e-CIVICUS 14 - 21 January 2005
CIVICUS: World Alliancefor Citizen Participation
e-CIVICUS
14 - 21 January 2005
ISSUE No. 236
PUBLISHER
CIVICUS: World Alliancefor Citizen Participation
EDITOR Florence Kiff
CONTRIBUTORS
Eric Muragan
Kelly Parkatti
ABOUT e-CIVICUS
e-CIVICUSprovides fortnightly news on civil society worldwide, news about the organisation and its members and provides links to useful electronic and print resources aimed at strengthening civil society worldwide.
REPRODUCTION OF ARTICLES
Readers are welcome to reproduce, in part or in full, all sections of this newsletter, however please request permission to do so first. When reproducing or retransmitting content, please credit sources and authors. The content of this newsletter can be translated into another language and reproduced in other publications, as long as due acknowledgment is made to CIVICUS.
CONTACT US
P.O. Box933
Southdale, 2135
South Africa
Tel: +27 11 833 5959 Fax:+27 11 833 7997
1112 16th Street NW,
Suite540
WashingtonD.C.
20036 USA
Tel: +202 331-8518
Fax: +202 331-8774
Website:
www.civicus.org
ties that bind: e-CIVICUS now goes weekly
From this week forward, e-CIVICUS will be published on a weekly rather than fortnightly basis. While this will mean that the editions will be slightly shorter and more compact than they have been in the past, it will allow us to cover more timely civil society news items and issues. It will also facilitate more regular and sustained communications amongst civil society actors and create added opportunities to build stronger links between us.
Thanks to the publication’s ever-increasing number of subscribers, which since March last year has seen a growth of 233% to over 30,000 subscribers worldwide, e-CIVICUS is proving to be a valuable additional resource in binding us together in our efforts to tackle our many common challenges. If you would like to participate in strengthening these bonds by using this form of communication to further unify and enhance dialogue within civil society worldwide, please contact Eric Muragana at eric@civicus.orgwith addresses of potential new readers who will be invited to subscribe to the publication either in MS Word, PDF or HTML format.
FROM THE DESK OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
What the Tsunami Tragedy means for Civil Society
By Kumi Naidoo, CIVICUS Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer.
The terrible tsunami tragedy that transformed the shores of the Indian Ocean in both Asia and Africa, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths and seriously affecting the livelihoods of millions of people in many countries, raises many challenges for civil society. Read the full article at www.civicus.org/new/content/deskofthesecretarygeneral.htm
CIVIL SOCIETY NEWS
RESPONDING TO THE TSUNAMI TRAGEDY: Women Must be at the Heart of Rebuilding Shattered Communities
By Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Director, United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
In two of the areas worst hit by the tsunami, the province of Aceh in Indonesia and Sri Lanka , the current devastation converges with the complex consequences of decades-long civil war and, in some places, severe poverty. These forces have generated division and deprivation. But they have also led to the emergence of survival systems and mutual-aid networks, including among internally displaced and refugee communities. And women have been at the forefront of many of these. So, as the international community organises to provide much needed assistance, it must prioritise the mobilisation and support of women's networks that are crucial for emotional, social, and economic recovery. In short, women must be at the heart of the relief efforts and the re-building of shattered communities. To read the full story, visit www.civicus.org/new/content/rebuildingshatteredcommunities.htm
UN calls for international support for Angola’s economic recovery
Angola's economic recovery requires international support, according to a resolution adopted recently by the UN General Assembly in New York. For further details, see www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=44750
NGOs claim win as World Bank extends rules review
By Emad Mekay
Groups fighting for a more equitable global economic system are claiming victory over the World Bank after the international public lender said it would extend the deadline for consultations on some of its lending rules and standards and release more information to the public. Friends of the Earth (FOE), a global group that was spearheading a series of boycotts of the World Bank’s consultation process, said boycotts by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) forced the institution to extend the process, originally due to end this month, till the end of April 2005. For the full story, visitwww.civicus.org/new/content/emadmekay.htm
2005 World Social Forum to highlight rights of indigenous people
This year’s World Social Forum will, amongst other areas of concern, focus on "Working for the Rights and Recognition of Indigenous People." The World Social Forum to be held in Porto Alegre, Brazil between January 26 -31, has emerged as an important space for dialogue between civil society actors dedicated to alternative globalisation and the idea that "another world is possible". For further information on the Forum, see www.ukabc.org/wsf2003.htm
MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS NEWS
Tsunami Impact: Plan to help world’s poor could be washed out
The tsunami disaster that claimed the lives of over 150,000 people in south and southeast Asia, as well as taking lives in Kenyaand Somaliain Africa, is also threatening to derail the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) including a lofty plan to reduce by half the number of people living in poverty worldwide. "There is a big risk that there will be no additional aid (for MDGs)," Eveline Herfkens, the UN’s executive coordinator for MDGs Campaign, told IPS. For the full story, visit www.civicus.org/new/content/tsunamiimpact.htm
Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government students join the Global Call to Action Against Poverty
Students from the Kennedy School of Government Progressive Caucus, along with the South Asia Caucus and support from the HauserCenterfor Non-Profit Organisations, have joined the Global Call to Action Against Poverty. As an act of solidarity with the world’s poor, the students skipped a meal during the week of 6 December and sent postcards to President Bush urging action in the fight against global poverty. Around the world, many thousands of citizens took part in various activities to call for action against poverty. For further details, see www.ksg.harvard.edu
DONOR PROFILE
The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)
The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) is a government agency reporting to the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Its aim is to improve the standard of living of poor people and, in the long term, to eradicate poverty. Sida is responsible for most of Sweden’s contributions to international development cooperation. In 2004, the contributions amounted to SEK 21 751 million. In August 2004, Sida had 769 employees of whom 165 were working abroad usually at one of Sida's approximately 40 offices in the partner countries. The government appoints Sida's Board members and its Director General. For further information on Sida, visitwww.sida.se/Sida/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=107
CAPACITYBUILDING
Doctors Working in Prison: Human Rights & Ethical Dilemmas - Online Course
This free course is designed to assist doctors working in prisons by raising their awareness of their role in identifying abuse and torture, and by assisting them in dealing with human rights violations. The course is a self-study and can be started at any time. Seewww.comminit.com/training2004/training2004/trainingonline-71.html. Contact bjorn.hoftvedt@legeforeningen.no
RESOURCES
Assessing and Strengthening Civil Society Worldwide: A Project Description of the CIVICUS Civil Society Index
By Volkhart Finn Heinrich , CIVICUS Civil Society Index Project Manager
This report provides a detailed account of the project approach, conceptual and analytical framework and research methodology of the CIVICUS Civil Society Index (CSI) Project. The CSI is a participatory needs assessment and action planning tool for civil society in countries around the world, with the aim to create a knowledge base and an impetus for civil society strengthening initiatives. The report discusses the issues around conceptualising and assessing civil society in a comparative manner in countries around the world. $3 US for CIVICUS members, $5 US for non-members (plus shipping). To order, please email CIVICUS at info@civicus.org
UN opens its Official Document System to the general public via Internet
The United Nations has launched its Official Document System (ODS), a full-text web resource for official UN documentation. Available to the general public, the ODS covers all types of documentation originating from duty stations worldwide, including selective documents of the regional commissions: Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and Economic Commission for Europe (ECE). Currently, the ODS contains close to 800,000 files and approximately 100,000 new documents are added each year. The ODS is available at documents.un.org. An ODS Training Guide is posted at www.un.org/Depts/dhl/resguide/train.htm
Internet Living Swahili Dictionary
The Internet Living Swahili Dictionary, a world-wide collaborative work, is freely available to the public. The dictionary is a product of the Kamusi Project, an undertaking of the Yale Programme in African Languages and the Council on African Studies at Yale, under the auspices of the YaleCenterfor International and Area Studies. Swahili is the most widely spoken African language, with more than 50 million speakers in East Africaand Central Africa, particularly in Tanzania(including Zanzibar) and Kenya. For further details, see www.yale.edu/swahili
CLASSIFIEDS
CONFERENCES/EVENTS
[IMAGE]Second AfricaRegional Preparatory Conference for the World Summiton the Information Society (WSIS)
2 - 4 February, 2005, International Conference Centre, Accra, Ghana
The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is partnering with the Government of Ghana and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in organising the Second Africa Regional Preparatory Conference for the WSIS, with the theme "Access – Africa’s key to an inclusive Information Society". The conference will bring together all stakeholders to prepare Africafor an effective participation in the second phase of the WSIS to ensure a strategic and interdependent digital partnership that will promote economic growth and human development of the continent. For further information see www.uneca.org/aisi/accra2005/exhibition.htm
Third International Symposium on Management in the Non-Profit Sector
25 - 26 February, 2005, Nicosia, Cyprus
With the theme of ‘The Role of Civil Society Organisations in Achieving Participatory Democracy and Reconciliation’, the purpose of this symposium will be to bring academics, practitioners and experts together to learn from each other’s experiences and spark new ideas, thoughts and discussions about the role of civil society in peace processes. To read the First Circular and application procedure, visit www.mancentre.org
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
Fourth International Third Sector Research (ITSR) Asiaand Pacific Regional Conference
16 - 18 November, 2005, Bangalore, India
Deadline for Proposals: 15 March, 2005
With the overarching theme for the 2005 conference "Civil Society and Social Justice", papers are sought from researchers throughout the Asiaand Pacific region reporting research into aspects of the third sector. For more information, visit www.4istrapac.com
SCHOLARSHIPS/AWARDS/COMPETITIONS
The 2004/5 APC AfricaHafkin Communications Prize
Application Deadline: 14 February, 2005
This year's Hafkin Prize will recognise community initiatives that use the internet and other digital communication networks to access markets, skills and opportunities to derive real economic benefits. The competition is open to civil society organisations, government institutions, educational organisations, community-based groups, networks, social movements or individuals anywhere in Africa. The prize of US $7,500 will be shared amongst up to three winning initiatives. For further information, see www.apc.org/english/hafkin or write to hafkin-prize@apc.org
The Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship
Application Deadline: Not Specified
This fellowship provides an opportunity for a woman journalist working in the print, broadcast or Internet media to spend an academic year in a tailored programme that combines access to MIT’s Center for International Studies and other Boston-area universities and two media companies, The Boston Globe and The New York Times. The fellow will have opportunities to pursue academic research as well as hone her journalistic skills covering topics related to human rights and social justice. For further details, visitwww.iwmf.org/programs/neuffer/fellowship.html
COURSES/WORKSHOPS
Civil Society Organisations: Promoting Pro-Poor Policy and Social Inclusion
11 – 15 July, 2005, Budapest, Hungary
The course is designed to help civil society organisations make their engagement with policy processes and policy actors more effective and legitimate by cultivating improved understanding of policy entrepreneurship and policy making at local, national and international levels. The central objective is to improve the quality and use of policy research produced by experts in CSOs to help ensure that their analysis is provided to policymakers at the time important issues are under deliberation. This course is for mid-level managers, researchers and communications officers from think tanks, university policy centers and non-governmental organisations that are attempting to influence the policy process in emerging democracies, and doctoral candidates. For further details, see www.ceu.hu/sun/SUN_2005/courses_in_2005.htm
The Programme of Migration and Diversity Studies
February – March, 2005, Ottawa, Canada
Drawing on several hundred academic studies and input from policy-makers and stakeholders the world-over, the Metropolis Institute has created thirteen one-day courses which explore the challenges and opportunities of international migration. These courses, intended for people who confront immigration, integration and diversity issues on a regular basis, are tailored to policymakers at all levels of government and leaders of non-governmental organisations. For a description of courses offered, visithttp://institute.metropolis.net/cours_e.htm. For further information, contact institute@metropolis.net
APPOINTMENTS
Vice President for Research and Information Services
The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Application Deadline: 31 January, 2005
www.case.org/Jobs/SearchJobsResults.cfm?
Research Internship for EurasiaRegion
CIVICUS Civil Society Index
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Application Deadline: 28 January, 2005
www.civicus.org/new/jobs_info.asp?id=220
Research Associate
The FoundationCenter
Location: New York, NY, USA
Application Deadline: Not Specified
fdncenter.org/pnd/jobs/job_item.jhtml