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Article Explores the Effects of Private Ventures on Africa's Economy

BusinessWeek
A recent article in BusinessWeek examines the effects of private economic investments in sub-Saharan Africa. “Can Greed Save Africa?” states, “In many ways, Africa's economic situation seems hopeless. While $625 billion in foreign aid has poured in since 1960, there has been no rise in the region's per capita gross domestic product.” But “greed” might be the answer. The article looks at both the positive and negative aspects of several economic ventures, including agriculture and microlending. According to the article, “Many African leaders have come to regard private investment as the only route to sustainable economic development.” Despite recent increases in some countries' economies, only time will tell if investors are overextending themselves or if private ventures are truly an answer to Africa's economic troubles. BusinessWeek also offers several slide shows on Africa's economy, including “From Angola to Zambia,”Mozambique: At the Nexus of Venture Capital and Agriculture,” “Nigeria: Creating Wealth Out of Chaos,” and “Botswana and Zambia: Counting on Microfinance.”

Global Directory of Volunteer Opportunities Launched

Press Release or Directory
In November, Macdonald Youth Services—which seeks to build better tomorrows for at-risk children in Manitoba, Canada—launched “The Global Directory of Web Sites that List Online Volunteer Opportunities.” The unique directory, which is organized by country, allows nonprofit organizations to easily find websites where they can list their Internet-based volunteer opportunities. All websites listed in the directory provide the name of the website, the site's URL, who is eligible to list online volunteers, the geographic area the website serves, and if any costs are involved to list.

Canada Continues Mine Action Funding

Canadian International Development Agency
The Government of Canada announced that it will provide $80 million over the course of four years to help Afghanistan address mine issues. The funding will support the United Nations Mine Action Centre for Afghanistan (UNMACA), the UN body responsible for the oversight and coordination of mine action activities on behalf of the Government of Afghanistan. Priority activities include surveying, clearing, mine risk education, and victim assistance in communities listed as high risk or with the highest numbers of casualties. The announcement of the continued funding coincides with the ten-year anniversary of the Convention on the Prohibition on the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Antipersonnel Mines and Their Destruction, known as the Ottawa Convention.

Conferences and Trainings

Conference Explores Numerous Aspects of Fundraising

Association of Fundraising Professionals' 45th International Conference on Fundraising
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) seeks to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, education, and certification programs. AFP fosters the development and growth of fundraising professionals and promotes high ethical standards in the fundraising profession. AFP's 45th International Conference on Fundraising seeks to provide inspiration and practical knowledge for fundraising newcomers and experts. The conference offers educational sessions, diversity workshops, roundtable discussions, speakers, and an exposition. Educational tracks include donor and foundation relations, public policy, working with volunteers, technology in fundraising, capital and endowment campaigns, management and leadership, and many other topics. Advance registration closes on February 20, 2008. The conference will be held March 30 to April 2, 2008, in San Diego, California, USA.

Conference Focuses on the Relationship between Education and Community

Raffles International Conference on Education 2008 (RICE 2008)
Raffles Junior College, an internationally renowned co-educational independent school in Singapore, is sponsoring the inaugural Raffles International Conference on Education 2008 (RICE 2008), with a theme of “Interweaving Curriculum and Community.” The conference will focus on the symbiotic relationship between the educational curriculum and the community, and explore how this relationship has resulted in innovations in education, adding value to students' learning, and redefining educators' focus on the curriculum. Community partners with collaborative interests in education might include parent and alumni groups, the mass media, government agencies, universities and research institutes, other schools and educational institutions, non-governmental organizations and voluntary welfare organizations, private businesses and corporations, grassroots and residential organizations, and the online community. Curriculum areas the conference will focus on include humanities and the arts; mathematics and science; character and leadership education; sports, health, and physical education; and educational guidance and development. Registration is open until February 15, 2008. The conference will be held March 10-11, 2008, in Singapore.

Conference Examines Globalization's Impacts and Effects

Twelfth Ministerial Conference of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XII)
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) seeks to promote the development-friendly integration of developing countries into the world economy. The theme of UNCTAD's twelfth ministerial conference is “Addressing the opportunities and challenges of globalization for development.” The conference will examine the various economic impacts of globalization, including its effect on poverty reduction, wealth, and employment generation and income distribution. The conference seeks to involve a variety of development partners, including civil society, the private sector, academia, and the media, as well as governments and international organizations. The conference takes place April 20-25, 2008, in Accra, Ghana.

Funding Opportunities

Support Provided for Research on the Relationship between Canada and Asia

Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada is a nonprofit think tank that focuses on Canada's relations with Asia. The Foundation promotes dialogue on economic, security, political, and social issues, fostering informed decision making in the Canadian public, private, and non-governmental sectors. The Foundation's Research Grants Program is designed to support policy research and informed discussion on Canada's relations with Asia. The program funds a publications series, research activities, conferences, graduate and media fellowships, and special initiatives. Through these activities, the Foundation assists in the enhancement of Canadian capacity for public policy research and analysis focusing on the Asia-Pacific region. There are no specific application deadlines.

Support Provided to Improve the Lives of Women and Girls

filia
filia has a vision of a just and diverse world, based on respect for human dignity, where women play a decisive role. The organization supports projects that contribute to improved chances for women and girls, allowing them to shape their own lives, and is especially committed to women subjected to discrimination not only because of their gender, but also due to their color of skin, their origin, or their sexual orientation. The organization supports projects in Central and Eastern Europe, projects in less developed countries in the Global South, and has a specific grant program focusing on Germany. Letters of intent are due March 1 and September 1, annually.

Awards Honor Young People Helping the Environment

Action for Nature: International Young Eco-Hero Awards
Action for Nature encourages young people to take personal action to nurture and protect a healthy environment on which all life depends. The organization's International Young Eco-Hero Awards recognize the individual accomplishments of young people (ages 8-16) whose personal actions have significantly improved the environment. The program supports young Eco-Heroes from around the world for their outstanding accomplishments in environmental advocacy, environmental health, research, or protection of the natural world. Grants range up to US $500. The application deadline is February 28, 2008.

Tourism-Related Programs Supported

Tourism Cares: Worldwide Grant Program
Tourism Cares is designed to serve as the travel and tourism industry's vehicle to give back to communities. Tourism Cares' Worldwide Grant Program distributes charitable grants to worthy tourism-related nonprofit organizations worldwide for capital improvements or tourism-related programs. The program gives priority to projects that provide capital improvements that serve to protect, restore, or conserve sites of exceptional cultural, historic, or natural significance. Grants are also provided to projects that support the education of local host communities and the traveling public about conservation and preservation of sites of exceptional cultural, historical, or natural significance. Grants range up to US $100,000; the typical grant is $10,000. Letters of inquiry are due February 1, May 30, and October 1, annually.

Women's Empowerment Supported

International Women's Development Agency
The International Women's Development Agency (IWDA) seeks to create positive change for women and their communities by directly addressing poverty and oppression. IWDA funds grassroots, local, and national organizations working towards the empowerment of women. Areas of interest include livelihood and economic empowerment; freedom from violence; participation in leadership and decision making; sexual and reproductive health, including HIV/AIDS; and environment and natural resource management. IWDA supports projects in the Pacific, Asia, and indigenous Australia. Grants range up to AU $15,000. The deadline is February 15, annually.

Foundation Supports Engineering Education and Research

Engineering Information Foundation
The Engineering Information Foundation seeks to improve worldwide engineering education and practice through information technology and the recruitment of women. The Foundation's grant programs support developmental projects, instructional projects, and training programs in engineering education and research. Areas of interest include the availability and use of published information, women in engineering, and information access in developing countries. Grants range from US $5,000 to $25,000. The application deadlines are February 28 and August 31, annually.

Fund Promotes Nonviolent Social Change

A.J. Muste Memorial Institute: International Nonviolence Training Fund
The A.J. Muste Memorial Institute supports projects that promote the principles and practice of nonviolent social change. The Institute's International Nonviolence Training Fund supports nonviolence trainings, which help people develop and improve the skills they need to confront systemic injustice through organized, principled, nonviolent action. Trainings promote the exchange of ideas, information, and strategies to help activists become more effective at using nonviolent action in their struggles. Eligible projects include those that build capacity and leadership among people engaged in nonviolent struggles, that prepare participants for specific nonviolent actions or campaigns, and that are geared to"training the trainers" in order to expand and multiply nonviolence training throughout a targeted community. The Fund supports trainings outside of the United States, and within Native nations in the U.S. Grants range up to US $3,000. Upcoming deadlines are March 7 and September 5, 2008.

Awards Honor International Excellence in Water Engineering

International Water Association: Project Innovation Awards
The International Water Association (IWA) seeks to connect water professionals worldwide to lead the development of effective and sustainable approaches to water management. IWA's Project Innovation Awards recognize excellence and innovation in water engineering projects throughout the world. Award categories include applied research projects, planning projects, design projects, operations/management, and small projects. The awards will be presented at the biennial IWA World Water Congress, September 7-12, 2008, in Vienna, Austria. The deadline for entries is February 29, 2008.

HIV/AIDS in Africa Addressed

African Women's Development Fund: HIV/AIDS Fund
The African Women's Development Fund (AWDF) supports local, national, sub-regional, and regional organizations in Africa working towards women's empowerment. The AWDF is an institutional capacity building and program development organization that seeks to help build a culture of learning and partnerships within the African women's movement. AWDF's HIV/AIDS Fund supports the promotion of a culture of awareness, compassion, and responsibility around HIV/AIDS issues, particularly where they affect women and girls in Africa, and also supports the establishment of a firm link between gender inequality, the low status of women and girls, and its implications for the extreme vulnerability of women. Specific areas of interest include enhancing the status of women and girls and protecting their rights; creating opportunities for women and girls to make empowering choices; and women's needs and circumstances in prevention, treatment, support, and community care. The Fund prioritizes the needs of small- to medium-sized organizations with budgets of US $150,000 or less. Grants range from US $1,000 to $25,000. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Fund Supports Disaster Prevention and Response Initiatives

Inter-American Development Bank: Disaster Prevention Fund
The Inter-American Development Bank is a multilateral finance institution for the development of the Latin American region. The Bank's Disaster Prevention Fund provides financial and technical assistance for natural disaster prevention and responses. The objectives of the Fund are to manage risks related to natural hazards by reducing vulnerability, and by preventing and mitigating disasters before they occur; to leverage knowledge, good practice, tools, and government commitment for risk management solutions; and to provide a vehicle for developing a shared approach to supporting disaster risk management in the region. Grants range up to US $1,000,000. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

U.S. Federal Deadlines
Excerpts from GrantStation’s Listings of Federal Notices

USAID: Food for Peace: Title II Program Policies and Proposal Guidelines
Grants.gov or USAID
Deadline: Multi-year Proposals: January 22, 2008; Single-year Proposals: Ongoing until September 30, 2008
This program seeks to address the problem of food insecurity in the developing world, with emphasis on vulnerability—the risk and consequences of, and resilience to, food security shocks—that impedes the achievement of food availability, access, and utilization.

USAID: Inter-Agency Annual Program Statement in Support of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in South Africa
Deadline: Concept Papers: January 22 and May 5, 2008; Full Proposals: March 31 and June 9, 2008
The goal of PEPFAR in South Africa is to expand access to HIV-related services to large numbers of South Africans. The program's objectives are to prevent HIV transmission by promoting safe and healthy sexual behavior in HIV-infected and uninfected individuals, reducing mother-to-child HIV transmission, addressing unsafe medical practices and blood safety, providing appropriate post-exposure services, and improving access to counseling and HIV testing; to provide quality comprehensive evidence-based HIV disease management services for South Africans through private or public sector providers; to improve the quality of life of HIV-infected individuals and their families through the prevention and relief of suffering, pain, and other physical, psycho-social, and spiritual problems associated with life-threatening illness; and to provide quality comprehensive and compassionate care for AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children to help assure they grow up to be healthy, educated, and socially well-adjusted adults. Additional program objectives address United States Government priorities of sustainability, capacity building, institutional strengthening, and improving equitable access in the public and private health sectors in South Africa.

USAID: Malaria Communities Program
Deadline: January 23, 2008
This program provides support to carry out sustainable malaria prevention and control activities. These efforts are expected to contribute to the development of local and indigenous capacity to address malaria and to promote sustainability of host nations' efforts. Focus countries include Angola, Benin, Ethiopia (Oromiya Region only), Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.

Department of State: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs: International Sports Programming Initiative
Deadline: January 25, 2008
This program seeks to enhance and improve the infrastructure of youth sports programs in select countries in Africa, East Asia, the Near East and North Africa, South Asia, and the Western Hemisphere. The focus of all programs must be on reaching out to youth ages 8-18. Program themes include training sports coaches, youth sports management exchange, youth with disabilities, and sports and health. The following countries are eligible: for Africa: Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal, and the trans-Sahara for a Francophone regional project (eligible countries included in this regional project must include one country from Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia as well as one country from Chad, Senegal, Niger, and Mauritania); for East Asia: China, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam; for the Near East and North Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Syria, Tunisia, West Bank, and Yemen; for South Asia: Bangladesh and India; for the Western Hemisphere: Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

Department of State: Youth Leadership and Teacher Professional Development Program with Bosnia and Herzegovina
Deadline: January 31, 2008
This program provides support to conduct a three- to four-week program in the United States focusing on leadership and civic education for secondary school students and teachers from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The program should help participants understand civic participation and the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a democracy, develop leadership skills among secondary school students and teachers appropriate to their needs, and build personal relationships among high school students and teachers from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United States.

USAID: Local Government-Civil Society Partnerships to Improve Service Delivery and Build Governance Capacity
Deadline: January 31, 2008
This program supports activities that will build partnerships between civil society, state and local governments, and the private sector to improve service delivery and local governance capacity in selected Nigerian States.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Influenza Vaccine Efficacy in Tropical and Developing Countries
Deadline: February 4, 2008
This program seeks to assess the effectiveness of influenza vaccine against laboratory-confirmed influenza among children and the indirect effects of influenza vaccination among unvaccinated persons in the same community. Funding preference will be given to proposals for studies to be conducted in tropical developing countries.

Department of State: Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration: Programs Assisting Refugees in Thailand
Deadline: Food Assistance: February 1, 2008; Umpiem Mai, Nu Po, and Ban Don Yang: April 1, 2008
The Food Assistance program provides basic rations and cooking oil for refugees in specific refugee camps in Thailand. The Umpiem Mai, Nu Po, and Ban Don Yang program supports projects that provide health care, water/sanitation support, gender-based violence prevention and response programs, income generation, and vocational training to Burmese refugee populations in specific refugee camps in Thailand.

Department of State: International Programs to Combat Trafficking
Deadline: February 12, 2008
This program supports projects for protection, prevention, and prosecution related to anti-trafficking in persons. Examples of supported programs include training initiatives on the identification and administration of effective services to trafficking victims; development of service models to meet the short- and long-term needs of trafficking victims; and development of collaborative relationships between service providers and law enforcement to build a sustainable, holistic approach to combating trafficking and assisting victims.

Department of State: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs: Open Competition Seeking Professional Exchange Programs in Africa, East Asia, Europe, the Near East, North Africa, South Central Asia, and the Western Hemisphere
Deadline: February 15, 2008
This program seeks to support exchanges and build relationships between U.S. nonprofit organizations and civil society and cultural groups in Africa, East Asia, Europe, the Near East, North Africa, South Central Asia, and the Western Hemisphere. Supported programs should encourage citizen engagement in current issues, with a particular focus on youth and those who influence them, and promote the development of democratic societies and institutions, with a view toward creating a more stable world. Programs should be two-way exchanges supporting roughly equal numbers of participants from the U.S. and foreign countries. Proposed projects should transform institutional and individual understanding of key issues, foster dialogue, share expertise, and develop capacity. Through these people-to-people exchanges, the program seeks to break down stereotypes that divide peoples, promote good governance and economic growth, contribute to conflict prevention and management, and build respect for cultural expression and identity in the world.

Environmental Protection Agency: Activities That Advance Methane Recovery and Use as a Clean Energy Source
Deadline: February 22, 2008
This program supports projects that advance near-term, cost-effective methane recovery and use as a clean energy source, and support the goals of the Methane to Markets Partnership. The Partnership's goals are to create an international framework to advance the recovery and use of methane as a valuable clean energy source; to promote cost-effective, near term methane recovery and use opportunities through partnerships between developed and developing economies and economies in transition; and to foster strong participation from the private sector, multilateral development banks, and other relevant organizations. Partner countries include Argentina, Brazil, China, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Ukraine, and Vietnam.

USAID: Care Services for HIV-Infected Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in Ethiopia
Deadline: Concept Papers: February 29, May 30, and August 29, 2008
This program supports orphan and vulnerable children (OVC) activities related to HIV prevention and care in high prevalence, underserved areas of Ethiopia. Program areas include provision of quality, comprehensive, multi-sector coordinated community care for HIV-affected or infected OVC; provision of technical assistance to local OVC programs to create or improve referral systems to and from health facilities, government services, and other community child services; and support for community data collection to monitor progress in OVC well-being and to inform activity implementation and modifications.

Department of State: Office to Monitor/Combat Trafficking in Persons: International Collaborative Partnerships to Combat Trafficking
Deadline: March 3, 2008
This program provides support for capacity building programs with locally-based organizations abroad. Programs must include mentoring and partnerships concerning such topics as developing models for providing comprehensive and effective services for adult and child victims, training initiatives with a focus on identifying and understanding the complex needs of victims, building working relationships with law enforcement responders and other community stakeholders, and strengthening advocacy skills and public awareness-raising efforts.

Fish and Wildlife Service: African Elephant Conservation Fund, Asian Elephant Conservation Fund, Great Ape Conservation Program, and Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Program
Deadline: April 1, 2008
These programs seek to assist in the conservation of animals by enhancing protection of at-risk animal populations; transfrontier animal conservation; habitat/ecosystem conservation and management; applied research on animal populations and their habitat, including surveys and monitoring; conservation education; protected area/reserve management in important animal ranges; development and implementation of animal conservation management plans; strengthening of local capacity to implement conservation programs; wildlife inspection, law enforcement, and forensics skills; and efforts to decrease human-animal conflict.

Fish and Wildlife Service: Marine Turtle Conservation Fund
Deadline: April 1, 2008
This program supports projects that promote the conservation of marine turtles by focusing on academic and technical training in the conservation and management of marine turtles; applied research on marine turtle populations and their habitats, including surveys and monitoring; conservation education and community outreach for the protection of nesting and near shore foraging populations; development and implementation of marine turtle conservation management plans; habitat conservation and management; information exchange to promote international collaboration; projects to protect nesting females and eggs on important nesting beaches; promotion of networks, partnerships, and coalitions that assist in the implementation of conventions, treaties, protocols, and other international activities for the conservation and management of marine turtles; protected area/reserve management of important nesting beaches; strengthening local capacity to implement conservation programs on nesting beaches; and strengthening law enforcement capacity and forensics skills through training and equipment.

Fish and Wildlife Service: Latin America and the Caribbean Program
Deadline: April 15, 2008
This program supports projects designed to strengthen the ability of Latin American and Caribbean institutions to manage and conserve species, habitats, and ecological processes for the benefit of the people of the Americas and the world. Of particular interest are projects that build the human and institutional capacity to effectively conserve and manage natural protected areas in Latin America and the Caribbean. Program objectives are to advance, through capacity building, the transition of protected areas from legally established but under-implemented “paper parks” to effectively managed landscapes, benefiting species of regional concern; and to develop, strengthen, and replicate high-quality conservation training programs that reach the priority audiences associated with protected areas.