Call for Applications & Papers - Relevant for African Scientists / Non-European Students and Scholars / Authors

Dear Equator Net members,

The three following calls for applications and papers may be of interest to

1) African Scientists,

2) Environmental Sciences/Policies/Management students and scholars from outside the European Union, or

3) Authors interested in writing a short article related to “Environmental Compliance and Enforcement”.

1. CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Small Research Grants for African Scientists Engaged in Global Environmental Research

The International START Secretariat and the Pan African START Committee (PACOM), with funding from the United States National Science Foundation / US Climate Change Science Program (NSF/USCCSP) requests proposals for small research grants to be awarded to scientists based at African institutions for research projects related to global environmental change that address the following themes: (1) Climate Variability & Climate Change, (2) Impacts/Adaptations/Vulnerability to Climate Change, (3) Land Use Change/Ecosystems/Biogeochemical Change/Biodiversity. The full Call for Proposals can be downloaded here: 2008 Call for Proposals (pdf). The Application Form is available via the subsequent link: 2008 Application (MSWord). Applications must be submitted by Wednesday 19 December 2007. For more information, contact: cskauffman@agu.org

2. CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Environmental Teaching/Research Scholarships (MESPOM) 2008-2010
MESPOM is an Erasmus Mundus programme in Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management operated by four leading European Universities and supported by the EC. Academics selected by the MESPOM Consortium will be hosted for a period of up to 3 months in one or several of the institutions. During this period they may teach and/or engage in independent research on Environmental Sciences and Policy. Applications are invited from outstanding scholars who are interested in contributing to MESPOM and developing academic partnerships with the Consortium. For more information contact Dr. Aleh Cherp, MESPOM Consortium Coordinator directly at: coordinator@mespom.eu. For more information, click here.

3. CALL FOR PAPERS: INECE 8th Conference on Environmental Compliance and Enforcement
The International Network on Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (INECE) requests short articles, for its annual conference in Cape Town in April 2008. Papers should provide expert analysis and discussion on a topic relevant to the conference, illustrate a success story, or describe the accomplishments and challenges of a particular enforcement initiative, and must relate to compliance and/or enforcement aspects of each theme. Articles should be submitted to: inece@inece.org by 30 Jan 2008. For more information, click here.

Warm regards,

Gaby

To post a comment to this message or see previous Equator Net contributions please visit www.equatornet.blogspot.com

Research Grants and Job Opportunities on www.scidev.net

Dear Equator Net members,

The Science and Development Network (SciDev.Net) aims to provide organizations in developing countries with information related to science and technology. You might find this online network particularly useful if you are looking for research grants and job opportunities:

www.scidev.net/grants

http://www.scidev.net/jobs/

SciDev.Net's weekly email alert is available in English, French, Spanish or Chinese. If you would like to register please go to www.scidev.net/register

For additional information visit: http://www.scidev.net/

Warm regards,

Gaby

Grant Opportunities for African Women's Associations

Dear Equator Net members,

The following information should be interesting for the African Women's Associations that are part of our network.

The African Women's Development Fund (AWDF) provides grants to organizations in Africa working towards women's empowerment. The AWDF is an institutional capacity-building and programme development fund, which aims to help build a culture of learning and partnerships within the African women's movement. In addition to awarding grants, the AWDF attempts to strengthen the organizational capacities of its grantees.

The AWDF funds work in six thematic areas:

§ Women's Human Rights

§ Political Participation

§ Peace Building

§ Health, Reproductive Rights

§ Economic Empowerment.

§ HIV/AIDS

To find additional information on the AWDF grants programme and application guidelines, please visit the following website:

http://www.awdf.org/pages/?pid=2&sid=24

For further questions please contact:

The African Women's Development Fund

25 Yiyiwa Street, Abelenkpe, Accra

P.M.B CT 89, Cantonments

Accra, Ghana

Email: awdf@awdf.org or grants@awdf.org

Warm regards,

Gaby

SEI's Climate Change Mitigation and Energy Policy Analysis Software

Dear Equator Net members,

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) recently announced the release of a new version of the Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning system (LEAP), a Windows-based analytical tool for climate change mitigation and energy policy analysis. LEAP allows complex quantitative questions about climate and energy policy for experts and students.

In recent years, LEAP has become one of the most widely used modeling tools for energy policy analysis and climate change mitigation. It has already been applied by thousands of users in more than 150 countries worldwide.

LEAP is distributed free of charge to academic, governmental and not-for-profit organizations based in the developing world. Please click here to find additional details and download the software.

For more information contact:

Dr. Charles Heaps

Stockholm Environment Institute - US Center

Email: charlie.heaps@sei-us.org

Web: http://www.sei-us.org/

Phone: +1 (617) 627-3786

Warm regards,

Gaby

Oracle Education Foundation's ThinkQuest International (deadline: April 2, 2008)

Dear Equator Net members,

Knowing that some of you are active in educational activities, the following opportunity may be of interest:

The Oracle Education Foundation has announced the opening of ThinkQuest International 2008 and is inviting students and teachers from around the globe to take part in the international project learning competition.

ThinkQuest is open to students between the ages of 9 and 19 and their teachers worldwide. Students are encouraged to team with peers in other regions to develop Web sites on educational topics. The program is designed to help participants develop important skills such as teamwork, critical thinking, self- direction, problem solving, and technology skills.

Qualifying entries will be published in the ThinkQuest Library. Winners will receive prizes from the Oracle Education Foundation, including laptops and $1,000 school grants for the top five teams in each age division, travel to the annual ThinkQuest Live event for the top three teams in each division, and digital cameras for the team that receives the Global Perspectives Award.

Students and educators interested in participating should visit the ThinkQuest Web site. The deadline for applications is April 2, 2008.

Warm regards,

Gaby

The Christensen Fund Graduate Fellowship Program in Plant Conservation

Dear Equator Net members,

The Whitney R. Harris World Ecology Center at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, in collaboration with the Christensen Fund, invites applications from suitably qualified, highly motivated graduates for fully funded masters and Ph.D. fellowships in plant conservation.

The purpose of The Christensen Fund Fellowship Program in Plant Conservation is to educate botanists who will become decision-makers in their home countries. The two to five year fellowships (depending on degree program) are designed to attract and support individuals from tropical countries who will return to their country or region following graduation and make a significant difference in the development and application of plant conservation programs.

Applicants for Christensen Fund Fellowships must have a bachelor's degree in biology and be able to demonstrate strong leadership and scientific potential in applied plant conservation. These fellowships are open to students from tropical countries in Central and South America, sub-Saharan Africa, South-East Asia, Malesia and Pacific Island countries.

The fellowships will provide recruitment and repatriation airfares, stipend, tuition fee waiver and the opportunity to apply for competitive research funds. Christensen Fund Fellows will be enrolled in the Ph.D. or M.S. graduate degree programs and will be involved in special courses, workshops, or internships designed to increase the Fellow’s capacity to make an impact in applied conservation once they return to their countries.

For information on the application process, please refer to the following website: http://icte.umsl.edu/application.html. For additional questions, please contact the Whitney R. Harris World Ecology Center at osbornepl@umsl.edu.

Warm regards,

Gaby

Pre-registration for the 7th Session of the UNPFII Is Now Open

English

Dear Equator Net members,

Pre-registration for the Seventh Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is now open.

The Seventh Session will take place at United Nations Headquarters, in New York, from 21 April to 2 May 2008. The special theme will be "Climate change, bio-cultural diversity and livelihoods: the stewardship role of indigenous peoples and new challenges."

Pre-registration is open to indigenous peoples' organizations, academic institutions and NGOs with ECOSOC consultative status. If you would like to participate, please visit the Seventh Session webpage where you will find all online registration forms:
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/session_seventh.html

For additional information, please contact the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at indigenouspermanentforum@un.org.

Warm regards,

Gaby

Español

Estimados miembros de la Red Ecuatorial,

El proceso de pre-inscripción para el Séptimo período de sesiones del Foro permanente para las Cuestiones Indígenas ya está abierto.

El Séptimo período de sesiones se llevará a cabo del 21 de abril al 2 de mayo de 2008 en la sede de las Naciones Unidas, en Nueva York y el tema especial será "El cambio climático, la diversidad biocultural y los medios de vida: la custodia por los pueblos indígenas y nuevos retos".

La pre-inscripción está abierta para las organizaciones de pueblos indígenas, las instituciones académicas y las ONGs con estatus consultivo ante el ECOSOC. Si quiere participar, puede inscribirse en la página Web del séptimo período de sesiones, en donde podrá acceder a los formularios de pre-inscripción: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/es/session_seventh.html

Si necesita más informaciones o ayuda, por favor póngase en contacto con la Secretaría del Foro Permanente para las Cuestiones Indígenas vía el siguiente correo: indigenouspermanentforum@un.org.

Saludos cordiales,

Gaby

Tribal Link Launches New Online Blog

Dear Equator Net members,

The Equator Initiative partner Tribal Link has created a new online blog that may be of interest to your work. We invite you to visit this new information resource via the following link: http://triballinknewsonline.blogspot.com/.

Tribal Link is a communications network linking indigenous peoples to information, media, resources and relevant networks, with a special focus on the United Nations system. Tribal Link provides information to the public regarding indigenous peoples and their issues, emphasizing the significance of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Since 1993, Tribal Link has been working to support the world's indigenous peoples by organizing events and forums where indigenous peoples can publicize their issues; ensuring that indigenous peoples are informed and included in major UN and other forums, conferences and dialogues; mobilizing media professionals to publicize issues critical to traditional peoples and their culture; arranging hospitality programs and providing enriching cross-cultural exchanges; coordinating capacity building workshops focusing on indigenous peoples' participation within the international system. Tribal Link also works to ensure that the vital contribution of indigenous spiritual knowledge is included in major UN conferences, commissions and other events.

For additional information, please visit the Tribal Link website or contact Pamela Kraft at tribal.link@lycos.com.

Warm regards,

Gaby

To post a comment to this message or see previous Equator Net contributions please visit www.equatornet.blogspot.com

Conference: "Promoting Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Nigeria" (21 November 2007)

Dear Equator Net members,

The Community Research and Development Centre (CREDC) invites you to a one-day conference on “Promoting Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Nigeria”. The one-day event will take place as follows:

Venue: University of Calabar Hotel and Conference Centre, Plot D6 Akim Layout, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

Date: Wednesday 21st November, 2007

Time: 10 am

The objectives of the conference are to create awareness on renewable energy and energy efficiency in Nigeria; and to enhance stakeholders’ capacity to advocate for renewable energy and energy efficiency. The program will also enhance the participation of stakeholders in the on-going global climate change debate. It will facilitate the creation of a network of renewable energy and energy efficiency advocates that will pioneer the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency in Nigeria.

The conference is being organized by the Community Research and Development Centre (CREDC) with support from the Global Greengrants Fund and the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria. CREDC is a non-governmental, non-profit, research and development-base organization committed to the sustainable management of the environment and environmental resources. Details about CREDC can be found on the following website http://www.credcentre.org/

Registration for the conference is free, but participants are expected to pay for their own travel and accommodation. Funding only covers limited representatives of local NGOs and CBOs who have already been notified by the conference organizers.

For additional information please contact the conference team via info@credcentre.org or credscretariat@yahoo.com.

Warm regards,

Gaby

nGOmobile contest (deadline: december 14)

Dear Equator Net members,

nGOmobile is a prize competition aimed exclusively at grassroots non-profit organizations working for positive social and environmental change throughout the developing world. The competition wants to encourage NGOs to think more about how mobile technology could be applied in their work.

Grassroots organizations from developing countries are invited to submit a short proposal outlining how text messaging could make their job easier. The deadline for the competition is 14 December 2007.

For additional information on the application process, please visit the nGOmobile website: www.ngomobile.org

You can fill out the online nomination form here: www.160characters.org/awardsform-nGOmobile.php

Good luck and warm regards,

Gaby

Award Program for Young African Women Conservation Biologists

Dear Equator Net members,

The Society for Conservation Biology invites you to submit your nomination for the YWCB Award, which recognizes professional African women engaged in environmental conservation.

Nominees should demonstrate:

1. Evidence of leadership, creativity, self-motivation and enthusiasm;
2. Evidence of service (educational, managerial, research etc.) to conservation; and
3. The ability to work with others across gender, social class and ethnicity.

Self nominations are welcome. The deadline for submission is 31 January 2008. For more information and to submit a nomination, please visit the following website: www.conbio.org/sections/africa/ywcb

Good luck and warm regards,

Gaby

The "Village Phone Direct Manual" for local communities and microentrepreneurs

Dear Equator Net members,

To help expedite the provision of affordable telecommunications access and business opportunities in rural communities, Grameen Foundation and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) launched the Village Phone Direct Manual to bring the benefits of telecommunications to local communities and micro entrepreneurs. The manual explains how microfinance institutions or other organizations can independently develop a Village Phone product for clients in small rural villages. Over the coming months, the manual will be translated into several languages, including Spanish, French and Arabic.

For more information and to download the manual, please click here.

Warm regards,

Gaby

International Conference on Health and Biodiversity

Dear Equator Net members,

The Second International Conference on Health and Biodiversity (COHAB 2) will be held from 25 – 28 February 2008 in Galway, Ireland.

The conference will focus on three key areas:

• Disaster relief and emergency response - harnessing ecosystem services for crisis prevention, recovery and redevelopment programmes
• Emerging infectious diseases - integrating biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management into disease prevention and control programmes
• Food resources, diet and nutrition - meeting nutrition security and poverty challenges with biodiversity

Conference sessions will explore how health aspects of the U.N. Millennium Development Goals are influenced by the status of global biodiversity, and will review the impacts and implications of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. The over-riding focus will be on experience sharing on issues of health and ecological sciences.

Interested?

Abstracts are invited for poster and oral presentations exploring the linkages between human, animal, plant and ecosystem health. Presentations about experience on the design, planning or implementation of collaborative, inter-disciplinary approaches to health, nature conservation and international development issues, are particularly welcome.

Click here for full details of the conference or contact the conference organising committee at: conference@cohabnet.org

Information about the COHAB Initiative is available online at www.cohabnet.org.

Warm regards,

Gaby

IUCN Women Environmental Entrepreneurs Fair

Français: Pour la version française de ce message, veuillez lire ci-dessous.
Español: Por favor mire abajo para la versión español.

English

Call for Applications: International Women Environmental Entrepreneurs Fair (Deadline: April 30, 2008)

Dear Equator Net Members,

Every four years, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) organizes the World Conservation Congress, the biggest and most diverse conservation-related event in the world. Its objective is to improve the way we manage our environment for human, social and economic development.

The upcoming IV World Conservation Congress “A Diverse and Sustainable World” (5-14 October, 2008, in Barcelona, Spain) will highlight the linkages between natural, social, cultural and economic diversity.

IUCN will use the platform offered by the World Conservation Congress to organize the International Women Environmental Entrepreneurs Fair. The Fair aims to: facilitate and strengthen women’s enterprises that produce environmentally friendly products or services; and showcase women’s business activities that go beyond regional borders and contribute to environmental conservation and the alleviation of poverty.

How to participate:

If you are a woman that belongs to an environmentally friendly entrepreneurial group, please click here to download the application form. You can send the completed application to the following email address: womenfair@iucn.org

Submissions will be accepted from November 2007 until April 30, 2008.

Warm regards,

Gaby

To post a comment to this message or see previous Equator Net contributions please visit www.equatornet.blogspot.com

French

Appel aux Candidatures: Foire Internationale des Femmes Entrepreneurs pour l’Environnement (Dernière limite: 30 Avril, 2008)

Chers membres d’Equateur Net,

Tous les 4 ans, l’UICN organise le Congrès Mondial pour la Conservation, le plus grand, important et diversifié évènement mondial lié à la conservation de la nature. Son objectif est d’améliorer la manière dont nous gérons notre environnement pour le développement humain, social et économique.

Le prochain IVème Congrès Mondial de l’UICN (5-14 octobre 2008, à Barcelone, Espagne) « Un Monde Diversifié et Durable », mettra en exergue les connexions entre la diversité naturelle, sociale, culturelle et économique.

L’UICN utilisera le cadre offert par le Congrès Mondial pour la Conservation de la Nature pour organiser la Foire Internationale des Femmes Entrepreneurs pour l’Environnement. Le but de la Foire est de: faciliter et renforcer les liens entre les entreprises des femmes qui produisent des services respectueux de l’environnement; être une vitrine pour ces femmes d’affaires dont les activités professionnelles dépassent les frontières régionales et contribuent autant à la conservation de l’environnement qu’à l’allègement de la pauvreté.

Comment participer?

Si vous êtes une femme appartenant à un groupe entreprenant respectueux de l’environnement, veuillez cliquer ici pour télécharger le dossier de candidature. La candidature complète devra être envoyée à l’adresse suivante: womenfair@iucn.org.

La réception des candidatures commence au mois de novembre 2007 et se termine au mois d’avril 2008.

Meilleures salutations,

Gaby

Pour faire un commentaire sur ce message ou pour consulter des messages antérieurs d’Equator Net veuillez visiter www.equatornet.blogspot.com

Español

Llamada para Solicitudes: Feria International de Mujeres Emprendedoras (Fecha límite: 30 Abril 2008)

Queridos miembros de la Red Ecuatorial,

Como parte de sus acciones, cada cuatro años, la UICN lleva a cabo el Congreso Mundial de la Naturaleza. Este es el acontecimiento relativo a la conservación más grande y de mayor diversidad del mundo. Su objetivo es mejorar la forma como se gestiona nuestro medio ambiente natural para el desarrollo humano, social y económico.

El IV Congreso Mundial de la Naturaleza “Un mundo diverso y sostenible” (Barcelona, del 5 al 14 de octubre de 2008) permitirá resaltar los vínculos entre la diversidad natural, social, cultural y económica.

La UICN pretende utilizar esta plataforma de acción que ofrece el Congreso Mundial para la Naturaleza para organizar la Feria Internacional de Mujeres Emprendedoras por el Ambiente. La Feria pretende: facilitar y fortalecer las empresas de mujeres que producen servicios o productos amigables con el ambiente, y presentar las actividades empresariales de las mujeres que traspasan las barreras regionales y contribuyen a la conservación del medio ambiente y la reducción de la pobreza a nivel mundial.

Cómo participar?

Si usted pertenece a un grupo emprendedor con prácticas amigables con el ambiente, por favor haga clic aquí para bajar el formulario de solicitud. Los formularios de solicitud completados se deben enviar por correo electrónico a la siguiente dirección: womenfair@iucn.org

Se aceptarán solicitudes a partir de Noviembre 2007 hasta el 30 de Abril 2008.

Saludos cordiales,

Gaby

Para escribir un comentario sobre este mensaje o ver contribuciones anteriores de la Red Ecuatorial por favor visite www.equatornet.blogspot.com