[e-drug] Strategic Research on Governance, Equity and Health

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E-drug: Strategic Research on Governance, Equity and Health
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[Coss posted AFRO-Nets. Thanks. HH]

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
development 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 approaches 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; human
resources; effective regulation of public-private interactions to
promote equitable access to quality services; integration of vertical
programmes in a comprehensive system; transparency and
accountability; 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
control 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
process; 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
letter of intent in response to this call. Stage 3 will be open to
participants 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
development 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. Selection
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
institutions in Eastern and Southern Africa to identify potential
institutions, research capacity and interest across the range of GEH
entry points and stakeholders within countries. The study should help
identify promising institutions and researchers which could best profit
from the workshop and seed funding, as well as more mature
institutions which would be expected to participate at the final stage.
Institutions 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 institutions
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
institution or internal unit leading to the formation of a team with at
least one principal researcher and one policy/decision-maker,
stakeholder 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
disciplines 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 countries 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 eligible
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 investigator
   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/pi
d/2020/AHPSR-GEH-proposal.doc?actionreq=actionFileDownload&fi
d=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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