Kenyan children, child activists and organisations serving children are pinning their hopes on the implementation of the new Children’s Act to improve the lot of the nation's youth, according to humanitarian sources.

Tanzania has confirmed that it will press ahead with a controversial British contract to buy a £28m air control system despite objections from the World Bank that it is too expensive and inappropriate to the country's needs.

UNICEF welcomes the efforts of UNHCR and Save the Children to throw light on the often unreported but widespread problem of child sexual abuse. We are particularly outraged that some humanitarian workers have betrayed the trust of the children they are charged to assist and protect.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he was "shocked and disturbed" at the news there may have been extensive sexual exploitation of refugee children by relief agency staff. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and Save the Children UK said the investigation centres on reports of sexual violence and exploitation of children in refugee camps in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Wholesale merging of tertiary institutions is far too blunt an instrument to create optimum efficiency, equity and quality in higher education. And there is rage in some quarters at recent merger proposals that leave a few privileged institutions untouched while targeting numerous others.

Women's Human Rights Net is seeking a consultant Content Manager to contribute to and co-ordinate the creation and updating of website content across a range of sections and topics on the WHRnet site.

As a child, his parents were poor. And at the age of five, he had already
taken to hawking to augment his family's lean resources. But today, the story is different for Owelle Rochas Okorocha, founder of the Rochas Foundation.

A summary of information received by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) from Governments, concerning their activities in the framework of the Decade for Human Rights Education (1995-2004). The information is updated as of December 2001, and is already included in related reports submitted by OHCHR to United Nations bodies (in particular, General Assembly and Commission on Human Rights). National initiatives are presented by country, under five regions (Africa; Arab countries; Asia/Pacific; Europe and North America; Latin America and the Caribbean); this information will be posted soon on OHCHR's website.

he Congress of South African Trade Unions welcomes the Mesebetsi Labour Force Survey Report, by Fafo, the Norwegian Institute for Applied Social Science. The survey confirms many of COSATU’s own findings about the levels of unemployment, poverty, inequality and racism in South Africa and flatly contradicts government ministers’ claims that the country’s economic fundamentals are ‘sound’.

Positions are available in Washington, DC for bilingual (English / French) Grants Analysts with demonstrated experience in managing grants. Primary duties of the position will be to disburse, track, analyze, assure compliance, report and close-out grant activities for broad range of development projects based in Africa. Familiarity with managing financial spreadsheets and entering financial and project-related data into databases are essential for these tasks. Additional duties include providing assistance to the director and regional managers by conducting cost projections to assess economic feasibility of projects. The analyst will also assist Country Liaison Officers in analyzing field budgets, assuring the accuracy of third party purchases and maintaining personnel files and associated compensation information for field staff.

Fahamu – learning for change - is seeking a Research Assistant to assist with the production of a range of electronic newsletters for the African-based human rights, education and health sectors. Working as part of a team you will be responsible for: research, compilation and promotion of materials for these electronic newsletters; monitoring of associated information services; and contributing to the editorial development. You must have experience as a researcher or journalist in an academic, media or development field; computer literacy, including experience of web based research; experience of working under pressure, to tight deadlines; interest and commitment to human rights and development. Experience of working in Africa, especially in the media, would be an advantage. You must have access to the internet and be willing to work from home. For further details contact [email][email protected] Closing date 30 March 2002.

The National Clearinghouse on Youth Employment (NCYE) is seeking a qualified Library Support Specialist.

When Microsoft promised 32 000 schools computers and 90% discounts for private schools and universities, it opened a can of worms.

The Minneapolis-based Mcknight Foundation has awarded $9.1-million in multi-year grants to support thirteen projects focused on improving agricultural research and training in developing countries.

The recently launched Aids orphanes trust received a kickstart by funds made available by First National Bank and TP Electrical. The trust fund aims at bettering the future for the thousands of children.

Fasset initiated the Education Upliftment Project Eastern Cape (Eupec)which is a R35-million skills initiative and social upliftment project. The project is funded via National Skills Trust. The aim of the project is to uplift maths and accounting skills at matric level.