OSISA oversees US$5 million in grants annually in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Support is offered to projects that are national or regional. The programmes broadly focus on education, media, information technology, human rights and democracy. Rolling Deadlines.

Uganda will hold the 4th National AIDS Conference (NAC) in March 2005. NAC brings together policy makers, researchers and AIDS practitioners to share knowledge and experiences about the epidemic and the response. NAC resolutions feed into policy and programme development, and service delivery processes for an evidence-based response.

Winrock International is currently seeking applications for three positions related to a new project to conduct impact monitoring and evaluation for a national rural energy program in Africa: 1) Chief of Party; 2) Data Collection Coordinator; 3) Short Term Consultant - project design and proposal writing. To apply, please email us your CV, cover letter and reference list with the appropriate title in the subject line. Deadline: October 23, 2004

Armed conflicts in Mozambique (1978-1992), in Sierra Leone (1991-2002) and still ongoing in Northern Uganda (since 1987) have displaced, killed and maimed millions. In each conflict thousands of boys and girls as young as seven were forcibly recruited into the fighting forces. The experience has affected many of them emotionally and physically, and deprived them of years of education. New research tackles the complex question of how best to reintegrate former girl soldiers back into society and education.

Artists for a New South Africa (ANSA) Amandla AIDS Fund (AAF) was established in 2003 by a $2.5 million donation from Carlos and Deborah Santana. They directed the entire net proceeds of the 2003 U.S. Summer Santana Shaman tour to the fund, which provides grants to South African organisations working to combat Aids.

African governance is improving but significant challenges remain. That's the message of a summary report released by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). "Striving for Good Governance in Africa," an overview of the state of governance in 28 countries covering 72% of Africa's population, says that while African political governance is improving, on some fronts such as tax evasion and corruption, there is still a long way to go. It proposes a ten-point action plan for reversing Africa's governance deficits.

The International conference on AIDS and STI in Africa is a gathering place for leaders across various sectors in Africa to discuss HIV/AIDS and its effects on Africa's development. The XIV edition of ICASA is billed for Abuja in December 2005. The e-consultation begain October 2 and will end November 2, 2004. To join the discussion, send a blank email to youthaticasa2005- [email protected].

Dans le cadre du développement de ses activités, la CTB recherche un (H/F): Expert en matière d'appui à la décentralisation, délégué à la cogestion du projet: Appui au développement local des districts de Buliza, Rulindo, Rushashi et Shyorongi en province de Kigali Ngali, Rwanda. Postulez via le site web: www.btcctb.org ou envoyer votre lettre de motivation ainsi que votre CV en mentionnant clairement la fonction pour laquelle vous posez votre candidature ainsi que le numéro de référence, à l'adresse [email protected]. Postulez, au plus tard le 19 octobre 2004

(S)he will manage the day-to-day activities of the project and ensure commodities are received, transported and stored properly and safely. Select schools and kindergartens for direct feeding and monetization assistance. Assure that an adequate distribution and monitoring system is in place and functioning. Manage monitoring function of Food for Education program. Evaluate projects/activities supported by monetization proceeds. Will draft semi-annual reports for IPHD/HQ. Will provide technical assistance at all levels of the MOE in school lunch program management and project.

The Sectoral Expert will be supporting the Technical Project Coordinator. He/she will follow the reconstruction on going activities. He/she will support the logistic aspects of the Project. Requirements: University Degree in Architecture or other technical degrees; Fluency in written and oral Portuguese; Experience in rehabilitation projects; Strong motivation to work in the mentioned area. Job reference code: RW_99757A. Closing date: 31 October 2004

This is the last call for applications for the coming workshop on Writing and Presentation of Scientific Research for IFPRI partners and colleagues. The workshop will be held at the ILRI campus in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 13-17 December 2004. We have very few seats available and the deadline for applications is 30 October. If you are interested in participating but did not manage to raise the necessary funds to cover the workshop fee, please send us a message. If we identified a sponsor we can indicate your name for the scholarship. If you want to receive additional information on this workshop or others, please do not hesitate to contact us.

In a speech read on his behalf by education deputy minister Gunston Chola during the commemoration of Teachers Day under the theme "Quality Teachers for Quality Education Recruitment and Retention of Qualified Teachers" yesterday, Mulenga said recruitment and retention of qualified teachers was cardinal for the country to achieve quality education. Mulenga said government's failure to recruit more teachers was not intentional, but in order to attain a positive economic environment so that more teachers would be employed.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) plans to expand its school-feeding project in Somalia once a government has been re-established and security restored in all areas to facilitate the revival of the Horn of Africa country's poor education system, a senior WFP official said. Robert Hauser, WFP's country director for Somalia told IRIN, "The education sector at the moment is the highest priority of the UN system and of most of the donor community also."

According to Herbert Mkhize, Nedlac's executive director, a total of 332, 000 jobs were created in the six months between September 2003 and March 2004, after the growth and development summit (GDS). A further analysis will provide information about the status of GDS themes of "more jobs, better jobs, investment promotion, skills development, promotion of equity and boosting local action".

The Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission has just published its report. The report concludes that "it was years of bad governance, endemic corruption and the denial of basic human rights that created the deplorable conditions that made conflict inevitable." Sierra Leone saw some of the most horrific and cruel atrocities committed by people against each other. "The overwhelming majority of atrocities were committed by Sierra Leoneans against Sierra Leoneans. All the fighting factions targeted civilians. Women and girls became targets for abuse in the brutal conflict in Sierra Leone. They suffered abductions and exploitation at the hands of their abductions. Their ulnerability was exploited in order to dehumanize them. Women and girls were raped, forced into sexual slavery and endured acts of sexual violence. Many suffered mutilations, torture and a host of other cruel and inhumane acts. The Commission found the leadership of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), the Sierra Leone Army (SLA) and the Civil Defense Forces (CDF) to be responsible for either authorising or instigating human rights violations against civilians; alternatively for failing to stop such practices or to speak out against them. Sierra Leone was systematically plundered and looted by all factions in the conflict. The Commission found the RUF to have been responsible for the largest number of human rights violations in the conflict." The report claims that the war was only partly to do with diamonds, which fuelled rather than caused the crisis. The report highlights the role of external parties in intensifying the conflict and "laments the fact that the international community, apart from the ECOWAS states, declined to intervene in the unfolding human catastrophe in Sierra Leone until at a very late stage." It recommendations include calling upon leaders to to respect human rights, the abolition of the death penalty, upholding freedom of expression, etc. On reparations, the commission proposes "a programme to address and respond to the specific needs of victims, rather than recommending cash handouts." The overview of the Commission's report can be found at the link below. The full report is due to be made available, we understand at http://www.ictj.org/

Reporters without Borders (RSF) has hailed a 30 September 2004 announcement by the Central African Republic Association of Private and Independent Newspaper Publishers (Groupement des éditeurs de la presse privée indépendante de Centrafrique, GEPPIC) saying it will no longer publish newspapers on Fridays, beginning 1 October, until President François Bozizé's government keeps a promise to decriminalise press offences.

Closing date: October 22, 2004.
The Human Rights Defender Co-ordinator will be co-ordinating AI's program of work for the protection of Human Rights Defenders in Africa. You will need first hand knowledge of a least one sub-region in Africa coupled with exposure to African human rights issues and project management experience. Location: Africa Regional Office, Kampala, Uganda. Duration: Permanent contract Ref. no: AFR/04/09

Oxfam GB Uganda is looking for an experienced and dynamic individual to provide leadership and support to a large humanitarian programme. You do not necessarily have a particular technical background, but you do understand the kind of technical support needed to mobilize resources and ensure high quality programmes. In particular, you will consciously consider issues like gender and HIV/AIDS in programming, and be able to take into account the long-term impacts of the work we do. Reference Number:INT768

Closing date: October 13, 2004.
Under the overall supervision of the Chief of UNIFEM's Africa Section, the Programme Specialist will provide analytical, technical and managerial support to the Section and to the Regional Programme Directors (RPDs) in the Africa Region. The Programme Specialist will be responsible for programme/project development and management in collaboration with the RPDs and the relevant Thematic Advisers. Job expertise: Gender Programme Duration of initial contract: 1 year (renewable).

One of Britain's best-known charities was today condemned for entering into a partnership with a firm linked to the military dictatorship in Burma. Human rights organisation the Burma Campaign UK slammed Comic Relief, the charity behind Red Nose Day, after it emerged the charity would be working on the event with delivery company DHL, which is in a joint venture with the Burmese government.