NEWS

June

Draft Report for the First Financial Management Training for Sub-awardees 11 – 13 April 2011 in Kumasi, Ghana.

The workshop was officially opened by Professor Esi Awuah (Director of SNOWS), while Prince Antwi-Agyei (Project Manager) gave an overview of SNOWS and the progress made thus far. Some of the other presenters were Edward Muchiri from Egerton University, Kenya and Suglo Abdullai (Lead Finance Officer and Main Facilitator) from KNUST, Kenya. The purpose of the workshop was to support all the sub-awardee finance persons and their coordinators in the Wellcome Trust Financial Management systems (conditions, budgeting and reporting). To read the draft report, of the training go to the Resources page.

Narrative report of the SNOWS qualitative indicator reporting template – year 1.

Thanks to all SNOWS partners for their efforts in completing this report. The report covers the three areas of

1. Capacity strengthening in scientific skills and career prospects
2. Capacity strengthening in research governance, management and administration
3. Strengthening physical and ICT infrastructure

The report can be downloaded from the Resources page.

Quarterly Period 1 Narrative

The questions for the narrative reporting were:

• Provide a descriptive summary of the major activities and progress of your consortium over the past quarter
• Provide a descriptive summary of the major successes of your consortium over the past quarter and how and why they were realized. What has worked particularly well and why?
• Provide a descriptive summary of the major challenges experienced by your consortium over the past quarter and who and why they have been experienced. What has not worked quite according to plan? How will this be addressed?
• What are your priorities over the next three months?
• Summarise major networking, communication and dissemination activities related to your consortium activity, over the last three months (a) within the consortium (b) with other consortia (c) with external bodies?
• Summarise efforts and/or major contributions to capacity-building at the institutional level in member institutions in your consortium
• Provide feedback on your consortium’s engagements with the Wellcome Trust over the past quarter. In particular provide on:
1. The types of interactions you have had (eg meetings, email, telephone, informal discussions at conferences), for what purposes and between whom
2. Their usefulness and impacts for your consortium.

The narrative report can be downloaded from the Resources page.

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May

We are inviting world-class researchers tackling ambitious research that aims to understand and control diseases affecting human or animal health to apply for Wellcome Trust Senior Fellowships in Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

These awards support outstanding researchers in establishing themselves as leading investigators at academic institutions in low- and middle-income countries.

The Senior Fellowship is the most prestigious of our public health and tropical medicine awards, which aim to build sustainable capacity in academic institutions in low- and middle-income countries.

The deadline for preliminary applications is 10 June 2011.

Find out more.

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March

Seminars

Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology: "Exploring the role of the PE/PPE Proteins of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in Host-Pathogen Interactions" by Dr Samantha Sampson, Dept of Medicine, Imperial College London. Hosted by Dr Richard Stabler.

Thursday, 24th March at 12:45 pm. Bennett Room, Keppel Street

Student News

New PhD Students

• Mirza Lalani, CRD (Supervisor Harpakash Kaur)
• Jennifer Smith, DCD (Supervisor Simon Brooker)

PhD Award:

• Mishal Khan, CRD (Supervisor Peter Godfrey Faussett)

Thesis: Why do some regions report more cases of TB in women than men? Investigating gender differences in notifications across Pakistan.

PhD Positions:

Please find attached opportunity for 4 PhD positions (Tanzanian or other East African students for these PhDs) with Ifakara Health Institute (in the areas of health policy, evidence, community and health systems), in collaboration with the Dutch Royal Tropical Institute, University of Groningen, and the VU University Amsterdam.

Full details are attached. Deadline for submitting an application + short proposal = 29 March.

Interviews will be held in Dar es Salaam in the week of 11-15 April.

Forthcoming Events

RESEARCH EXCELLENCE FRAMEWORK: Assessment of Impact

• Monday, 28th March 2011, 12:30 pm. John Snow Lecturer Theatre
• Friday, 8th April 2011- Memorial meeting to commemorate the life of Nigel Hill.
• Thursday, 30th June 2011 - Faculty meeting, Poster session and Summer party.

Global Infectious Disease Research: A Multidisciplinary Approach

The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology promotes research and training into molecular biology and biotechnology. It is part of the United Nations System with bases in India, South Africa and Italy. From 4th – 10th September, the Centre will be running a course on Global Infectious Disease Research in Cape Town, South Africa. For further information visit their website.

World Conference of Science Journalists, Cairo - 28 June 2011, 9am – 5pm

This will be an all-day event. The aim is to improve media coverage of African science mostly in the areas of science and medicine, by making available objective training and the opportunity for press officers from African research institutes to network. This conference will make the most of the best press officers and journalists to give advice. There will be discussions and networking opportunities ideally designed to the African conditions. New resources might also be considered if for the development and support of this community. For more information.

The Global Forum on Sanitation and Hygiene 2011

The Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) have announced details of this year’s Global Forum on Sanitation and Hygiene 2011, to be arranged in Mumbai, India, from 9-14 October of this year. The event is an important platform to discuss and promote sanitation and hygiene issues which affect billions of people.

This year’s aims are to facilitate learning and sharing between WSSCC members, sector professionals and policymakers and also to energize professional communities. It will showcase knowledge, investment, communications, advocacy, partnership and networking approaches and strengthen national, regional, South-South and global dialogue and collaboration.

For more information visit WSCC’s website.

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Vacancy

The Water Integrity Network Secretariat hosted by Transparency International in Berlin is looking for a highly motivated professional for the position of:

Senior Programme Coordinator of Country and Regional Activities (focus on West Africa) & Capacity Development Programmes

Background:

The Water Integrity Network (WIN) is an action oriented coalition of individuals and organizations from all stakeholder groups that are able and willing to support the cause of increasing Water Integrity (WI) benefiting poor people in helping to prevent or reduce corruption across the water sector. The overall objectives of WIN are (1) Promoting pro-poor WI practice to prevent and/or reduce corruption in the water sector, and (2) Building coalitions at local, regional and global levels to jointly improve WI.

The WIN Secretariat is a lean entity relying on the expertise of its members and partners, including the International Water and Sanitation Centre (IRC), The Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), Transparency International (TI), the Water and Sanitation Program – Africa (WSP), the Global Water Partnership, Cap-Net and other international, regional and local organizations.

Since WIN began scaling-up work in selected countries in Africa in 2009, three West African country coalitions are in different stages of progress in Mali, Burkina Faso and Benin. These also belong to a regional initiative for shared-learning, advocacy and capacity development. Gradual expansion of initiatives may lead to work in Senegal, Ghana and Cameroon. WIN is also active in Latin America, Asia and other parts of Africa. WIN is currently in the process of adjusting its Strategic Framework for Action.

• Job level: Senior Programme Coordinator (SPC)
• Main function: Coordinator of Country and Regional Activities (initial focus on West Africa) & Capacity Development Programmes
• Reporting lines: Reports to WIN Director
• Contract: Fulltime, 2 years, with possibility of extension
• Starting date: May 1st 2011
• Location: Berlin, Germany

Job Description:

WIN is seeking a Senior Programme Coordinator (SPC) for Country and Regional Activities (initial focus on Francophone Africa) & Capacity Development Programmes to continue supporting existing initiatives and build on what has been achieved so far. The successful candidate would spend approximately one (1) month working side-by-side with the out-going team member to ensure continuity and an efficient learning-curve. The SPC will be responsible for leading WIN’s initiatives in West Africa; coordinating WIN’s strategic contribution to capacity development programmes for WI globally; and collaborating with WIN colleagues on other projects.

(50%) Supporting country-programmes and regional initiatives in West Africa, including responsibilities related to the following:

• National action plans; Country-level funding sources; WI diagnostic scans and studies; National and regional advocacy plans; Dialogue and partnership workshops;
• Strategic dialog with high-level actors from local government, private sector and civil society, as well as international institutions, in order to maintain strong relationships and commitment to WIN’s objectives;
• Supporting proposal development for country or regionally based activities, including thematic programmes (i.e. benchmarking integrity of water and sanitation utilities);
• Exploration of further new country initiatives as appropriate;

(30%) Coordinating WIN contributions to capacity development programmes globally, including responsibilities related to the following:

• Overarching strategy for WI capacity development;
• Materials and tools, with the assistance of partners and consultants as required;
• National and regional capacity development programmes and events:

• Programme proposals (w/ partners); Ensuring link to action and impact; Event planning and logistics;
• Piloting non-training forms of capacity development (i.e. technical advisory partnerships, twinning, online learning forums, etc.);
• Event facilitation as required and appropriate (again, w/ partners and consultants to maximise effectiveness and efficiency);
• Coordination with WIN colleagues responsible for work in other regions, or for cross-cutting programmes such as communications and monitoring.

(20%) Other

• Supporting other WIN-S activities, including research, writing, outreach and partnership brokering, representing WIN at international conferences, fundraising, strategic planning and evaluation processes.
• Administrative responsibilities related to duties; and
• Advising the WIN manager and WIN members on issues in her/his areas of responsibility

The position involves international travel in the order of 2 months per year.

Required Experience, profile, education and skills:

• Several years of relevant work experience;
• Working experience in Africa (or liaising with partners in Africa) and at least one long-term assignment (2+years) based in a developing country;
• Minimum of a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in water management, environmental governance or economics, or a related discipline;
• Specific experience working with one or more water sub-sectors;
• Knowledge of good-governance principles and familiarity with anti-corruption tools;
• Fluency in French and English required;
• Other languages advantageous (emphasis on Portuguese, Spanish or Arabic);
• Strong work ethic, self motivated entrepreneurial attitude, ability to prioritise, adaptability;
• Professionally driven by integrity values and principles.

Experience relevant to the duties of the position, relating to:

• Strategic planning and process facilitation
• Developing cooperation with partner organisations for advocacy and capacity development;
• Facilitating workshops and developing training materials (Strong knowledge of adult learning methods and a pedagogy background advantageous);
• Supporting and/or designing advocacy plans, facilitating dialogue and consultation workshops;
• Working with complex and highly sensitive issues;
• Working effectively with civil society, public and private sectors, and international institutions;
• Writing proposals and reports, working with logical frameworks;
• Advantageous: Experience supporting national diagnostic processes or establishing benchmarking frameworks.

WIN and TI Secretariat reserve the right to appoint to another staff level subject to education and qualifications.

Other information about the post and duty station:

WIN and TI global networks offer an inspiring work environment with real learning opportunities and support. Berlin is an attractive metropolitan city with relatively low cost of living.

To apply:

Qualified candidates should submit via email a cover letter and CV to:

winspcjob@transparency.org

The subject line should include your full name and the job title. The closing date for applications is 6 March 2011.

Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted. Transparency International and WIN are equal opportunity employers.

To learn more about WIN and Transparency International, visit Water Integrity Network and Transparency.

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African Institutions Initiative

The AfricanSNOWS project has been successful in obtaining funding from The Wellcome Trust's African Institutions Initiative, a fund to tackle Africa's need for more scientists.

The Trust states that "African countries need a mass of talented local researchers - and an infrastructure to support them. The Wellcome Trust's African Institutions Initiative is providing a platform for this.

The £30 million Initiative is funding seven African-led international consortia - involving over 50 scientific institutions from 18 African countries - to strengthen research capacity and develop scientific leadership for the region." See the Wellcome Trust's web page for more information about the projects involved.

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New Web site

The new African SNOWS web site is now live. We welcome your comments on the site and look forward to making more information available to you!