Boys in Malawi have twice the risk of dying in their first few years as do girls-an observation researchers describe as both surprising and unexplainable. "Basically, it is well known that a bit more boys than girls are born in all populations," said Dr. P. Ashorn of the University of Tampere Medical School in Finland.

People living with HIV/AIDS in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) are set to finally benefit from the US $72 million granted to the province nearly eight months ago by the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Botswana is unable to cope with the massive flow of illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe, says the head of its immigration service. Roy Sekgororwane told the French news agency, AFP, that Botswana was sending back 1,600 people every month to Zimbabwe.

The Research on Knowledge Systems (RoKS) exploratory initiative of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is launching its second annual research competition (2002-2003). This year's theme: "Strengthening Knowledge Policy for Small States: How can small states participate more effectively in local, regional, and global knowledge partnerships?" requests concept notes. The competition will award up to seven grants, with a maximum value of CAD$ 80,000 each. For joint proposals where researchers are located in two or more countries a maximum of CAD$ 160,000 will be awarded.

The European Union (EU) will grant 50 million Euros in the forthcoming five years for Angola. In a first phase, the amount will be used in humanitarian aid, the returning and resettlement of war displaced people, reinsertion of former UNITA soldiers, health improvement, agriculture and de-mining.

The inaugural Nkosi Johnson International Soccer Challenge will take place on February 9. The Kansas City Wizards from the United States will play against two premier soccer league clubs to raise funds for Nkosi's Haven. All the money raised during the two games will be contributed to Nkosi's Haven in honour of the boy who touched so many hearts with his Aids message.

An international relief agency this week said the effects of food shortages in Mozambique were a lot worse than what had been reported. Following a visit to the southern African country, World Relief President Clive Calver said there was a grotesque unawareness about the impact of the food crisis, especially in remote areas.

The Poverty Analysis Initiative team is organizing three activities in Africa, under the Attacking Poverty Program, at the end of January and in early February. A high-level meeting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, should establish a regional forum for supporting empirically based policy analysis, and monitoring and evaluation of poverty.

Nigeria's House of Representatives on Tuesday voted to revisit the Child Rights Bill and reverse its decision last October to reject the bill on the grounds it offended certain cultural sensibilities.

This report presents a macro-economic framework underlying many policy proposals by churches, labour, and non-governmental organisations. The core of the proposal addresses a "virtuous circle" of growth arising out of social investment that would expand the economic capacity for human development and growth.

According to a new report released this week by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Somali children sent abroad in the expectation of a better life instead end up facing serious psychological and identity problems, and in extreme cases, are even forced into prostitution as part of an exploitative child-smuggling business.

The authorities in the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland, northeastern Somalia, have lifted the ban on two BBC reporters, according to a senior official in the region's commercial capital, Bosaso.

Africa Action has welcomed the announcement of new money to fight HIV/AIDS by the Bush administration, but Africa Action Executive Director Salih Booker noted that this money must be made available immediately if it is to save lives and have a real impact on the course of the pandemic in Africa and globally.

This paper presents the findings of a global study carried out in 2000 on the specific impact of HIV/AIDS on children. The study is based on nine country case studies - six in Africa and three in Asia - and a review of five key areas: the health sector, the education sector, access to antiretroviral drugs, economic impact and child impoverishment and orphanhood.

The International Human Rights Funders Group (IHRFG) web site has been designed as a resource not only for human rights funders but also human rights groups around the world.

The South African Communist Party will hold a seminar that is aimed at appraising the theoretical contribution to the South African struggle of its late former national chairperson, Joe Slovo within the alliance and the overall South African perspective.

For the first time since the end of the Angolan civil war, poverty is mapped in the country. New national statistics have shown that between 68 and 69 percent of Angolans live in poverty, although it is expected that real numbers could be even higher.

The Internet Nonprofit Center publishes the Nonprofit FAQ, a resource of information provided by participants in many online discussions about nonprofits and their work. Resources at the Internet Nonprofit Center include Resources for fundraising online and a feature on "Fundraising Productivity".

The ICASA conference is the forum where every 2 years, African Scientists, Health providers, social leaders, political leaders and communities come together to share experiences and updates on the response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The next ICASA (13th ICASA) conference will be held in Nairobi Kenya from 21st - 26th September 2003. Abstracts are invited for presentation at the conference.

The Zimbabwe AIDS Policy and Advocacy (ZAPA) project invites nominations for individuals, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), AIDS Service Organisations (ASOs), Community-based Organisations (CBOs) or corporate institutions that have excelled in HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention, research, care and support programmes in Zimbabwe for this year's awards ceremony to be held in March 2003.