The Drum Beat 360 - Awards and Funding Opportunities

***

This issue of the Drum Beat includes a selection of awards and funding opportunities summarised on The Communication Initiative website with deadlines between August 15 and December 31 2006. Details about the prizes are in the full descriptions including: criteria, deadlines and previous winners. Please click on the links provided below for more information.

There are additional awards and funding opportunities available; please see the Awards and Funding Opportunities sections of The CI website for information on more support initiatives.

If you have information about other contests, prizes and funding opportunities that address communication for development issues and strategies, please contact us. Send details and links to Deborah Heimann dheimann@comminit.com Many thanks!

***

AWARDS

1. Independence in 3 Minutes
Intended to develop links between the United Kingdom (UK) and Indian documentary film industries, through this project Indian filmmakers are invited to submit proposals for a 3-minute documentary on the theme of Indian independence. If selected, they will receive support and advice in pitching and producing their short film which will go on to be broadcast both in India and in the UK.
Deadline: August 21 2006

2. Japanese Award for the Most Innovative Development Project
For the winning institution whose project embodies a fresh approach to an important development need and holds the greatest promise for economically benefiting the poor in developing and transition countries, this award offers US$50,000. The institutions of 2 other finalists will receive prizes of US$5,000 each.
Deadline: August 21 2006

3. Fred L. Soper Award for Excellence in Health Literature
Aims to recognise significant contributions to the health literature in Latin America and the Caribbean in order to promote the highest standards of research, specifically research that emphasises regional impact. Only articles published in scientific journals listed in the Index Medicus or in official Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) journals are eligible for consideration.
Deadline: August 25 2006

4. Drivers of Change Award
Rewards and recognises individuals or organisations from across the southern Africa region that are making an impact in developing effective public policies and strategies to overcome economic poverty. The award is given in 3 categories: civil society, government, and business.
Deadline for nominations: August 25 2006

5. ABU CASBAA UNICEF Child Rights Award 2006
Awards the best television programming on children's rights produced in the Asia-Pacific region. It recognises the efforts of broadcasters in pursuing both the production of top-quality children's programming and better news coverage of children's issues.
Deadline: August 25 2006

6. Freda Utley Prize for Advancing Liberty
Acknowledges the efforts of think tanks in disseminating the ideals of freedom (limited government, the rule of law, free enterprise, the dignity of the individual, etc.) in areas of the world where freedom is suppressed. The annual prize will award US$10,000 to an organisation that has reached a broad audience or has achieved a substantial impact on opinion makers in expounding the concepts of freedom and liberty.
Deadline: August 31 2006

7. CIVICUS Nelson Mandela Graca Machel Innovation Awards
Provides seed funding of up to US$5,000 for innovative ideas emerging from organisations or groups of participants at the CIVICUS World Assembly. The broad idea is to support community-based and grassroots initiatives with an emphasis on the overall World Assembly theme "Acting Together for a Just World" through one of the 4 sub-themes: Civic, Economic, Political and Social Justice.
Deadline: extended to August 31 2006

8. Radio for Peacebuilding Awards 2006
Recognises radio programmes that contribute to peace in Africa, including programmes that reduce tensions in groups and communities, that enhance and value shared interests, that break down listener stereotypes, and that provide positive role models. Prize categories include: Drama (dramas, soap operas, sketches, etc.); Talk shows; and Youth Radio. First prize is 800 euros and the 3 other prizes are 300 euros each.
Deadline: September 30 2006

9. Africa Free Media Foundation (AFMF)/ World Free Press Institute (WFPI) Trophy for Impartial Coverage
Encourages print, broadcast and electronic media to offer balanced news and opinions and thereby promote democracy and peaceful co-existence in Africa. The awards are presented to media outlets which exhibit impartiality in covering war, conflict, election and politically motivated trials.
Deadline: September 30 2006

10. 2006 UNICEF/OneWorld Radio Competition
For radio features and public service announcements (PSAs) designed to raise HIV/AIDS awareness and highlight young people's participation in the media. The theme for 2006 is "Unite for children. Unite against AIDS." Entries should be about HIV and AIDS - prevention, education, the scope of the pandemic and youth action to address it. Open to audio produced by youth (under 21 years of age) broadcast on the radio or internet, in any language, anywhere in the world.
Deadline: October 1 2006

11. CBA-Amnesty International Award for Human Rights Programme
For a radio or television feature on any area of human rights that is likely to have made an impact on policy.
Deadline: October 15 2006

***

Seeking Avian Influenza Communication Information

The Communication Initiative is seeking information on initiatives using communication to address Avian Influenza at the global, national, and local levels. This information will be added to The CI's listing of projects, strategies, resources and events focused on Avian Influenza communication - click here for that listing.

Please send any information you may have to
Deborah Heimann dheimann@comminit.com

***

12. CBA-Rolls Royce Award for Exceptional News Feature
For a radio or television news feature which pushes out the boundary of media freedom. This feature should contain investigative reporting/footage, collected or shot in difficult circumstances. It can be on any topic, but may well cover issues relating to politics, corruption or exploitation.
Deadline: October 15 2006

13. CBA-UNICEF Children's Programme Award
For high quality and innovative radio or television programmes for children that educate and entertain. They may also cover key child-related issues - for example, child protection, girls' education, childhood development, HIV/AIDS etc.
Deadline: October 15 2006

14. CBA-World Bank Award for Programme on Development Issues
For a radio or television feature that illustrates development issues. The programme must be more than a simple narrative. It must be engaging for a wide audience, and focus clearly on a development issue.
Deadline: October 15 2006

15. Elizabeth R Award for Exceptional Contribution to Public Service Broadcasting
Awarded annually to an individual who has made an exceptional contribution to Public Service Broadcasting. This can be over a lifetime, in a crisis, or over a particular time.
Deadline for nominations: October 15 2006

16. 2007 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize
Presented annually to an established non-profit, charitable, or non-governmental organisation (NGO) that has made extraordinary contributions toward alleviating human suffering anywhere in the world. Nominees must be organisations, not individuals. The prize is not a grant based on future goals, but an award for recent and historic accomplishments.
Deadline for nominations: November 6 2006

17. WFP Award for Humanitarian Journalism
For a journalist practising in Swaziland who produces a series of news items for print, radio, or television on food security issues in relation to humanitarian concerns such as HIV/AIDS or tuberculosis, economic poverty, education, early childhood development, farming and crop diversification, women empowerment, and community development.
Deadline: November 7 2006

18. Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders
Granted annually to someone who has demonstrated an exceptional record of combating human rights violations by courageous and innovative means. The value of the award is 20,000 Swiss Francs, to be used for further work in the field of human rights.
Deadline: December 9 2006

19. Excellence in Reporting on HIV/AIDS
Offered as part of the Ramnath Goenka Foundation annual awards, two awards, one each from the English and Marathi press, will be given to an author of an article or series in a newspaper or magazine that makes an exceptional contribution to public awareness and understanding of HIV/AIDS issues.
Deadline: December 31 2006

***

20 years on - do we communicate better?...let us know what you think - take our POLL!

Overall the world communicates better now than it did 20 years ago. [If you agree, please elaborate. If you disagree, please indicate why.]

Do you agree or disagree?

Some recent comments received:

AGREE: "This is because we have more ways and means to communicate,eg. satellites, mobile phones, telephones, e mail i.e. internet. Like i am communicating my ideas right now to so many people alltogether. In fact it has increased manyfold in the last twenty years especially in last five to eight years." [India]

DISAGREE: "Developed world is communicating better. Developing world is getting behind as bureaucrats and the 'old generation' question why you want more computers, '...when you already have two in the hospital!' The internet has under-developed Africa and has even taken away the hard copy books!" [UK/Zambian]

DISAGREE: "I feel even with the latest gizmos at our disposal, communication in the real sense has broken down. Communications is just not about giving and receiving information but also being sensitive towards it. Nowadays No one is willing to really listen and understand the other's viewpoint and therefore I believe that without feelings and sentiments, no communictions can take place. Thanks for letting me air my views, I would appreciate it very much if there is a feedback to this." [India]

DISAGREE: "What the world does now is to communicate 'more' but not necessarily 'better' for more communication is no guarantee for 'better' communication. We have sunk head-deep into the excesses of more communication than never before." [Uganda]

***

FELLOWSHIPS

20. Alfred Friendly Press Fellowships (AFPF)
For developing-world journalists to work as reporters in United States newsrooms. The programme, which runs from mid-March to September, is offered annually to approximately 10 professional print journalists between the ages of 25 and 35.
Deadline: September 1 2006

21. Reporting on Diverse Communities Fellowships
To help journalists develop compelling story ideas and extensive source lists on issues of class, race, economics and culture. 25 fellowships will be offered for attendance at a 2-day session focusing on immigration; schools and education; health care; social services; criminal justice; the economy; politics; and social/cultural/religious life.
Deadline: September 7 2006

22. Jennings Randolph Fellowship Program
Enables outstanding scholars, policymakers, journalists, and other professionals from around the world to conduct research at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) on issues concerning international conflict and peace. 12 to 15 fellowships are awarded annually. This year USIP is especially interested in topics addressing problems of the Muslim world, post-war reconstruction and reconciliation, and responses to terrorism and political violence.
Deadline: September 15 2006

23. International Fellowships Program (IFP) West Africa
Provides fellowships for advanced study to exceptional individuals from Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal who will use their education to further development in their own countries and greater social and economic justice worldwide. IFP fellowships will be awarded to applicants from diverse backgrounds, including social groups and communities that lack systematic access to higher education.
Deadline: Rolling

***

The World Congress
on Communication for Development (WCCD)
Rome, Italy
October 25-27 2006
Click here for details.

***

GRANTS

24. Global Health Research Initiative (GHRI) HIV/AIDS Prevention Trials Capacity Building Grants
For teams of Canadian and African researchers who are interested in building capacity in conducting research related to HIV/AIDS prevention trials. The focus of the grants will be to build and enhance individual and institutional competencies required to conduct high-quality research, and to build site capacity to conduct trials in Africa.
Deadline: August 25 2006

25. Focus Cities Research Initiative Grants
For innovative projects linking urban poverty alleviation, environmental management and natural resource use for food, water and income security. Focus Cities are selected to develop, research and test interventions that involve any of the following key urban environmental themes: urban agriculture; water and sanitation; solid waste management; vulnerability to natural disasters; and land tenure as a cross-cutting theme. This Call is to select the final 4 Focus City projects - 2 in the Middle East and North Africa region, and 2 from the Latin America and the Caribbean region for awards of up to CAD$1.2 million each.
Deadline: September 22 2006

26. Grants for NGO Initiatives to Prevent HIV/AIDS
For non-governmental organisation (NGO) initiatives designed to prevent HIV/AIDS in the Asia and Pacific region, this grant will award up to US$50,000 per initiative.
Deadline: September 30 2006

27. Community-Based Field Research Grants to Young Faculty and Students
Supports young faculty and students in schools of public health to carry out community-based field research in behavioural hygiene. Each award will be in the range of US$10,000 - US$15,000. A total of US$30,000 is available in 2006.
Deadline: November 17 2006

28. Global Fund for Women Grants
Supports women's groups based outside the United States that advance the human rights of women and girls by providing small, flexible, and timely grants ranging from US$500 to US$20,000 for operating and project expenses. Priority issues include: Building Peace & Ending Gender-Based Violence; Advancing Health and Sexual & Reproductive Rights; Expanding Civic & Political Participation; Ensuring Economic & Environmental Justice; Increasing Access to Education; and Fostering Social Change Philanthropy.
Deadline: Rolling

29. Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA)
Supports community and small commercial media projects or research in South Africa. Application forms include questions on the impact the project will have on media diversity and the extent to which the project will encourage participation and access by historically disadvantaged groups and people not adequately served by the media.
Deadline: Rolling

30. RAINBO Small Grants Project
Supports projects that address Female Circumcision (FC)/Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). This grant initiative aims to strengthen the institutional capacity of African non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working on the FC/FGM issue as part of advancing the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls and works to expand collaborative relationships among NGOs, activists, academics and researchers in Africa.
Deadline: Rolling

31. Awards for All in Northern Ireland
Supports people in Northern Ireland to take part in art, sport, heritage and community activities, and projects that promote education, the environment and health in the local community. Grants range between £500 and £10,000.
Deadline: Rolling

32. Mama Cash Grants
Supports women's groups that champion a woman's right to control her own body. Grants range from 500 euros to 20,000 euros. Applications for The Netherlands and Europe as well as the Global South (Asia and the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean) and the former Soviet Union, can be submitted throughout the entire year.

33. Awards for All in Wales
Supports heritage and community activities, and projects that promote education, the environment and health in the local community. Grants of between £500 and £5,000.
Deadline: Rolling

INTERNSHIPS & SCHOLARSHIPS

34. Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Scholarships
Assists individual media practitioners from southern Africa in all areas of the media (managerial, editorial, advertising, and technical) to work on attachment in another media institution to learn new skills and develop existing ones.
Deadline: Rolling

35. UNESCO Internships
For students from a wide range of disciplines, to obtain professional experience at UNESCO Headquarters and Field Offices worldwide during a 1- to 4-month internship. Depending on qualifications, these internships relate either to UNESCO's strategic activities or to administrative or technical functions.
Deadline: Rolling

***

The Drum Beat seeks to cover the full range of communication for development activities. Inclusion of an item does not imply endorsement or support by The Partners.

Please send material for The Drum Beat to the Editor - Deborah Heimann dheimann@comminit.com

To reproduce any portion of The Drum Beat, see our policy.

To subscribe, click here.