their voices heard. But with your help. Right now a massive effort is on via SMS, internet, etc in Uganda to stop the government. To sign an online petition, go here:

For background info, follow these URLs: http://www.monitor.co.ug/sunday/insights/insights03252.php http://www.monitor.co.ug/news/news03292.php http://www.monitor.co.ug/oped/oped03291.php

In an attempt to activate the role of intellectuals in the conflict-ridden Horn of African region, Djibouti will offer a forum to the region's intellectuals to debate and start a dialogue on the region's economic, political and social problems in a conference due to be held in the second half of November 2007.

Nigeria's traditional rulers have launched a new initiative to encourage the development of science and technology by using local languages. Using Nigeria's three main native languages in science aims at making science results more easily applied by the country's regional and local administrations.

"The Answer to Darfur", the first in a series of strategy papers to be released by ENOUGH, a joint initiative of the International Crisis Group and the Center for American Progress, presents a comprehensive plan for resolving the ongoing crisis in Darfur.

The AIDS Law Project (ALP), a section 21 non-profit company and a registered law clinic, is formally associated with the School of Law at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. The ALP seeks to appoint an attorney from May 2007 or as soon as possible thereafter. Deadline for applications is 5 April, 2007.

The Southern Africa Trust is pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the 2007 Drivers of Change award. Officially opened on 8 March, 2007 at the Johannesburg Country Club, the award is expected to attract entries from individuals and organisations in the southern Africa region who in their work to overcome poverty, are making a real and lasting difference in the lives of the poor.

The Africa Director, a newly created position, will be responsible for designing and expanding ICTJ's programmatic and strategic work in Africa. S/he will operate with a high degree of autonomy, overseeing ICTJ's entire programme in the region and will report directly to the Executive Vice President of ICTJ. Deadline for applications is 24 April 2007.

The successful candidate will, with other Deputy Directors, support the Executive Director to provide leadership to the Network, within the framework set by the Executive Management Committee. Deadline for applications is 6 April, 2007.