The call for nominations for the 2012 Red Ribbon Award is now open. As in the past, the award honors and recognizes exceptional grassroots leadership in responding to the AIDS epidemic. Nominations are accepted from 1 December 2011 until 29 February 2012.

Ten community-based organizations will be selected through a community-led process and invited to attend the XIX International AIDS Conference in Washington, DC from 22 to 27 July 2012 where they will have the opportunity to showcase their work. All ten organizations will receive US$10,000 each.

The Red Ribbon Award 2012 will be given to community groups for outstanding leadership in responding to AIDS in one or more of the following categories:

1. Prevention of Sexual Transmission – Work to prevent sexual transmission including (but not limited to) among young people, men who have sex with men and transmission in the context of sex work
2. Prevention among people who use drugs – Work to prevent HIV infections among people who use drugs
3. Treatment, care and support – Work to improve access to antiretroviral therapy, essential care and support for people living with HIV, their families, loved ones and dependents including services to limit TB deaths among people living with HIV
4. Advocacy and Human Rights – Advocating for abolishing punitive laws, discrimination and harmful practices around HIV transmission, sex work, drug use, transgender populations or homosexuality that block effective responses including (but not limited to) HIV-related national restrictions on entry, stay and residence - Work to end stigma and discrimination of people living with HIV their families, loved ones and dependents – Work to end gender-based violence in the context of the AIDS epidemic.
5. Stopping new HIV infections in children and keeping mothers alive, Women’s Health – Work to prevent vertical transmission of HIV, and AIDS-related maternal mortality – Work to address the HIV-specific needs of women and girls.

Are you eligible? Click here to NOMINATE NOW!

source: www.redribbonaward.org

The Leverhulme Trust

Name: Leverhulme-Royal Society Africa Award

The award aims to help develop and maintain excellence in science in both UK and research institutions in either Ghana or Tanzania and to strengthen the research and training capacity of the African institution.

Eligibility: Applications covering the following five identified national research priorities in Ghana and Tanzania are particularly encouraged: agriculture (including animal health); water and sanitation; basic human health research (including medicinal chemistry); biodiversity (including medicinal plants and green chemistry) and energy (including renewable).

Both the UK applicant and the Ghanaian/Tanzanian applicant must: have a PhD or have extensive experience at an equivalent level, have a proven track record of training students at Master’s and Doctoral level, have a proven track record of publishing in both national and international journals and be based in the respective countries at the time of the application

Application deadline: February 8, 2012

Value and tenure: Awards will offer a maximum of £60,000 per annum to cover research expenses and costs for mobility, including up to £10,000 per annum for a PhD Student Bursary. Up to £10,000 per year of the award may be used to purchase or maintain equipment. The total maximum amount of award is £180,000. The award does not cover costs for salaries, per diems, and course or tuition fees. The award lasts for three years.

For more information, visit: http://royalsociety.org/grants/schemes/leverhulme-africa

The Sanger Institute Prize is an outreach prize for undergraduate students from low and middle income countries. The winner of the Sanger Institute Prize will be offered a three month internship with a research group at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute during the summer of 2012. It is an opportunity to experience the very cutting edge of genomic research.

Award: Travel, living and research expenses are all covered by the award. The award mostly target students from eligible countries who can demonstrate an active interest in research in the genomics field and have a good command of English.

Application deadline: application deadline December 5, 2011

For more information, visit: www.sanger.ac.uk/workstudy/placements/prize.html

Successful grant applicants will exhibit all of the following qualities:

• Deliver services to youth, ages 6 - 24
  
• Preference will be given to organizations that focus on young people in the age range of 12 and older, when they are able to take independent action
  
• Provides opportunity to combine learning with action that support communities and further global citizenship
  
• Deliver services, disseminate information, provide training and/or build broad networks
  
• Provide opportunities for Starbucks partners and multiple stores to be engaged in community service
  
• Starbucks will not support organizations that discriminate against a person or a group on the basis of age, political affiliation, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.
  

We also strongly encourage organizations to include information in their proposal about how they exhibit one or more of the following elements:

• Youth are active in the leadership of the organization. Examples include: youth advisors, youth on the board, and organizations created by youth
  
• Development opportunities for youth. Examples include: provide trainings within the organization, external conferences, or youth convenings
  
• Develop young people’s interest in long-term civic engagement in their community
  
• Demonstration of a commitment to building bridges of understanding between and among different youth communities
  
• Opportunities to reach youth who otherwise would not have the opportunity to develop leadership skills in an area unfamiliar to them
  
• Opportunities for youth to gain knowledge of and experience with people of different cultural, racial, economic, religious and ethnic backgrounds
  
• Telling the stories of emerging young leaders. Examples include: newsletters, public performances and other communication outreach
  

Read more and apply for this award at: www.starbucksfoundation.com/index.cfm?objectid=BE688C92-1D09-317F-BBA1CDA8E271C9CB

Award winning investigative journalism on bioenergy issues in Tanzania

1. Background

The Land Rights Research and Resources Institute alias HAKIARDHI is a national level civil society organization that works towards promoting a socially just and equitable land tenure system in Tanzania through active engagement with other players on land rights issues. The media is one such actor that performs a vital role in enhancing the public’s knowledge base and capacity to act/ react on land rights and related human rights concerns. For the past six years, bioenergy issues received pronounced attention both locally and globally and the media was at the centre stage to inquire, analyze and broadly disseminate to the public a wide range of issues from land rights and livelihoods of communities to climate change mitigation initiatives. HAKIARDHI has, during this period of time been part of the local interventions to advocate for the Tanzanian communities rights to land, labor and livelihoods in the context of bioenergy industry development and this is considered to be a continuous undertaking.

Opportunity is hereby being given to Tanzanian journalists who wish to join us in this noble obligation to undertake personal exploratory studies that will unveil the current status of bioenergy industry development in Tanzania. We are especially interested in practical issues and real stories such as the jobs created/lost, environment conserved/depleted, biodiversity restored/lost, land transferred/de-gazetted etc. The journalist is also expected to ponder out issues related to other resources rights like water, grazing land, residential areas and all other land with high conservation value –HCV in rural areas. In all the aspects, critical assessment should be made on how the small producers livelihood systems are affected, value of the bioenergy industry to the development agenda of the small producers/local communities and the contribution to the energy sector and climate change mitigation in general.

2. What to do?

Interested journalists have to write a brief concept note stating what they know about the whole concept of bioenergy, deduce it to the Tanzanian context, problematize the subject (raise issues that are worthy inquiring) and suggest methodology(ies) they would employ to come out with workable assignment. This includes establishing the modes in which communities can better engage with the current wave of investment in bioenergy without compromising their tenure and livelihoods rights. The concept note can be in either language, which is English or Kiswahili. After careful scrutiny of the concept notes and active engagement with the writers, three successful journalists shall be selected on merit basis to do the tasks as shall be mutually agreed.

3. Award

Three best concept notes shall win an award of three million shillings (3,000,000 Tsh) which shall be used by the journalists to undertake their studies in the span of one month (30 days). HAKIARDHI shall incur no extra cost in the modality to be mutually agreed as well. Applicants are thus required to attach a budget for the Tsh. 3mil for their own internal control purpose.

4. Deadline

Shown hereunder, not later than seven days from the date of this advert i.e 2nd November 2011 at 00.00hrs. Winners of the award will be contacted within seven days after this deadline to start their tasks immediately.

Contacts: 

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR- HAKIARDHI
P.0.BOX 75885, DAR ES SALAAM 
e-mail; info@hakiardhi.org

FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATIONS PLEASE CONTACT MR. GODFREY MASSAY OF HAKIARDHI via massay@hakiardhi.org, copy to; myenzi@hakiardhi.org

The IMPACT (Innovative Models Promoting Adaptation and Climate Technologies) Business Award rewards enterprises that apply innovative business solutions in combating Climate Change. The IMPACT Business Award implemented on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and organized by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) will make a total of up to five International Awards available in 2011.

Benefits of the Award

• A monetary prize of 5,000 Euro.
• Opportunities to present your work to influential representatives from business and industry at the International Business Forum 2012 ceremony and conference.
• National and international publicity, through the work of the GIZ Award team and the existing GIZ distribution channels.
• Membership in the International Business Forum network, where leading practitioners and intellectual leaders from the business and government sector exchange their views.
• A case study publication about your Award-winning business.

Who can apply for the Award?

• Businesses, business associations, NGOs, community-based organizations, think tanks, research institutions and public sector organizations are all eligible.
• The application can be for a product or service that has been proven on the market.
• The business must operate in a country with a developing or emerging economy1.

Focus AreasThe IMPACT Business Award seeks to showcase outstanding business models. The business models should be related to the following issues:

• Innovative products, services or technologies for climate protection or adaptation to climate change
• Greenhouse gas mitigation by micro, small and medium enterprises or large scale industries
• Adaptation to climate change in micro, small and medium enterprises or large scale industries
• Community-based mitigation measures to prevent climate change in land use, forest management and water resource management
• Community-based adaptation to climate change in land use, forest management and water resource management

The deadline for the 2011 applications is 1 November 2011, 23:59 Central European Time (CET). Click here to apply online or download the application form here.

1 Countries are defined as developing and transformation countries according to the BMZ's current country list: www.bmz.de/en/what_we_do/countries_regions/index.html

source & more info: www.gc21.de/ibt/en/modules/gc21/ws-FLEXdialogue/info/ibt/impact.sxhtml

Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery and a violation of human rights. It is the third largest criminal activity worldwide, after the illicit trade in arms and drugs. It is an increasing global scourge affecting all sectors of society. According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), approximately 2.5 million people are trafficked every year. They are recruited or transferred through some form of coercion or deception and exploited, mainly for forced labor or sexual exploitation. Women and children are the primary targets but men are also trafficked. Each country is affected either as a source, transit or destination or combination of thereof. (more http://businessleaderaward.org/backinfo.htm)

Objectives

The granting of an international award will result in significant public recognition and will serve as an incentive to keep the business sector engaged in the fight against human trafficking. The primary aim of the award programme is to:

1. Encourage and stimulate the international business community to make the fight against human trafficking its business and to challenge it to adopt ethical business standards;

2. Raise awareness among business leaders and employees on how to recognize human trafficking and act to stop it; 

3. Set quality standards and benchmarks by showcasing and promoting some of the breakthroughs made by business leaders in combating human trafficking; and

4. Create a responsive platform that acknowledges good practices and spurs action.


For more information of the award and how to apply please visit: http://businessleaderaward.org/index.html

The African Society of Human Genetics, US National Institute of Health (NIH) and Wellcome Trust

Name: Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3A)

The Human Heredity and Health in Africa Initiative aims to facilitate a contemporary research approach to the study of genomics and environmental determinants of common diseases, with the aim of improving the health of African populations. To achieve this, the Initiative will support the creation and development of the necessary expertise and infrastructure in Africa and establish pan-African research networks. It is envisaged that studies funded through the Initiative will inform subsequent strategies to address the health inequities in both communicable and non-communicable diseases, leading to health benefits in Africa.

Amount: Awards are expected to be in the region of £2-4 million

Eligibility: Awards will be made to African institutions; the principal applicant will be an African citizen or resident with a primary appointment in an African institution. It is expected that co-applicants will also be African citizens and/or based in African institutions, but collaborations with internationally leading-edge groups from outside Africa are encouraged.

Special: The Trust recognizes that it will take time for applicants to develop their full application. As such, the application process will involve a two stage process and applicants shortlisted at the preliminary application stage will be awarded up to £20 000, to enable them to bring members of their network together to discuss and refine a full application.

Deadlines: Initial expression of interest (September 16, 2011) and preliminary application deadline (October 10, 2011)

Further details: Can be obtained from the Wellcome Trust website or inquiries sent to h3a@wellcome.ac.uk

Access to Learning Award

Given each year by the foundation's Global Libraries initiative, the Access to Learning Award (ATLA) recognizes the innovative efforts of public libraries or similar organizations outside the United States to connect people to information through free access to computers and the Internet.

Brochures for the 2011 Access to Learning Award are available in six languages. 

To download the award application, learn more about the application process and deadlines, visit the How to Apply page: www.gatesfoundation.org/atla/Pages/access-to-learning-award-how-to-apply-spring-2011.aspx