“Stimulating Change From Below” Strategy: Social Justice | Call for Proposals

“Stimulating Change From Below” Strategy: Social Justice | Call for Proposals | Yipe!.

ONE Africa Award 2012

Throughout Africa, there is amazing progress by civil society focused on ending extreme poverty and preventable disease. These new ideas and exciting approaches are designed and implemented by Africans who understand the complexities of bringing about change and transforming lives in their communities.

The ONE Africa Award celebrates these innovations and progress towards achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

ONE Africa Award Criteria

The ONE Africa Award aims to recognize, reward, and advance the exceptional work of organizations, founded by Africans and based in Africa, dedicated to helping Africa achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The $100,000 award will bring recognition to innovative African efforts to fight poverty (The award may be split into two prizes in order to award two smaller organizations better able to absorb a smaller monetary award.)

Award recipients can be exceptional individuals, organizations or other groups demonstrating commitment and success in assisting Africans in meeting one or more of the MDGs through innovative advocacy based programs.

Read More

 

 

 

CDKN Innovation Fund for Africa – Round 2

The Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) Innovation Fund is flexible to catalyze a range of different project types, scales of operation and stages of development. This fund is designed as an open competitive mechanism to offer fast-moving support for creative initiatives in the field of climate change and international development.

Round 2 is now structured around support for partnership in designing and developing projects on climate compatible development, through an innovation process. Potential outputs from this process could include a “game-changing” (defined as: ‘an event, idea, or procedure that effects a significant shift in the current way of doing or thinking about something’) project proposal, learning materials, best practice tool kits, policy briefs and an implementation road map.

Read More

INK Fellows program

The INK Fellows program mobilizes young innovators and changemakers from emerging economies to bring their ideas and passion to the INK Community. INK Fellows are budding luminaries in their respective fields, inspirational role models and the architects of tomorrow. Fellows may be entrepreneurs, artists, social advocates, critical thinkers or, innovative changemakers from any field.

Fellows are selected because they are young people who have already proven their potential to be the gamechangers of their industries. INK seeks out these young revolutionaries, brings them together in a supportive peer group, and provides exposure to accelerate the ability of the Fellows to impact society.

Read More

The Guardian International Development Achievement Award

Now in its fourth year the Guardian International Development Achievement Award aims to celebrate one individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the lives of some of the world’s poorest people. The award is supported by Marie Stopes International and run in partnership with Barclays and GSK.

The award is designed to recognise the unsung heroes of international development. These are people whose work is or has made a profound contribution to the alleviation of poverty, working above and beyond the call of duty to make a difference.

This contributions can be made either directly through their own work or actions or indirectly as a result of others using their achievements to improve the lives of others (eg Technological inventions or agricultural research).

From health workers to campaigners; community organisers to teachers – we are looking for nominations of your unsung hero of international development to help give them the recognition they deserve.

Learn More

Find More Award Opportunities

World Summit Youth Awards 2012

Registration is now open for World Summit Youth Awards 2012 that are open to young people (under the age of 30 years from any of the UN member states) that have developed any sort of innovative project or product using information technology aimed at helping their community.

The applicant may be a developer of website or mobile apps, e-content writer, journalists or writer, application designer, technologist or anyone contributing to address poverty, protecting the environment, sharing knowledge and empowering young people.

Award Highlights

The Youth Award is not a cash award. The reward for winners is to be recognized on a world stage, to be invited to the winners’ events, to be able to connect with each other and discuss with renowned experts in the field of ICT for Development. Last year, winner’s events took place in New York, USA.

The WSYA selects and promotes best practice in e-Content. It demonstrates young people’s potential to create outstanding digital contents and serves as a platform for people from all UN member states to work together in the efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Read More

Dutch Postcode Lottery Challenge 2012

The Dutch Postcode Lottery’s sixth Postcode Lottery Challenge 2012 is now open. This international annual competition calls on creative, innovative thinkers from around the world to submit business plans for sustainable products and services.

The competition is seeking business plans that can directly reduce CO2 emissions, score highly on design, user-friendliness and quality, and ready to be in the market in two years. Social Entrepreneurs can enter their business plans for sustainable, creative and innovative products and services. The best business plan will win 500,000 EUR, and an additional 200,000 EUR is available for one or two other promising plans.

Read More

Statement by the National Youth Sector Alliance on the Financial Impropriety of the Youth Enterprise Development Fund

Nairobi 29^th May 2012

 

The Youth Enterprise Development fund was launched in 2006 by President Mwai Kibaki with an initial disbursement of KShs1 billion. The fund was established by a legal notice under the State Corporations Act 2007. The fund’s mandate was to address the rising youth unemployment in the country, as well as provide youth entrepreneurs with capital for business startup and growth. The Fund was converted to a state corporation later in 2007, under the ministry of Youth & Affairs and Sports(MOYAS).

 

In a letter dated 28^th November 2008, the Kenya National Audit Office detailed audit queries to the then Chief Executive Officer of the Fund. The Ministry denied having lost any money but confirmed receipt of the investigation report.

 

Internal fights ensued between the then chair Hellen Tombo and then Minister Prof Hellen Sambili over action to address the issues at Management level, consequence of which the then CEO Mr. Wario was suspended. KACC was called in but before the completion of investigations, the then CEO was reinstated without any explanations.

 

As the country heads to the next election, the Youth have become the natural target for votes by all leading contenders of the Presidency, Senators, Governors, Members of Parliament to County, Women and Ward representatives. Action is yet to be seen from Parliament to which YEDF reports its achievements. This issue will be the LITMUS TEST, if indeed young people are priority for them. The time for accountability has come when MPs must demonstrate their commitment to ensuring the benefits of YEDF to young people are real and the funds available are not misdirected.

 

Mismanagement, Impropriety and Embezzlement of Youth Funds

 

The National Youth Sector Alliance (NYSA) takes exception to the issues of impropriety that have freshly emerged at the YEDF. The audit report dated 30^th April 2012 details the misappropriation of millions of shillings from the youth fund in fraudulent claims. The audit, done by the fund’s internal audit team, found questionable imprest claims and payments as follows:

 

1. Weaknesses in the entire system of the Fund
2. Lack of a procurement Specialist
3. Poor performance under contract performance in 2011/2012
4. Engagement of financial sector partners without due diligence to the Public Procurement and Disposal (Public Private Partnership) Regulations, 2009.
5. Exaggerated fuel consumption and misuse of work tickets, and falsification of youth payment schedules by officers of the fund (Outright Theft by the staff) which goes against the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, 2004, Public Officers Ethics Act, 2003 and Employment Act, 2007.
6. Lack of proper communication channels
7. Non authentic pre-disbursement under the Business Development Services , where some activities amounting to 1,133,500.00 were paid for but never took place
8. Fictitious receipts for county sensitizations expenditures
9. Impropriety over 4,231,000.00 million that was spent on agri business sensitization
10. Systemic weaknesses originating from lack of an implementation matrix with strategies.

 

The National Youth Sector Alliance can confirm that indeed based on the internal audit, the YEDF has been looted with the full knowledge of very senior government officials.

 

Demands from the Youth of Kenya

 

1. The current MPs and aspiring MPs must demonstrate their commitment to young people in Kenya to access financial services, profitable enterprise, quality (basic) health services, security, representation (the National Youth Council) and protection of basic rights as enshrined in our Constitution.
2. The Board of Directors, Mandated to safeguard the Fund with Fiduciary responsibility, on behalf of the Kenyan youth must take political responsibility; explain to Kenyans their role in the mismanagement of the funds.
3. The Minister and Permanent Secretary, to take Political responsibility and step aside for a proper forensic audit and prosecution of the staff culpable of misappropriation of the funds.
4. The Artoney General and Director of Public Prosecution to institute full investigations into the alleged impropriety, and prosecute the culpable individuals. The Youth shall appoint their independent lawyers to join in the Legal team.
5. As the buck stops with the President and the Prime Minister, the youth of Kenya shall be waiting for immediate action on their commitment to Agenda 4 of the National Accord which they have abrogated to their shelves.

 

The National Youth Sector Alliance shall continue to mobilize young Kenyans from all over the country to begin to pay vigil on these issues until action is taken. The next course of action shall be announced if the above 4 demands are not implemented within 7 Days.

 

About the National Youth Sector Alliance (NYSA)

 

The National Youth Sector Alliance (NYSA) is a conglomeration of over 350 youth organizations, youth sector actors, NGO’s, Societies, FBO’s, CBO’s Youth Groups, among others in the country coming together for purposes of ensuring coherent Policy engagement with Government, Private Sector and other relevant stakeholders.

 

National Youth Sector Alliance (NYSA)

2nd Floor, World Alliance of YMCA Building, PAWA254 Hub

State House Crescent, Off State House Avenue

P.O. Box 8799, 00200, Nairobi Kenya

Cell: +254722619005

Web: http://www.nysa.co.ke

 

Eastern African Sub-regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI) 2012 Young Women’s Leadership Training Programme

August –September 2012

Venue: Uganda.

Deadline for applications: 15^th June 2012 at 5.00pm (GMT).

Are you a young woman aspiring to be a leader? Do you have what it takes to lead?

Would you like to make an impact in society through excellent leadership? Have you been looking for an exciting yet rewarding leadership training opportunity to come your way? … Well, LOOK NO MORE. EASSI is now receiving applications for her 2012 Young Women’s Leadership Training Institute.

The two-months training will be conducted from August –September 2012 in Uganda. The deadline for applications is 15 June 2012 at 5.00pm (GMT). Submission of applications by email is acceptable.

Submit to (eassi@eassi.org or eassi.eassi@gmail.com). All applications should be addressed to the Executive Director, EASSI. Late applications will not be accepted.

EASSI reserves the right to postpone or cancel the training depending on the prevailing circumstances that might warrant this action. In this unlikely event, EASSI will notify all applicants well in advance.

2012 Training Particulars

Venue: EASSI, Uganda

Dates: August – September 2012 (for 2 months)

Fees:

Non –Ugandans: USD 700 for the two months

Ugandans: UGX 1,400,000 for the two months

**Please note that fees are exclusive of accommodation and meals.**

About the Institute

The Young Women’s Leadership Training Institute has gradually evolved into one of the most exciting and rewarding choices for young women in Eastern Africa. More than a decade in leadership training, EASSI boasts of training over 500 young women in Eastern Africa. Some of the beneficiaries have gone up leadership ranks and proved that young women can also bring special leadership traits to the workplace. Others have received awards for their innovative work that has resulted from their acquired skills. To EASSI, the leadership training is about personal success and broadening opportunities for the young women and the women’s movement.

About EASSI

The Eastern African Sub-regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI) is a registered sub-regional civil society organization working in eight countries namely Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania. EASSI was born in 1996 after the Beijing Conference and is mandated to monitor the commitments of Eastern African governments towards gender equality.

With a history of fifteen years of existence and commitment to the transformation of gender relations, EASSI envisions a society where all enjoy gender equality, social justice, peace and development. EASSI’s mission is to facilitate follow-up of the Beijing and African Platforms for Action in order to enhance the advancement of women and social justice. Some of the human rights instruments that form the basis of EASSI’s work are: the Beijing and African Platforms for Action; the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol); and the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

Visit the EASSI website for the 2012 Training Prospectus and the Application Form

For more Information, contact

The Executive Director, EASSI, P.o.Box 24965, Kampala,

Uganda, Tel: +256 414 286153/ +256 312 266451

Web: http://www.eassi.org

Mailto: – eassi@eassi.org, or eassi.eassi@gmail.com

Find more training opportunities and events

Reed Elsevier Environmental Challenge

Reed Elsevier has launched the Reed Elsevier Environmental Challenge for individuals or organizations operating in the not-for-profit and for-profit sectors.

This Challenge is part of the corporate social responsibility of Reed Elsevier, which is a world leading provider of professional information solutions in the Science, Medical, Risk, Legal and Business sectors.

The Reed Elsevier Environmental Challenge will be awarded to the two projects that best demonstrate how they can provide sustainable access to safe water where it is presently at risk and/or access to improved sanitation.

Projects must have clear practical applicability, address identified need, and advance related issues such as health, education, or human rights.

The Challenge will be awarded in November 2012 and there will be a $50,000 prize for the first place entry and a $25,000 prize for the second place entry.

Applicants will be offered access to relevant Reed Elsevier products that can help in the preparation of their submissions between November and March 2012.  Winning projects will be highlighted in the Reed Elsevier journal Water Research.

Applications will be reviewed against the Reed Elsevier Environmental Challenge criteria by the Reed Elsevier Environmental Challenge steering group, comprised of relevant internal and external water and sanitation specialists.

The deadline to submit applications is 15^th April 2012. For more information, visit http://www.reedelsevier.com/corporateresponsibility/environmental-challenge/Pages/Home.aspx