AFRO-NETS> Strategic Research on Governance, Equity and Health

[Dieter Neuvians MD <neuvians@mweb.co.za>]

Strategic Research on Governance, Equity and Health
---------------------------------------------------
for Eastern and Southern Africa

Call for Letters of Intent
Deadline: 8 July 2003

The Alliance and the Governance, Equity and Health Program Initiative 
of the International Development Research Center, Canada (GEH) invite 
letters of intent for strategic research in governance, equity and 
health for Eastern and Southern Africa. 

Health systems in Africa face special challenges given their develop-
ment situation, their epidemiological profile and the opportunities 
to scale up disease control programmes. It is important that the new 
and larger policy and programme efforts currently being implemented 
improve the equity and responsiveness of health systems through ap-
proaches that strengthen and integrate actions at national and local 
levels. 

Four entry points have been identified: 
* the health system (e.g. effective delivery of quality services; hu-
man resources; effective regulation of public-private interactions to 
promote equitable access to quality services; integration of vertical 
programmes in a comprehensive system; transparency and accountabil-
ity; corruption);

* the policy process (e.g. formulating, implementing and evaluating 
pro-poor policy for health, fair and sustainable financing, influence 
of donors and globalization on policy);

* priority conditions or interventions (such as tuberculosis and 
HIV/AIDS) as entry points into broader governance, equity and health 
systems issues, for example addressing the special challenges of con-
trol of specific diseases without further fragmenting fragile health 
systems; and

* civic engagement (e.g. mechanisms to promote effective and informed 
participation and inclusion throughout the policy-to-practice proc-
ess; exercising the right to health as an arena for democratization).

The Letters of Intent should address the first entry point above, 
plus one or more of the others. 

Stages of the research 

The Alliance-GEH collaboration will occur in three stages. Research 
teams wishing to be considered for Stages 1 and 2 must submit a let-
ter of intent in response to this call. Stage 3 will be open to par-
ticipants in Stages 1 and 2, as well as to other research teams. 

The three stages are: 
1. Selection of seven teams to participate in a skills and issues de-
velopment workshop leading to writing of a pre-proposal. Selection 
will be based on letters of intent received in response to this call. 

2. Funding of five teams, up to a maximum of US$ 15 000, to conduct 
pilot research leading to the development of full proposals. Selec-
tion will be based on a review of pre-proposals developed during the 
workshop.

3. Funding of at least two strategic research projects of 2-3 years' 
duration with a maximum budget of US$ 150 000. A call for proposals 
will be issued at this stage, and teams funded in the previous stage 
will compete for funding with other teams. 

The Alliance will undertake a mapping exercise of research institu-
tions in Eastern and Southern Africa to identify potential institu-
tions, research capacity and interest across the range of GEH entry 
points and stakeholders within countries. The study should help iden-
tify promising institutions and researchers which could best profit 
from the workshop and seed funding, as well as more mature institu-
tions which would be expected to participate at the final stage. In-
stitutions and researchers identified through the mapping exercise 
will be invited to participate in the two calls (Letters of Intent 
and Research Proposals), although both calls are open to all institu-
tions working in the Eastern and Southern Africa region (see below). 

Who can apply? 

Research institutions, government agencies, health service providers 
and civil society organizations are eligible for funding. Applicants 
should ideally have a well established collaboration with another in-
stitution or internal unit leading to the formation of a team with at 
least one principal researcher and one policy/decision-maker, stake-
holder or health service advocate. Applicants are also welcome who 
may not yet have such a team in place but who would like to develop 
it in the course of the preliminary study. 

Research teams should integrate professionals with complementary dis-
ciplines and skills in health and social sciences (such as public 
health, economics, sociology, political science or anthropology). 

Letters of intent will be accepted only from institutions in coun-
tries of Eastern and Southern Africa: (see link on the right) 

Research teams including members from countries outside Eastern and 
Southern Africa are eligible to apply. Only nationals from eligible 
countries will be funded, although travel support can be included for 
collaborators from outside the region. 

Principal investigators currently funded by the Alliance are not eli-
gible to apply, although they can participate as co-investigators. 

How to apply 
* Letters of intent should be submitted in the prescribed format. 
  Letters exceeding the word limit will not be considered.

* Letters of intent must be written in English or French.

* Short versions of the curriculum vitae of the principal investiga-
  tor and co-investigators should be annexed to the letter of intent.

* Letters of intent should be sent to the Alliance, preferably by 
  e-mail as attachments to a cover letter. Letters of intent may also be 
  sent by mail if e-mail is difficult. Faxes will not be accepted.

* E-mailed or mailed letters of intent should reach the Alliance not 
  later than close of business on 8 July 2003. 

Download a full information and application form (in MS WORD format) at:
http://www2.alliance-hpsr.org/jahia/Jahia/engineName/filemanager/pid/2020/AHPSR-GEH-proposal.doc?actionreq=actionFileDownload&fid=20228

(copy as one line into web browser)


Note: 

This is the first of a series of regional and sub-regional research 
competitions on Governance, Equity and Health. Information about 
Calls for Proposals for West Africa and for Latin America and the 
Caribbean will be posted over the coming months. 

Send proposals by e-mail to: 
mailto:alliancehpsr@who.int

Please state in the subject heading "GEH Research".

Send proposals by mail to: 
Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research 
Office No. 4123 
World Health Organization 
CH 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland
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