WOTRO Newsfl@sh - July 2010
This is the electronic newsletter of WOTRO Science for Global Development. It is published every six weeks and provides information about deadlines, awarded subsidies, research results and policy.
Voices from the field - Experiences of WOTRO researchers
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Defining the Ghanaian poor Economist Genevieve Aryeetey studies the impact and costs of alternative approaches to identify the poor for premium exemptions under National Health Insurance in Ghana. Newsfl@sh asked her six questions about her WOTRO funded research project. Read more... |
NWO and WOTRO deadlines
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Call for Integrated Programmes 2010-2011 |
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The Rubicon programme offers researchers who have completed their doctorates in the past year the chance to gain experience at a top research institution outside the Netherlands (maximum of two years). Rubicon also offers talented researchers from abroad the opportunity to obtain grants to spend one year conducting research in the Netherlands. Deadline for applications is 1 September 2010. Read more...
Pre-announcement new call Health Policy and Systems Research
A second call for proposals in the Global Health Policy and Health Systems Research programme is expected to be launched around mid-November 2010. In this second call, initiatives from low-income countries (LIC) are highly welcome. Main applicants from these countries are explicitly invited to submit a proposal with a Dutch senior researcher as co-applicant. Read more...
Other deadlines
EDCTP: Evaluating the impact of clinical trials in Africa
EDCTP opens a new call for proposals to gain comprehensive insight into the impact of clinical trials on health services in sub-Saharan Africa. Deadline for proposals is 15 November 2010. Information will be made available on 16 August on the EDCTP website.
Awarded subsidies
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Five Global Health Policy and Health Systems programmes awarded As result of the first call of the GHPHS research programme, the Steering Committee awarded five excellent research programmes. The committee has high expectations of the ability of these programmes to demonstrate how health systems can be improved, and how improved health systems can contribute to reaching the Millennium Development Goals. Read more... |
Seven CoCooN Integrated Projects awarded
The Steering Committee of the CoCooN programme – Conflict and Cooperation over Natural Resources in Developing Countries – awarded seven Integrated Projects. Each of the awarded projects demonstrates integration and synergy of three perspectives: a clear development perspective, high-quality knowledge and research, and capacity building. All with the same purpose, to adequately manage, resolve and learn from conflicts over natural resources. Read more...
Sixteen Fast Track research projects on conflict awarded
NWO awarded sixteen proposals for Fast Track research projects into emerging, active, escalating or de-escalating conflicts, under the theme Conflict and Security. In view of the high quality of the proposals submitted, the committee decided to award more proposals than originally foreseen: three replacement subsidies and thirteen postdoc positions. Read more...
Highlights of Research Results
| Profit or loss for Ghanaian cocoa farmer? State intervention can benefit Ghanaian cocoa farmers, despite the trend towards privatization. But the system in Ghana also has considerable disadvantages. These are the findings of researcher Anna Laven after years of study in Ghana, the second-largest cocoa producer in the world. For her research, Anna Laven talked to Ghanaian cocoa farmers, buyers of cocoa, and representatives of the Ghanaian government and of large multinationals. Read more... |
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Soil fertility and the benefits of earthworms and termites
Soil macrofauna, especially earthworms and termites, are important components of the soil ecosystem. A better understanding of the management of soil macrofauna can lead to improvement of infertile or degrading soils in sub-Sahara Africa. Many farmers, however, perceive macrofauna as pests. They often used control measures against termites, without being aware of the beneficial effects of termites. Read more...
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Breeding indigenous and more productive chickens Ethiopian villagers favour white or red chickens which are both meaty and good for laying eggs. Researcher Nigussie Mullu has started a breeding programme to meet these goals. He will complete his study in September. Chickens play a vital role in most Ethiopian villages, says Nigussie. They are often the only source of income for village women. 'If we can raise chicken production, we will improve the life of the local citizens'. Read more... |
Publications
| NWO publications now available The NWO strategy 2011-2014, the annual report 2009, the social annual report, and the Synthese 2009 - which provides compact reports of the NWO devisions - can be downloaded or ordered for free. The WOTRO chapter of the Synthese includes an interview with Wiebe Bijker of Maastricht University and a special article on stakeholder involvement. Please note that these NWO publications are only available in Dutch. Order or download... |
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Interesting links
Hinari and Oara: access to scientific journals for developing countries
Several websites provide scientists in developing countries the opportunity to gain access to major scientific publications, for instance Hinari and Oara.
- Hinari provides free or very low cost online access to the major journals in biomedical and related social sciences to local, not-for-profit institutions in developing countries. Visit Hinari...
- Oare enables developing countries to gain access to one of the world's largest collections of environmental science research. Visit Oare...
Quick course in applying for NWO grants
Suppose you want to apply for a grant from NWO. Where do you start? What must you do, who decides if your proposal shall be awarded funding, when do you find out if you are one of the lucky ones and what can you do if you disagree with the decision? All of these steps are briefly and clearly described in this quick course in applying for research grants. Read more...
Calender
| 3 September 2010 – Making Water Knowledge Work The Irrigation and Water Engineering Group of Wageningen University (IWE) organises a one-day-event around new questions and challenges in water science and public policy. Read more… |
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8 October 2010 – Endogenous Research and Education: Towards inter-science dialogues
WOTRO, CAPTURED and ECDPM organise a seminar for all researchers, professionals at development organisations, and policy makers interested in endogenous research and education. Read more…
14 October 2010 – Dies Natalis ISS
On the 58th Dies Natalis of the International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam (ISS), Professor Leo de Haan will deliver his inaugural address. He was appointed Rector of ISS in May of this year. Read more…
24 - 26 March 2011 – Sephis workshop
Sephis organises the workshop 'Equity, Justice, Development: People of African Descent in Latin America in Comparative Perspective'. The deadline to apply is October 30th, 2010. Read more…
