Information for staff

GCID Bulletin 07 February 2012

1. Events

Rwanda Scotland Alliance (RwSA) & GCID: Showcasing Rwanda
Wed 8 Feb 2012, 6–8pm, Senate Room, University of Glasgow (Campus Map Location A10: http://www.gla.ac.uk/media/media_1887_en.pdf)
This event is an opportunity to hear from and network with people and organisations in Scotland working to support development in Rwanda. You can also meet some of the Rwandans living Scotland.  There will be stalls, talks and multimedia presentations from a wide range of projects and organisations.  The event will conclude with a reception hosted by the Glasgow Centre for International Development (GCID).
This event is free and open to the public. To assist with catering, please register for the event here: http://gcidrwanda-eorg.eventbrite.com/ 

GCID & Centre for Development Studies Joint Seminar:  "The paradox of aid effectiveness: Some reflections on Busan"
Tue 14 Feb 2012, 5.30pm, Sir Charles Wilson Lecture Theatre, University of Glasgow (Campus Map Location E15: http://www.gla.ac.uk/media/media_1887_en.pdf)
Speaker: Prof Charles Gore
UNCTAD Special Coordinator for Research and Policy Analysis and Honorary Professor in Economics, University of Glasgow Business School
At the end of 2011, the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness (HLF4), the largest recent global meeting on development aid (3000 participants from 160 countries), took place in Busan, South Korea.  Although the two major themes of the Forum were how much progress had been made by donors and recipients on quantitative indicators of aid effectiveness and how to move beyond aid effectiveness to a broader vision of effective development cooperation, the location of HLF4 in Korea underlined a paradox.  The Korean case shows how countries could make the transition from least developed country to OECD member within 40 years and effectively eliminate extreme poverty.  But donors are not using aid to support such a development transition.

Extending remarks originally made at a pre-HLF4 event organized by the Korean Development Institute and Korean Association of Development and International Cooperation, Professor Gore explores the underlying reasons for this paradox of aid effectiveness and suggests ways to resolve the paradox.

The lecture will be followed by a drinks reception.  This event is free and open to the public. To assist with catering, please register for the event here: http://gcid-gore.eventbrite.com/

GCID & SCIAF Joint Seminar: APD India
Provisional date: Tues 6 March (venue & time to be confirmed)
The Association for People with Disability (APD) in India provides support in enabling and holistic innovative interventions to people with disabilities.  APD represents a social movement - engaged in the process of transforming lives of children, youth and men and women with disabilities all the way – beginning with medico-psycho interventions to capacity building through education and vocational skill training.  We will hear from members of APD about their work and their experience of the emerging divides in Indian society. 
Registration details will be posted on our events website in due course.  

2. Funding Opportunities  

Gates Foundation Grant Opportunities
The Grand Challenges in Global Health initiative fosters scientific and technological innovation to solve key health problems in the developing world.  

• Rising Stars in Global Health – deadline 23 March 2012

For full details of all opportunities, visit the Grand Challenges in Global Health website.

Early Career Fellowships 2012  
The Future Agricultures Consortium is proud to announce the third call of its grant programme to support talented young researchers working on African agricultural policy:  FAC’s Early Career Fellowship Programme (ECFP). The ECFP is available to early career professionals working in Africa and the UK.  Both full-time and part-time appointments are available and all fellowships will include mentorship support from a senior FAC researcher affiliated with a FAC partner institution. The awards will support original field-based and policy-oriented research on African agriculture.

Three types of award available:

• Africa-based, one-year full-time post-Masters or post-doc fellowship
• Africa-based, one-year part-time post-Masters or post-doc fellowship
• UK-based six-month full-time post-doc fellowship

Applications should be in line with one of FAC’s eight thematic areas:

• Climate Change
• Commercialisations
• Growth & social protection
• Land
• Pastoralism
• Policy Processes
• Science, Technology and Innovation
• Young People and Agriculture

This year, special consideration will be given to applications that correspond to the special topics. Applicants are however not limited to these topics so long as their application are in line with one of FAC’s eight themes.
Deadline:  17 February 2012.

Building global engagements in research 
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is seeking to build capacity within UK research centres for international engagement.  This call announces up to £6m in grants of up to £500k each to increase the strength and productivity of current international links, or build links in regions where none previously existed. Universities with portfolios of EPSRC-funded research currently worth over £5m are invited to apply. Only one application per university will be permitted.

The focus of effort should be to enhance research programmes within an institution that address the objectives above and should utilise a number of existing mechanisms for support, such as workshops, research co-ordination, networking activities, short-term visits and programmes of staff, post doctoral and student exchanges. Other innovative models of international partnership building are encouraged.
Deadline:  1 March 2012.

Nuffield Foundation: Africa Programme
The Africa Programme funds UK and African universities and/or NGOs working in partnership, often together with African government departments or quasi-government bodies such as training and research institutions, to develop training initiatives in science, technology and public service provision.  The Africa Programme operates within defined geographic and thematic areas, funding projects that:   

• benefit Southern or Eastern Africa; 
• develop training initiatives that focus primarily on health, science, engineering, technology and mathematics. Proposals in education, law and social welfare may also be considered;
• build expertise at research and professional level.

Deadline: 15 March 2012

3. News & Opportunities

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Scientific Day Invitation
25 May 2012, London
The Scientific Day is an international forum showcasing the work and research of MSF and some of our partners around the world.  All research types will be considered, including surveys, descriptive programme evaluations, drug trials, and literature reviews.  We particularly encourage submissions that highlight MSF’s humanitarian work and medical care in emergencies.  We are keen that presentations highlight that lessons learned from operational research undertaken in these environments can have a direct impact on the quality of assistance provided by medical humanitarian agencies, in addition to influencing research agendas and policies. 

The deadline for submitting abstracts is March 5th 2012. Details of the editorial process and the guidelines for the format of abstracts can be found at: http://www.msf.org.uk/custompage.aspx?id=scientific_day_abstract_guidelines.aspx   
Registration is now open. Follow the link to register and to see videos from last year:  http://www.msf.org.uk/Scientific_Day.aspx

DFID Graduate Scheme
Our new graduate development scheme offers recent graduates the opportunity to work at the Department for International Development (DFID), gaining invaluable experience in areas from policy development to private sector partnerships.  Successful candidates will undergo a paid, 50 week development programme including personalised induction and training, e-learning, and a mentor.  Whilst at DFID, you will be able to apply for internal opportunities and you will gain valuable work experience and improve your employability in the sector.  Applications Download the application form and return your completed form to us by email  graduaterecruitment@dfid.gov.uk no later than 20 March 2012.
Full details at the website: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/graduate

Understanding the UK Agricultural Research Contribution to International Development and Food Security
Over the last decade changes in funding priorities have caused concern that the UK’s capability to sustain its agricultural research for development science base may be affected, with implications for food security and international development commitments.  This report, co-produced by UKCDS and The London International Development Centre (LIDC), sets out the current situation, historical perspectives and future opportunities for UK agricultural research for development.
Download the report here: http://www.ukcds.org.uk/_assets/file/Agri-food_final_report_final.docx

For news please see UK Collaborative on Development Sciences: http://www.ukcds.org.uk/index.php