CONFERENCE ON URBAN DISASTER MANAGEMENT
(Date: July 1-2, 2011, Venue” Le Meridian Hotel, Pune)

TIEMS-India, the International Emergency Management Society – India, is organizing a conference on URBAN DISASTER MANAGEMENT. They also welcome entries for call for papers, competition entry and registrations for the upcoming conference.
The conference will the key topics including:

· Information & Communication Systems

· Command & Control

· Surveillance & Control Measures

· First Responders & Infrastructure Technologies

· Role of technology companies

· Disaster Planning Tools & Resources

· Awareness

· Mitigation Measures

· Role of Academic & Research institutions

· Mainstreaming Disaster Management in Urban Development Planning

Please visit the TIEMS-India website for more details of the conference: www.tiemsindia.org.

Synergos Fellowship: Call for Applications

Synergos is inviting applications for their Senior Fellows Program. The goal is to increase the effectiveness of extraordinary leaders, who are committed to collaborative action to bring sustainable, systemic improvements in the lives of the communities they serve. For more details, click here>>> http://www.synergos.org/fellows/

Download Application form

"Diploma in Financial Management and Accountability" (DFMA) 

Download Information document for your ready reference

Summer course on Human Rights and Drug Policy - Central European University, Budapest

Course Dates: July 11-22, 2011

Location: Central European University (CEU), Budapest, Hungary

Brief course description:

The course aims to situate drug policies globally within a framework of fundamental human rights, and to assess the extent to which country and international drug policies fail to meet human rights standards. Discussion will focus partly on the identification and understanding of human rights including those that have their basis in international agreements and laws, and in part on evaluation and assessment of the gap between rights and practice in the implementation of drug policies in many countries and regions. The focus of the course will be global and participants will be drawn from all regions internationally.

A mix of teaching modes will be used and faculty are encouraged to minimise the use of formal lectures. Emphasis will be on discussion and interactive learning with maximal use of written and non-written materials. There exist considerable amounts of audio-visual media and these will be extensively used as a basis for group discussion. Time will be allocated for personal reading and participants will be encouraged to interact personally with faculty so as to deepen understanding of the issues. Site visits and discussions with civil society organisations and groups will be a feature of the programme of activities.

All those attending the course will be provided by CEU with a Certificate of Attendance. Opportunities will also be provided during the course for personal discussions with Faculty. It is intended that further work after the conclusion of the course be encouraged both in respect of research and programme analysis and development. Course faculty will be prepared to provide follow up assistance through personal agreement with students.

Target group:

Applications are invited from high-achieving MA and PhD students, junior faculty, research staff in universities and other institutions and professionals. Undergraduates without a university degree will not be considered. No prior knowledge of Human Rights and Drug Policy is required of participants. A key objective of the course is to emphasise the interdisciplinarity both of learning and of problem solving. It is thus an important objective that non-standard disciplines be represented, and that new skills and capacities are applied to this area of public policy.

Language of instruction: English

Accepted applicants will have their expenses (travel, accommodation and stipend) covered.

Application deadline: February 15, 2011

Read more >>> http://www.worldwaterweek.org/sa/node.asp?node=482

The recent amendments in the definition of ‘charitable purpose’ have far-reaching implications to NGOs who are involved in microfinance and lending activities. Against this backdrop, this paper from FMSF discusses circumstances under which an NGO engaged in microfinance can still be treated as a charitable organization.

Read more>>> http://fmsfindia.org.in/publication_upload/standard/micro%20finance.pdf

Margaret Sekaggya, the special rapporteur from United Nations, carried out a fact-finding mission to assess the situation of human rights defenders in India. Subsequently, a preliminary report has been published which comprises of her observations and recommendations.

Read more >>>

South Asia Women’ s Fund launches its Small Grants Programme:

The deadline for receiving applications in the second phase is 15th February 2011. 

Read more>>>

Planner for the year 2011 is now available at VANI. Write to us to get a free planner….!

Appeal from VANI for justice for Dr. Binayak Sen

This appeal is on behalf of Voluntary Action Network India (VANI), which is an apex body of Voluntary Organizations in India.  VANI has 363 member and more than 3500 associate organizations working all over India to contribute in development of the country.  The goal of VANI is to work towards creating enabling environment for voluntary action and voluntarism through research based advocacy and strengthening the sector.

During the last few years, the country has witnessed structured suppression and victimization of independent voice being raised for the marginalized community. People working within the framework of Indian constitution and means propagated by father of nation i.e. non-violence, are being harassed.  Many colonial rules and acts used by British Empire during struggle for independence are being used against the citizens of free India.  The voluntary organizations and social activists have been active for the development of tribals and other marginalized communities for decades. They have been providing health, education and access to government schemes to the poor, in locations where not even government machinery is active. Dr. Binayak Sen is one such person who have been active in providing the health services, which otherwise is not available in remote areas.  In the past his services and contribution has been recognized not only by civil society but also by government, international bodies and media.

Sir, the way the trial has been conducted in Dr. Sen’s case has raised serious questions in the direction in which space for non-violent expression is shrinking. Being the custodian of fundamental rights provided by the Indian Constitution, we sincerely appeal to you to review not only the case of Dr. Sen but also many others activists which are not even reflected in media. The evidences are neglected, twisted or manipulated to reinforce the stand taken by bias government machinery. 

Suitable action from you is necessary to reinforce the faith of Indian citizens in the philosophy, ethics and principles on which our democracy is based.  

Thanking you,

Sincerely

Harsh Jaitli
Chief Executive Officer

Training on Planning and Implementation of National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM)

National Institute of Rural Development, Guwahati is organizing a training programme on Planning and Implementation of National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) from January 3 to 8, 2011. The objective of this programme is to train the development functionaries with comprehensive skills for implementing the programme on a mission mode.

The programme will he held in State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD), South Sikkim. The last date for accepting the nominations is 25 December 2010. For further details and the nomination format, Please click here>>>

In the light of the significant changes to the perspectives on development, the term capacity building has been defined in many ways. Consequently, there has been a substantial increase in the investments made by international donors for the capacity building of their partners across the globe.

However, the book ‘Capacity Development’ edited by Jan Ubels, Naa-Aku Acquaye-Baddoo and Alan Fowler seems to be giving a new dimension to this concept. It states that the term capacity building has to be understood differently in a real life situation in the development sector. Capacity building, as a unique professional domain, has been neglected for a long time. Hence, the book makes an effort to throw light into this particular domain. The multidimensional dynamics of the term capacity building are analyzed by various leading experts from a real life perspective through commissioned articles.

The book is designed to make capacity building more professional and increasingly effective in achieving development goals. The book tires to substantiate that capacity building of a particular organization is invariable related to various other factors in and around it.

The book which is currently available with earthscan, uk is tipped to be very useful reading for all those engaged in the development sector.

For more details and online order one can directly contact earthscan at www.earthscan.co.uk

NGO Management
 - Edited by Alan Fowler and Chiku Malunga

The changing environment across the sectors in the society has its implication on the NGO sector as well. It calls for a change in the way NGOs are managed and led. In this light the earthscan companion brings out a book known as ‘NGO Management’ edited by Alan Fowler and Chiku Malunga. 

The book tries to illustrate how best NGOS can maintain its performance and relevance in this rapidly changing society. Besides, the book also tries to touch upon the ways and means through which the NGOs can address the new developments like secularization of international aid. Various leading development practitioners have contributed to the content of the book and hence make a cause for its relevance to the voluntary sector.

For more details and online order one can directly contact earthscan at www.earthscan.co.uk