World Bank Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Opportunities - Open Call: January 5 - February 2, 2016

We would like to share with you a fellowship opportunity from the World Bank Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program. 

The World Bank Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program awards grants of up to $25,000 for developing country PhD candidates to conduct innovative, development-related, research under the supervision of a research advisor at a host institution abroad.  

This year’s call for applications is open from January 5 to February 2, 2016. Applications are particularly encouraged from women and men lecturers or researchers working in academic or research institutions and currently enrolled in a PhD program.

For more information please visit this link: http://www.worldbank.org/scholarships

CARTANews: July-December, 2015 newsletter

In this issue of the newsletter, we have lined up the following stories for you amongst others:

CARTA awards first ever post-doctoral fellowships
CARTA fellow presents at “Ignite Talk”
CARTA directors awarded honorary doctorates
Brown University joins the CARTA Program
Fellows’ Corner
Program Updates

You can access and download the full newsletter here: CARTANews: Volume 6 Issue 2

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: The World Academy of Science (TWAS) 2016 PRIZES

TWAS 2016 Prizes - Call for nominations

Closing date for nominations: 29 February 2016
Agency: The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) – for the advancement of science in developing countries

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The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) – for the advancement of science in developing countries, is seeking nominations for the TWAS 2016 Prizes.

The TWAS prizes are aimed at recognizing and rewarding the scientific work carried out by individual scientists living and working in developing countries.

The TWAS 2016 Prizes will be awarded in recognition of an outstanding contribution to scientific knowledge in a field of science of the Academy and/or an outstanding contribution to the application of science and technology to sustainable development.
The outstanding contribution may be defined in relation to existing opportunities and realistic possibilities available to the candidate. This applies particularly to candidates from scientifically disadvantaged countries.

Each year, prizes are given in nine different fields: Agricultural Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Engineering Sciences, Mathematics, Medical Sciences, Physics and Social Sciences.
Each prize carries a monetary award of US$ 15,000 and a plaque.

The deadline for receiving nominations is 29 February 2016.
We would greatly appreciate receiving nominations of qualified candidates, especially women scientists and candidates from scientifically lagging countries.

Further details on eligibility criteria and submission procedure are available online at: http://twas.org/opportunity/twas-2016-prizes where the nomination forms can be downloaded.

Call for applications: Volkswagen Foundation Postdoctoral Awards for Research on Livelihoods Management, Reforms, and Processes of Structural Change

Knowledge for Tomorrow - Cooperative Research Projects in Sub-SaharanAfrica

This funding initiative aims at extending and strengthening research in the regions of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Objective

The funding initiative is open to all disciplines and aims at the development and sustainable reinforcement of research in Sub-Saharan Africa. Research projects, developed and carried out by African scholars and scientists in close cooperation with their German partners, shall provide junior researchers in Africa with an opportunity to enhance their skills and academic qualifications. Special emphasis is put on the development, reinforcement, and extension of academic networks inside Africa beyond existing language barriers.

Scope of Funding

The following call aims at post-docs starting academic careers in Africa. Funding can only be approved for research projects carried out in cooperation with a partner academic institution in Germany, and for Junior and Senior Fellowships with a 36-month duration.

Open Calls

Call for Pre-Proposals for Postdoctoral Fellowships on Livelihood Management, Reforms and Processes of Structural Change. 

Deadline for application is April 6, 2016. 

Details of conditions and the application procedure can be found under Information for Applicants 81k (pdf). Applications must be filed electronically via the application portal.

Workshops, Symposia and Summer Schools in Africa

Applications will only be accepted for processing after previous consultation with the respective contact person.

Background

The funding initiative was introduced in 2003. By way of preparation, the Foundation organized a number of events during which the pertinent parameters were discussed. This applied especially to the researchers on the African side.

From time to time, the Volkswagen Foundation organizes thematic workshops in order to aid the identification of promising areas of future-oriented research and the development of innovative lines of research in a spirit of partner-like cooperation. These meetings are used to discuss the current status of research, identify research issues, and to explore and develop possibilities for cooperation with other researchers and research institutions inside sub-Saharan Africa. Attendance at these workshops is by invitation only. Details of how to apply are posted on the Foundation’s homepage.

Information on previously held thematic workshops.

For moreinformation please go to this link

CALL FOR AFRICA SCIENCE LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME (ASLP)

The call for the second round of the Africa Science Leadership Programme (ASLP) is open.

The ASLP aims to train fellows in advanced leadership skills, connecting and empowering them to lead a new paradigm for African science. The inaugural programme exceeded all our expectations and we look forward to build on this success and network.

We invite applications from excellent early- to mid-career researchers in all disciplines including natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, arts and the humanities.

We hope that many of you would consider applying. Please also spread the call as widely as possible.

The call and application form are attached, or can be downloaded here:

http://www.up.ac.za/en/centre-for-the-advancement-of-scholarship/article/2038905/call-for-applications

The deadline is 11 January.

For further information, please contact the programme coordinator, Smeetha Singh:

smeetha.singh@up.ac.za

CARTA’s co-director awarded honorary doctorate by the University of Gothenburg

Prof. Sharon Fonn, the co-director for the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the Sahlgrenska Academy, at the University of Gothenburg, which is one of the participating institutions in CARTA. This honorary doctorate was awarded courtesy of her collaboration with Sahlgrenska Academy; her work with CARTA; and the immense contribution of her research to the public healthcare system. The honorary doctorate was conferred at a ceremony in Gothenburg on October 16, 2015.

Honorary doctorates are awarded each year at Sahlgrenska Academy to those who have played a key role in the academy's research or education, or who have otherwise promoted progress in one of its focus areas.

Prof. Sharon Fonn being conferred the degree. Photo by Johan Wingborg

“It seems inconceivable to me when given such an honor, not to ask why me?  So why would the University of Gothenburg honor me in this way?” said Prof. Fonn.

In her speech while receiving the award, Prof. Fonn talked about her work during the apartheid in South Africa, her research on integrating and strengthening health care systems, as well as about being a member of the team that initiated the CARTA program. She further noted that she shares the fundamental values of the University of Gothenburg - values that led to a fruitful cooperation and also to her appointment for the award of an honorary doctorate at the Sahlgrenska Academy.

“I knew for me that being a doctor was a means to an end and not an end in itself; it was for me a way of redressing structural disadvantage at the population level.  Structural disadvantage is a profound force and engaging in efforts to redress disadvantage and inequality can be one’s life’s work. For those of us who make this part of our work, we are enormously privileged to do so. Being able to make a difference is tremendously rewarding and I can recommend it to anyone.  It has become one of my core values and one that I share with those that I work with at the University of Gothenburg” said Prof. Fonn.

“We must focus on people, not diseases. The entire health system must be strengthened in order for it to work and be able to respond to future outbreaks of serious diseases such as Ebola,” she said adding, “You understand the impact of structural inequality and that doing something to redress structural inequality is fulfilling and mutually beneficial. While you honor me so highly today with this honorary doctorate I want to stop and honor you for your commitment and action in promoting a more equal academic world and partnering with us in Africa.”

Prof. Fonn’s research has been greatly focused on the integration of health systems. She believes in interventions and actions targeting individuals rather than specific diseases, such as HIV because these prioritize the disease alone and has zero benefits to the health system as a whole.

Joint Advanced Seminar 2 for Cohort 5 fellows kicks off at the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa

The residential Joint Advanced Seminar (JAS) 2 for the fifth cohort of CARTA fellows kicked off on November 2, 2015, at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. 25 fellows from cohort 5 are attending the JAS which ends on November 26, 2015. University of Witwatersrand’s, School of Public Health is hosting the four-week long seminar.

“JAS 2 marks a critical step in the training of our fellows. At this JAS, fellows are equipped with necessary skills for developing their protocols. This ensures they move faster in the journey towards attaining their PhDs,” said Prof. Sharon Fonn while welcoming the fellows to JAS 2. Sharon is a Professor and head of the School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand and CARTA’s co-director. The one-month long seminar focuses on data management and analysis.

Cohort 5 fellows during a break at JAS 2

"JAS 2 kicked off to a beautiful and energetic start. The general mood here is one of optimism and excitement among the Cohort 5 fellows. Profs. Sharon Fonn and Margaret Thorogood effortlessly helped us to settle in. We are excited to see this JAS to a pleasant end," said Raymond Felix Odokonyero, cohort 5 fellows’ President. He is pursuing his doctoral studies at Makerere University, Uganda.

During JAS 2, fellows are exposed to software packages for qualitative and quantitative data management and analysis. It also has several practice sessions which use real research data and current software packages to offer hands-on training to enhance grasp of knowledge by the fellows. There are also regular methodology clinics (one-on-one meetings between fellows and their supervisors) designed to respond to individual needs of fellows and to strengthen specific areas where they feel deficient or simply to address specific challenges they are facing in their research.

Fellows are also introduced to journal clubs during this JAS and each of them has a chance to run a session observed and evaluated by a JAS Facilitator. These journal clubs allow fellows to become familiar with how to participate in and organize a journal club; develop their ability to critically read and discuss a paper; learn how to present an overview of a journal article, and acquire skills in peer review and discussion.

"JAS 2 has started very well and we feel at home here in Wits. The first week was structured in a clinical setting where we met facilitators for diagnosis of the specific problems we are facing during our protocol development process. It is through this diagnosis that we were assigned clinics for "treatment" purpose. Going through this treatment is something I look forward to in the next few weeks," said Jepchirchir Kiplaglat, a cohort fellow from Moi University attending the JAS.

To mark the end of JAS 2, fellows usually go for a field visit. This gives them a chance to have an experience with data collection; appreciate the importance of research management systems; discuss key ethical issues in population‐based longitudinal research; translate research findings into appropriate oral feedback for community, and have an awareness of practical issues that arise during fieldwork. 

This year’s field visit will be to the Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit located at the Agincourt Population and Health Unit. The Agincourt Health and Socio-Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS), located in rural northeast South Africa close to the Mozambique border, provides the foundation for the Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit of the Medical Research Council (MRC) and University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.