CCIH Monthly Bulletin

February 2006

1. CCIH AND MEMBER NEWS

CCIH TO HOLD ITS ANNUAL CONFERENCE MAY 27-29 IN MARYLAND

CCIH will hold its 2006 Annual Conference from May 27 until May 29 at the Bishop Claggett Center in Buckeystown, Maryland. The theme of the conference is Excellence, Innovation and Influence: Pathways to Health and Wholeness. Through plenary sessions, Bible studies, workshops and small group discussions we aim to discover what it means to promote "wholeness" in the context of International Health. We will learn about best practices as we search for ways to integrate wholeness into our ministries. And we will strive to understand how our faith can add an extra dimension to this discussion and to the methods we employ to meet the complex needs of those we serve. Through study of the Scriptures, prayer and reflection we will spend some time listening to what God wants to say to us about our professional (both collective and individual) and our personal lives. Among the topics to be covered during the conference are:

• Health and Wholeness in practice;
• Reproductive Health and Family Planning;
• Health Systems Co-management by FBOs;
• An overview of the PACANet Conference held in December in Nigeria; and
• The ABC Approach to HIV Prevention.

The venue for the conference, the Bishop Claggett Center (http://www.claggett.ang-md.org) is located in Frederick County, Maryland, about an hour from downtown Washington DC. It sits on a bluff overlooking Sugarloaf Mountain and the scenic Monocacy River Valley and provides a tranquil setting in an atmosphere of Christian hospitality. It will provide a wonderful setting for the sharing, learning, networking and reflecting that are integral to our annual conferences. For more information on the CCIH conference and to learn more about registration and conference fees, click here.

Attending the Global Health Council Conference: As in past years, the Global Health Council Conference is being held directly after the CCIH Conference in Washington, DC. This year's pre-conferences will take place on May 30 and will be meetings of the two caucuses of the GHC: the Alma Ata Caucus and the Faith and Global Health Caucus. CCIH members will be able to take advantage of a special GHC Conference Caucus discount if they are members of the GHC and a Caucus. If you are not a member and wish to take advantage of this significant discount (even adding on the cost of membership: $120 for professionals and $60 for students) you must join the Global Health Council and a caucus by March 6 ( click here for information on GHC membership; after joining please contact Melissa Cunningham, mcunningham@globalhealth.org,at the GHC to join a caucus.) In order for CCIH participants to be eligible for this incredible discount, the group must include at least 30 GHC/Caucus members and registration must be completed by April 28. CCIH encourages you to consider this option for payment. The normal rate for registration by a non-member is $500 (by 3/31) or $600 (by 4/28). The discount rate for GHC/Caucus members is $150. If you would like to obtain this discount, you should join the GHC online but PLEASE DO NOT REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE DIRECTLY WITH GHC or you will not be counted as part of the CCIH group. Please contact Sharon Franzén at sfranzen@ccih.org for more information.

In order to assist with our planning for the CCIH Conference, we would greatly appreciate receiving expressions of interest from those who think that they may attend. You can do so by completing the form found here. This will also help us estimate whether or not we will have enough GHC members to take advantage of the caucus discount. Expressing interest in the conference(s) does NOT obligate you to attend.

CCIH WELCOMES NEW ORGANIZATIONS AS MEMBERS

The CCIH Board of Directors approved one new Organizational member and one new Friend of CCIH in January. We now have over 70 Organizational Members, 10 "Friends of CCIH" and about 300 individual members.

* Uganda Christian University is a major private University located outside of Kampala offering coed undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate studies. Our contact with UCU is Doug Fountain, the Acting Director of the Department for Health Sciences. They have recently established a required course for all students on Health and Wholeness that covers physical, social, emotional, and spiritual health in three modules. They also have a new HIV/AIDS initiative on campus which supports discussions and education related to the topic, particularly as it relates to prevention. For more information, please contact Doug at dfountain@ucu.ac.ug. To visit the University's website, go to http://www.ucu.ac.ug.

* Strategies for Hope (SFH) Trust, a new Friend of CCIH, is based in the UK. It publishes and distributes print and audiovisual materials aimed at promoting informed, positive responses to the HIV pandemic, especially (but not exclusively) in sub-Saharan Africa. Since 1989 SFH has produced 18 books, five videos, one video facilitator’s guide, and the Stepping Stones training package (manual + video). These materials have been distributed to over 160 countries, with most copies being supplied free of charge to organizations in sub-Saharan Africa. SFH has an extensive mailing list which helps to target particular groups in need of information and training materials for HIV/AIDS-related work and enables it to maintain direct contact and thus play a key role in the process of monitoring and evaluating the use and impact of SFH materials. The series editor is Glen Williams (sfh@stratshope.org) . For more information on SFH, visit their website at http://www.stratshope.org.

 

FRIEND OF CCIH, STRATEGIES FOR HOPE TRUST, DISTRIBUTES CALLED TO CARE TOOLKIT

In the January 2006 Bulletin/News, CCIH highlighted a new HIV/AIDS resource entitled "Called to Care" (practical, action-oriented booklets and mini-manuals on issues related to HIV/AIDS, designed for use by church leaders, especially in sub-Saharan Africa) which was launched by SFH at the ICASA Conference in Nigeria in December 2005. The first two titles in this toolkit, Positive Voices and Making it Happen, have been so well received that SFH has made it possible to download the booklets directly from their website at http://www.stratshope.org as pdf files. The booklets are also available for purchase at a minimal fee. Also available from the website is the video "What Can I Do?", designed to combat HIV-related stigma, shame, discrimination and denial in churches. The video features Canon Gideon Byamugisha from Uganda - the first African priest to disclose his HIV-positive status. Strategies for Hope Trust is currently looking for a publisher/distributor in the United States for its materials. Please contact Glen Williams at sfh@stratshope.org if you can assist SFH with this.

CCIH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WORKS WITH MSCI ON ORGANIZATION OF WORKSHOPS ON PEPFAR'S NEW PARTNER'S INITIATIVE

Ray Martin, CCIH's Executive Director, has been contracted by Medical Service Corporation International (MSCI, http://www.mscionline.com/) to help design and present four one-day Outreach Workshops on the New Partner's Initiative (NPI) in Philadelphia, Denver, Atlanta and Los Angeles. NPI, announced by President Bush on World AIDS Day 2005 and funded through The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), will provide $200 million over four years for grants to new partners to provide HIV/AIDS prevention and care services in the fifteen PEPFAR countries. For specific information on NPI visit http://www.state.gov/s/gac/rl/fs/57497.htm.

The Outreach Workshops are intended to reach out to organizations (particularly community and faith-based organizations) with the capability to provide essential HIV/AIDS services internationally but which lack experience in working with the US Government. The workshops will provide an overview of the HIV/AIDS response in the focus countries along with information on how to apply for the grants. They are free and open to eligible organizations (nongovernmental organizations, working in any of the fifteen Emergency Plan focus countries, with little or no experience working with the U.S. Government -- defined as no more than $5 million in U.S. Government funding during the preceding five years, excluding disaster or emergency assistance or funding as a subcontractor.)

The first of the regional conferences will be held in Philadelphia on February 22, 2006 at Loew's Philadelphia Hotel, beginning at 8 am. Outreach Workshops will also be held in Atlanta (March 8), Denver (March 22), and in Los Angeles (April 5). Following these initial workshops, a three-day Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Workshop will be held in Denver and in Washington, DC.

For more information on these workshops, please contact Mr. Rami Koskinen at info@pepfarnpi.com or by telephone at 1-866-561-4910, or go to http://www.pepfarnpi.com.

CCIH MEMBERS RECEIVE HIGH EFFICIENCY RATINGS FROM CHARITY EVALUATORS

Several CCIH members have received high efficiency ratings from two of the most respected "charity watchdogs", Ministry Watch and Charity Navigator. These agencies evaluate non-profit organizations as a service to people who want to donate to a worthy cause, aiming to encourage "intelligent giving" and enhanced ministry accountability. Charity Navigator looks at over 5000 organizations and rates them to determine their financial health and fiscal responsibility and ranks them within their field. Their highest rating is a 4. Ministry Watch, a Christian agency, evaluates over 400 church and para-church organizations. Its highest rating is a 5. The following CCIH members received high rankings from both agencies (a 4/5 from Ministry Watch or a 4 from Charity Navigator): Adventist Development & Relief Agency International , Blessings International, Catholic Medical Mission Board, Food for the Hungry, Interchurch Medical Assistance, MAP International, Northwest Medical Teams International, Samaritan's Purse and World Vision. Ministry Watch also rated Catholic Relief Services, International Aid and Nazarene Compassionate Ministries highly. In addition, Ministry Watch maintains a list it calls the "30 Shining Light Ministries" which goes beyond financial efficiency to acknowledge strengths in other areas. CCIH members on this exclusive list are Compassion International, International Aid and Northwest Medical Teams International.

ENHANCED DRAFT OF CCIH’S PRIMER ON “ABC” APPROACH TO HIV PREVENTION

Last month’s bulletin reported CCIH’s work on preparing a major document entitled, A Primer on the ABC Approach to HIV Prevention: Common Questions and Answers about the ABC Approach to HIV Prevention. This 39-page manuscript, prepared jointly with Medical Services Corporation International, has already gotten a lot of attention even though it is still in draft. It explains the ABC approach to HIV prevention, clearly presents the evidence for such an approach, and responds to common critiques with empirical evidence. Click here to access the latest draft of the Primer.

You are welcome to use the document even though it is still in draft form. Comments and suggestions for improvements are welcomed through the middle of February. Send them to sfranzen@ccih.org.

PEPFAR OFFICIAL WELCOMES CCIH FEEDBACK ON GOVERNMENT’S AIDS PROGRAMS

At a private meeting between Dr. Mark Dybul, Deputy Coordinator and Medical Director of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in the State Department Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator, and CCIH Executive Director Ray Martin, Dybul expressed appreciation for CCIH’s efforts to educate the public about the evidence-based rationale for an ABC approach to HIV prevention. Recent encouraging evidence from Zimbabwe and Kenya reinforce earlier Uganda data demonstrating the efficacy of an ABC approach in Africa’s generalized epidemics.

He emphasized the Government’s conviction that FBOs can play a larger role in the global response to AIDS. The New Partners’ Initiative (see separate item in bulletin) is a new program aimed at enlisting new participants in an AIDS response and scaling up programs of faith-based and community-based organizations.

Dybul said he would value feedback from CCIH’s constituency on PEPFAR and asked CCIH to feel free to contact him anytime with suggestions or criticisms. He mentioned frequent criticisms of PEPFAR, such as being anti-condom or hampering work with commercial sex workers because of the requirement to sign an anti-prostitution clause, and urged CCIH to inform him of concrete examples where PEPFAR policies or practices hindered the fight against AIDS. He feels that the “culture wars” spawned by political agendas on both the far right and the far left get in the way of sound policies, an unfortunate development since lives are at stake.

Dybul believes it is important to educate more Africans about the ABC approach and would welcome suggestions on how to do this. He expressed support for CCIH’s Global Religious Health Assets Mapping project (GRHAM) and suggested that CCIH seek funding for it from the New Partners’ Initiative.

RESOURCES AVAILABLE FROM FRIEND OF CCIH FAMILY HEALTH INTERNATIONAL (FHI)

FHI Brings HIV/AIDS Message To Youth

FHI's YouthNet (http://www.fhi.org/en/Youth/YouthNet/index.htm) is a global program to improve reproductive health and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among people 10 to 24 years old. It is a collaborative effort involving young people, parents, schools, employers, policymakers, health professionals, faith-based programs, and community leaders. Most importantly, YouthNet involves youth in every aspect of the program. It supports a wide range of activities and programs for youth as well as training materials and publications. YouthNet's publications range from short research briefs to longer, in-depth reviews of the latest developments in reproductive health for adolescents. The most recent of these examines the impact of sex and HIV education programs on youth sexual behaviors and research on youth peer education programs. The authors of these papers were featured at two consultations sponsored by YouthNet and USAID this month in Washington, DC. Click here to view a review of these presentations.

FHI and The International HIV/AIDS Alliance Produce an Orphans and Vulnerable Children Toolkit

The International HIV/AIDS Alliance and Family Health International, with the support of many organizations and USAID, have published a new CD-Rom on supporting orphans and other vulnerable children. It contains over 600 documents sharing learning and resources from a wide range of organizations. This CD-Rom toolkit is for people and organizations that support NGOs and CBOs responding to HIV/AIDS in developing countries that are working with or wishing to work with children. These include NGO support programs, training institutions and individual trainers as well as NGOs and CBOs (community-based organizations) themselves. The CD-Rom is available on-line at http://www.ovcsupport.net or by emailing Victoria Womersley at vwomersley@aidsalliance.org. Please include your name, address and how many copies you would like.

 

CCIH MEMBER WORLD RELIEF EQUIPS LOCAL CHURCHES TO RESPOND TO HIV/AIDS

For over 60 years World Relief (http://www.wr.org/) has worked with churches to respond to the needs of those in their community in the name of Christ. In order to assist churches, especially in Africa, to deal with the issues surrounding the HIV/AIDS pandemic, WR has developed Mobilizing for Life, a program which strengthens churches and trains local believers to reach out with compassion to their hurting neighbors demonstrating Christ's love by meeting physical, emotional and spiritual needs and restoring dignity, sense of self-worth and hope. Using a multi-faceted approach, World Relief and churches are confronting the myriad of social problems associated with the AIDS epidemic. Churches are curbing the spread of the disease through education, assisting families affected by HIV/AIDS and caring for the sick, widows and orphans. An integral part of the program involves teaching the value of abstinence, faithfulness within marriage and sexual morality. Many families are also being enabled to set up small businesses to boost their income so they can provide for essential needs, including health care. For more information on the Mobilizing for Life program, go to http://www.wr.org/ourwork/whatwedo/aidsministries.asp.

CHRISTIAN HEALTH ASSOCIATIONS LISTED BY INTERCHURCH MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

CCIH member Interchurch Medical Assistance (http://www.interchurch.org) has begun a list of Christian Health Associations from around the world. The list, which includes contact information and some organizational newsletters, can be found at http://www.interchurch.org/resources/index.php. The list will be continually updated and expanded as new information comes in. For more information, please contact Erika Pearl at erikapearl@interchurch.org.

WORLD VISION GRANT EXPANDS CCIH’S STUDENT OUTREACH

The commitment of the CCIH board to expand its services and outreach to students and young professionals received a boost with a $3,000 designated grant from CCIH member World Vision. An additional grant of $5,000 to CCIH is expected. This is on top of World Vision’s support of the recent Calvin College Faith and International Development Conference, co-sponsored by CCIH. World Vision is also supporting the mobilizing of students for a Christian response to AIDS by financing Acting on AIDS, a student-led program that has chapters on 40 college campuses and aims to double the number in 2006.

CCIH’s activities with students, in addition to regular member benefits, include:

- an email communications network targeting students with news and information of particular relevance to them,

- a mentorship program, pairing students with Christian veteran international health professionals,

- free registration for the CCIH annual conference and partial scholarships for accommodation and meals,

- discounted contribution requirements for both organizational and individual memberships in CCIH ($25 for individuals and $40 for student organizations),

- dissemination of information about jobs and internships in international health

CCIH welcomes your ideas on how it can enhance its service to students and young professionals. Email your suggestions and questions to CCIH’s student board member, David Beversluis, at davidbeversluis@yahoo.com.

ACTING ON AIDS STUDENT LEADERSHIP SUMMIT AN OVERWHELMING SUCCESS

In what was considered by all to be a great success, the Acting on AIDS Student Leadership Summit was held from February 2-4 at Taylor University in Indiana. The summit was strongly supported by CCIH member World Vision. CCIH Board President Milton Amayun and Executive Director Ray Martin were among the speakers/presenters. More than 600 students registered for the Summit from around 40 college campuses across the country— well over the 350 estimated to attend. Throughout the summit students concentrated on learning more about HIV/AIDS, specifically about prevention, advocacy and care. They were also given ideas, tools and encouragement to return to their campuses and step up their efforts toward creating awareness about HIV/AIDS. An initial review of the summit, including an 8 minute slide show, can be found at http://www.worldvision.org/aoa.nsf/aids/home.

CALVIN COLLEGE FAITH AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE DRAWS 350 PARTICIPANTS

The student-conceived and student-organized Faith and International Development Conference at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, generated so much energy that students and supporters convened an impromptu brainstorming session to discuss possibilities for another conference next year. There was even discussion of forming a movement among Christian students to explore the faith dimensions of international development with a strong focus on social justice.

The February 9-11 conference was planned by Calvin’s International Health and Development club, a CCIH organizational member, created after a group of Calvin students were inspired at the 2004 CCIH Annual Conference to make a difference in the world. CCIH board member David Beversluis, a recent Calvin graduate, promoted the idea of a conference, and club leader Jackie Biltz led a team organizing the conference.

At the first of six plenary sessions, David Beckman, head of 57,000-member advocacy organization Bread for the World, noted that recent years have seen a big change in growing activism by both youth and evangelicals for addressing poverty and social injustice. He said that God is moving to liberate millions of people from poverty. CCIH board member Jacqui Patterson quoted Martin Luther King in her address on Faith and Health. At the closing plenary, Kent Hill, Assistant Administrator for Global Health at USAID, urged students to prepare well for service in God’s kingdom, being thoroughly professional. He said that we need to cultivate our spiritual lives, because our inner faith is connected with our outer lives. In addition to plenaries and worship periods, a wide variety of topics in faith and international development were covered in 40 sessions in four breakout periods.

CCIH was a co-sponsor of the conference. Financial assistance was received from CCIH members World Vision, International Aid, and the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, as well as from the Lilly Vocation Project, and Calvin College. For more details on the conference, go to http://www.calvin.edu/academic/ids/conference/index.htm.

CCIH MEMBER WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES HOLDS ASSEMBLY IN BRAZIL

The World Council of Churches (WCC, http://www.wcc-coe.org/) will hold its 9th Assembly in Porto Alegre, Brazil from February 14-23. The theme of the Assembly is “God, in your Grace, transform the world”.

The WCC, inaugurated in 1948 and currently headed by General Secretary Samuel Kobia of Kenya, is a fellowship of almost 350 churches, in more than 120 countries in all continents from virtually all Christian traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is not a member church but works cooperatively with the WCC. The assembly, which meets every 7 years, is the highest governing body of the WCC. It brings thousands of Christian women and men from around the world together for ecumenical encounter, prayer, celebration and deliberation. People from non-member churches and other faith traditions participate as observers. Other participants attend workshops on various topics on the life of the church. To learn more about the Assembly go to http://www.wcc-assembly.info/. For information on how to view the proceedings through live and recorded video clips, click here.

2005 ISSUES OF CONTACT MAGAZINE NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

Contact, published by CCIH member World Council of Churches, focuses on issues of health and healing. The 2005 issues, available online at http://wcc-coe.org/wcc/news/contact.html, have been published in a participatory manner with key sister organizations who have deep understanding of the subjects that are being dealt with. They are:

No. 181 October-December 2005: Making access to essential medicines possible
No. 180 Diciembre (December) 2005: II Asamblea mundial de la salud de los pueblos (Spanish); People’s Health Assembly (English)
No. 179 January 2005: Special issue on Children

WCC is now establishing a discussion forum in which every article scheduled for publication by Contact will be available two weeks beforehand for discussion. The collected synthesized thoughts and reflections coming out of these discussions will be appended to the article in the final printed version of the magazine. To sign up for the discussion forum, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wcccontact/join. Technical problems may be addressed to Dr. Wolbring at gwolbrin@ucalgary.ca.

CCIH recognizes that prayer is vital to our work and ministry and to the work and ministry of our members as well as all those working in international health. We invite you to use this monthly prayer calendar (which lists a prayer for every day of the month) to pray with us about our work, the work of our members and the needs of the world. Please copy and distribute it freely. We encourage suggestions for prayer points for next month's prayer calendar. Please contact Sharon Franzén.

Click here to view the February 2006 Prayer Calendar.

2. CONFERENCES AND EVENTS

USAID/OFDA RFA: DROUGHT PREPAREDNESS AND MITIGATION PROGRAM IN SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST ASIA

Funding Opportunity Number: USAID-Washington-OFDA-06-002-APS

Estimated Total Program Funding: $2,000,000

Funding Instrument type: Cooperative Agreement

Closing Date for Applications: March 1, 2006

In order to achieve the goal of supporting sustainable, low-tech, community-based drought preparedness and mitigation programs, USAID/OFDA is soliciting applications to undertake a drought preparedness and mitigation program in South and Southeast Asia. Potential countries for program implementation may include, but are not limited to, Cambodia, East Timor, India, Laos, Pakistan and Vietnam. Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to implement activities in more than one country. USAID/DCHA/OFDA plans to award one or multiple cooperative agreements for three year (or less) programs.

For more information, go to: http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=7683.

CDC RFA: PUBLIC HEALTH CONFERENCE SUPPORT PROGRAM

Funding Opportunity Number: RFA No: CDC-PA-05031-A

Estimated Total Program Funding: Approx. Average $8-75,000 for one-year project

Funding Instrument type: Grant

Closing Date for Applications: March 6, 2006 for Cycle B

The purpose of conference support funding is to provide partial support for specific non-Federal conferences in the areas of health promotion and disease prevention information and education programs, and applied research.

For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=1865.

USAID RFA: HEALTH SYSTEMS 20/20 PROJECT

Funding Opportunity Number: M-OAA-GH-HSR-06-189

Estimated Total Program Funding: $ 125,000,000

Funding Instrument type: Cooperative Agreement

Closing Date for Applications: March 6, 2006

The purpose of this procurement is help solve challenging problems in health governance, finance and operations that keep people in developing countries from gaining access to and using Population, Health, and Nutrition priority services. The applicant shall emphasize developing and applying workable solutions, not simply better defining the problems. Health Systems 20/20 will focus on four goals: Finance, Governance, Operations and Sustainable Capacity.

For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=2932.

USAID RFA: NORTH CAUCASUS PROGRAM

Funding Opportunity Number: 118-06-001-RFA

Estimated Total Program Funding: $2,000,000

Funding Instrument type: Cooperative Agreement

Closing Date for Applications: March 10, 2006

The purpose of this program is to improve the livelihood of residents of the North Caucasus by expanding economic opportunities, developing communities, promoting tolerance, promoting effective local governance and improving health services. The projects under this program should be aimed to support the transition from Humanitarian Assistance and Conflict Mitigation to Relief and Recovery in the North Caucasus (Chechnya, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, Adygeia and North Ossetia). Implementation should be scheduled to begin in fiscal year 2006. This activity will be implemented over the course of the next two years.

For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=7678.

USAID SENEGAL APS: HEALTH ANNUAL PROGRAM STATEMENT

Funding Opportunity Number: USAID-SENEGAL-06-005-APS

Estimated Total Program Funding: $75,000,000

Funding Instrument type: Cooperative Agreement

Closing Date for Applications: March 30, 2006

USAID/Senegal anticipates issuing an Annual Program Statement (APS) to disseminate information about new health activities to be supported for the 2006-2011 period under USAID/Senegal’s Strategic Objective No. 12 (SO 12). USAID/Senegal intends to support four essential projects in Senegal beginning in FY 2006 which are: (1) decentralization policy and health care financing; (2) maternal and child health and family planning; (3) STI/HIV/AIDS and TB prevention and control; (4) and community health. Funding will be for a five year period. Four drafted broad in nature Program Descriptions will follow this synopsis for questions and comments for a period of two weeks. The APS will be issued on or about February 13, 2006.

For more information, go to: http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=7700.

NIH/NIDA PA: INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH COLLABORATION ON DRUG ADDICTION (ROI)

Funding Opportunity Number: PA-06-050

Funding Instrument type: Grant

Closing Date for Applications: Multiple dates, see full announcement

This program announcement is part of The National Institute of Drug Addiction’s effort to encourage rigorous collaborative international research and will provide funding for projects conducted in whole or in part outside the U.S. The International Program extends the Institute mission internationally through programs that: 1) take advantage of unique opportunities to advance scientific knowledge through research, 2) address the global impact of addiction on public health through activities that build research capacity internationally, and 3) effectively disseminate and share the knowledge gained through NIDA-supported research to scientists, treatment providers, and policy makers around the world.

The research must be conducted by U.S. investigators in collaboration with non-U.S.-based investigators.  This is a broad call for innovative research and applications are encouraged in all areas of science addressing drug addiction including but not limited to prevention, basic science, epidemiology, treatment and health services.  While the priorities will change from year to year, in FY06 priority areas include: linkages between HIV/AIDS and drug abuse, methamphetamine abuse, inhalant abuse, smoking during pregnancy, and drugs and driving.

For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=3186.

NIH PA: RECENT HIV INFECTION: NEW PREVENTION CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Funding Opportunity Number: PA-05-164

Funding Instrument type: Grant

Closing Date for Applications: Multiple dates, see full announcement

This PA solicits innovative basic or applied research applications that will advance prevention opportunities to reduce transmission risk or minimize neuro-cognitive impairment in persons with recent HIV infection (i.e., 0 – 6 months post-exposure). Principal Investigators are urged to develop new research that extends knowledge of the basic biological processes of acute and early HIV disease to address the specific prevention needs of highly infectious, newly infected persons who may account for a disproportionate share of secondary HIV transmissions. This PA is intended to support basic and applied HIV prevention science research. Examples of possible research topics are research on the identification of, and referral for treatment and prevention services for, persons with recent HIV infection; studies to tailor brief, efficacious HIV risk reduction counseling to persons with acute IV infection, particularly those from severely affected communities or subgroups; and studies to interrupt mother to child transmission (MTCT) in persons with recent HIV infection.

For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=3181.

NIH PA: RESEARCH ON PATHWAYS LINKING ENVIRONMENTS, BEHAVIORS AND HIV/AIDS (R01)

Funding Opportunity Number: PA-06-114

Funding Instrument type: Grant

Closing Date for Applications: Multiple dates, see full announcement

This announcement invites research on the interrelationships among, and pathways linking, social, economic, cultural, and institutional environments; prevalence and patterning of individual behaviors related to HIV risk and prevention; and the prevalence, patterning, and spread of HIV infection in a population.  This announcement seeks to stimulate innovative approaches to understanding the complex mechanisms involved in the spread of HIV and its consequences in a variety of populations across the globe. This includes the search for, production of and testing of improved models to account for changes in both behavior and biology under different levels of disease prevalence. Applicants may wish to consider a range of potential approaches, including observational studies, experimental designs, and simulation modeling.

Examples of research questions include: How do changes in or disruptions of family structures and functioning contribute to increases in HIV-risk behaviors? How do changes in or disruptions of family structures and functioning contribute to increases in HIV-risk behaviors? How does death and disability caused by the spread of HIV in a population affect living arrangements, family composition, relationships and partnerships, relationships across generations and the ability of the family or social unit to provide for itself and/or its children? How has HIV/AIDS changed the role of older people in families and communities?

For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=7466.

USAID RFA: IMPLEMENTING THE EXPANSION OF THE ROLE OF NETWORKS OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS (PHAs) IN UGANDA

Funding Opportunity Number: 617-06-004 Estimated Total Program Funding: $3,000,000

Funding Instrument type: Cooperative Agreement

Closing Date for Applications: To be announced

There will be only one recipient of this grant, who will facilitate the mobilization and strengthening of the capacity of PHA networks at the national and district levels, and of PHA groups at the sub-district and community level for effective coordination and improved access to prevention, care and treatment services for HIV/AIDS. The recipient will also facilitate access for PHAs and their families to orphan support and other ‘wrap around’ services such as nutritional programs and income generating initiatives by partnering with PEPFAR and non-PEPFAR activities.

For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=7383.

HHS/NIH PA: RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND HIV

Funding Opportunity Number: PA-04-115

Funding Instrument type: Grant

Closing Date for Applications: September 1, 2006

This PA calls for studies to examine the extent and nature of religious organizations' involvement in HIV-related activities, the factors that influence such involvement and its effectiveness. The focus is on religious organizations or congregations such as churches, synagogues or mosques. Faith-based organizations -- i.e., those supported by or tied to religious organizations, but not directly providing religious services -- may be involved in the research, but are not the focus of the research.

For more information see http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=3085.

HHS/NIH PA: GLOBAL INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAM AWARD

Funding Opportunity Number: PAR-05-128

Estimated Total Program Funding: $600,000 with an award ceiling of $207,000

Funding Instrument type: Grant

Closing Date for Applications: September 13, 2006; September 13, 2007

The purpose of this announcement is to invite applications for U.S. and developing country institutions for programs to provide non-HIV/AIDS infectious disease research training to scientists and health professionals in order to build sustainable research capacity at institutions in low- and middle-income endemic countries.

HHS/NIH PAR: DISSEMINATION AND IMPLEMENTATION RESEARCH IN HEALTH

Funding Opportunity Number: PAR-06-039, PAR-06-071, PAR-06-072

Funding Instrument Type: Grant

Closing Date for Applications: There are multiple deadlines, the next deadline is September 22, 2006

These program announcements (PAR) encourage investigators to submit research grant applications that will identify, develop, and refine effective and efficient methods, structures, and strategies that test models to disseminate and implement research-tested health behavior change interventions and evidence-based prevention, early detection, diagnostic, treatment, and quality of life improvement services into public health and clinical practice settings.

For more information see http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=3305, http://www.fedgrants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=3317 and http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=3318.

USAID RFA: ANNUAL PROGRAM STATEMENT PUBLIC PRIVATE ALLIANCES

Funding Opportunity Number: M-OAA-GRO-EGAS-06-07

Funding Instrument type: Cooperative Agreement, Grant or other

Closing Date for Applications: September 30, 2006 (see below)

The Global Development Alliance Secretariat of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) invites interest from prospective partner organizations to form public-private alliances to carry out activities in support of USAID's international development objectives. Alliance partners are expected to bring significant new resources, ideas, technologies, and/or partners to address development problems in countries where USAID is currently working. The deadline is September 30, 2006 however applications received later than December 16, 2005 despite deserving support, may not be able to obtain funds simply because available funds may already have been earmarked for deserving proposals that were received on or before December 16, 2005. However, such proposals if received before September 30, 2006 may be considered for funding in FY2007. Please review the RFA for more information.

USAID RFI: INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD FEEDING PROGRAMS (IYCF)

Funding Opportunity Number: M-OAA-GH-HSR-06-292MM

Funding Instrument type: Cooperative Agreement

Closing Date for Applications: See below

The closing date for the Request for Information (RFI) for this cooperative agreement was December 22, 2005. However, USAID has not yet announced the RFA. This cooperative agreement focuses on designing, implementing and evaluating infant and young feeding programs. The closing date for the Request for Information for this cooperative agreement was December 22, 2005. The Global Health Bureau included FBOs among groups it was interested in identifying, capable of providing the following services:

(a) Critically evaluate the state of current knowledge about the nutrition and feeding of infants and young children in developing countries and demonstrate lessons learned;

(b) Design and implement innovative programs with measurable impact for optimal feeding practices that build upon experiences in diverse developing country settings;

(c) Identify the critical elements of successful programs and demonstrate their relevance in the programs undertaken;

(d) Design monitoring and evaluation criteria to meet the needs of IYCF programs;

(e) Design programs that take into account optimal IYCF practices in the context of HIV/AIDS as well as other childhood illnesses.

Organizations that may be interested in submitting proposals are encouraged to inform USAID in advance and provide a maximum of two pages covering the following information in the context of infant and child feeding programs:

(1) Experience working in developing countries with both government and non- government organizations?

(2) Interest in working with USAID to design and undertake infant and young child nutrition/health and development activities described above that address the needs of developing countries?

(3) Capacity to analyze and disseminate program results in a timely manner in a variety of fora?

(4) Capacity to collaborate with a variety of organizations, including public health

experts, public policy makers and private sector companies?

Although the closing date for submissions of interest has passed, it would still be prudent for interested organizations to respond by emailing Frances Davidson at FDavidson@usaid.gov with a copy to: Patrick Kollars: pakollars@usaid.gov.

USAID - AIDS SUPPORT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RESOURCES (AIDSTAR) PROGRAM

USAID has issued a pre-solicitation announcement for this AIDSTAR program. Under this PEPFAR-funded program USAID would competitively award up to 14 Indefinite Quantity Contracts (IQC) to provide state-of-the-art technical assistance and implementation support for the expansion of high-quality HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment services, and to build in-country technical and management capacity to sustain these services. The two separate sectors envisaged are: Sector (1) Prevention, Care and Treatment (up to eight awards); and Sector (2) Institutional Capacity Building (up to six awards.)

Awards under Sector 1 will provide technical expertise and implementation support for the expansion of HIV/AIDS services across the continuum of prevention, care, and treatment. Partnering with indigenous institutions is a key element of sector 1.  Awards under Sector 2 will support broader institutional development for long-term sustainability of in-country partners, for example, strengthening management and financial accountability systems of local organizations and government agencies.

The announcement specifically notes that “ FBOs with expertise in HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment, and any combination of the above, are invited to submit proposals for Sector 1.” USAID encourages new and non-traditional partners that can add value to the U.S. Government’s HIV/AIDS assistance to participate either as primes or as partners within consortia. Several CCIH members have expressed interest in exploring the idea of collaboration for AIDSTAR. For more information, contact Ray Martin.

HHS/NIH PAR: PLANNING GRANTS FOR INTERNATIONAL MALARIA CLINICAL, OPERATIONAL AND HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAMS (D71)

Funding Opportunity Number: RFA No.: PAR-06-070

Estimated Total Program Funding: $150,000 with an award ceiling of $23,000

Funding Instrument type: Planning Grant Application

Closing Date for Applications: the next deadline is January 12, 2007

Planning grant applications for malaria research training programs in clinical, operational and public health services for clinical, public health and social scientists and health care professionals in the countries targeted by the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) are invited. The Fogarty International Center expects to provide a total of $75,000 to $150,000 total costs (direct and F & A) per year to fund three to six new planning grant awards each year FY06-FY08.

For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=3316

JOHN M. LLOYD FOUNDATION

Funding Opportunity Number: CDC 2108

Fund category: HIV/AIDS

Maximum Funding Available: $20,000

Closing Date for Applications: July 15, 2006

The Foundation supports enlightened public policy programs that advocate for improved access to HIV/AIDS care and services, relevant research efforts, effective prevention programs, and successful education initiatives worldwide. The Foundation also funds pioneering programs that promote education, awareness, and compassion about HIV/AIDS worldwide; novel HIV prevention efforts aimed at men, women, and children worldwide; and medical research that focuses on the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. Recognizing however that resources are limited compared to the scope of research efforts in HIV/AIDS, the Foundation gives preference to seed grants and small workshops that stimulate new directions for research.

For more information see http://www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/display/FundDisplay.asp?FundNbr=2108

or http://www.johnmlloyd.org. CDC is currently revamping the NPIN website. If you having trouble using these links go to http://www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/index.asp and type in 2108 in the search box.

ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION

Funding Opportunity Number: CDC 2252

Fund category: HIV/AIDS

Closing Date for Applications: There is no deadline

The mission of the Elton John AIDS Foundation is to provide funding for educational programs targeted at HIV/AIDS prevention and/or the elimination of prejudice and discrimination against HIV/AIDS-affected individuals, and for programs that provide services to people living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS. The Foundation funds nonprofit organizations providing direct care for persons with HIV/AIDS or prevention education programs directed towards persons practicing high risk behavior.

For more information see http://www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/display/FundDisplay.asp?FundNbr=2252

or http://www.ejaf.org/. CDC is currently revamping the NPIN website. If you having trouble using these links go to http://www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/index.asp and type in 2252 in the search box.

W.K. KELLOGG FOUNDATION

Funding Opportunity Number: CDC 2924

Fund Category: Other health-related

Closing Date for Applications: There is no deadline

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to apply knowledge to solve the problems of people. Its founder W.K. Kellogg, the cereal industry pioneer, established the Foundation in 1930. Since its beginning the Foundation has continuously focused on building the capacity of individuals, communities, and institutions to solve their own problems. Grants are made in the four areas of: Health, Food Systems and Rural Development, Youth and Education, and Philanthropy and Volunteerism. Most grants are awarded in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, and seven southern Africa countries including Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe.

For more information, go to http://www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/display/FundDisplay.asp?FundNbr=2924 or http://www.wkkf.org/Grants/. CDC is currently revamping the NPIN website. If you having trouble using these links go to http://www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/index.asp and type in 2924 in the search box.

MAC AIDS FUND: GLOBAL FOUNDATION GRANTS

Funding Opportunity Number: CDC 2228

Fund category: HIV/AIDS

Closing Date for Applications: Application dates are open ended; see below

The MAC AIDS Fund encourages charitable, non-profit organizations to submit applications now for funding in a number of HIV/AIDS related program areas. Typically the Fund supports organizations that provide basic needs, direct services, education, awareness and prevention programs to men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS. Proposals need to be received at least three weeks prior to quarterly board meetings, usually held in March, June, September, and December.

For more information see http://www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/display/FundDisplay.asp?FundNbr=2228 or

http://www.macaidsfund.org/. CDC is currently revamping the NPIN website. If you having trouble using these links go to http://www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/index.asp and type in 2228 in the search box.

MILAGRO FOUNDATION

Funding Opportunity Number: CDC 2739

Fund Category: Other health-related

Estimated Total Program Funding: $2500 - $5000

Closing Date for Applications: There is no deadline; see below

Milagro is a charitable foundation that supports children and youth in three areas: helping them to live healthy lives through education and prevention of disease; helping them live literate lives through learning; and helping them live culturally enriched lives through arts education. Grants are awarded to community-based, grass-roots organizations that work with children and youth, especially those at risk and disadvantaged due to factors as poor health, illiteracy or insufficient educational and cultural opportunities. There is no application deadline. The Board makes decisions on grants in February, June and October. Grant deadlines are usually at least two months prior to meetings so the next opportunity would be in June.

For more information, go to http://www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/display/FundDisplay.asp?FundNbr=2739 or http://www.milagrofoundation.org. CDC is currently revamping the NPIN website. If you having trouble using these links go to http://www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/index.asp and type in 2739 in the search box.

4. OTHER NEWS AND RESOURCES

GIFT MEMBERSHIPS – A SUGGESTION FOR EXPANDING CCIH’S MINISTRY

Please consider giving a gift membership to introduce new organizations and individuals to CCIH’s information sharing and networking services. CCIH now has about 70 organizational members, which is triple the number of four years ago (go to http://www.ccih.org/members/index.htm). An increasing number of these members are organizations in developing countries. Membership by individuals has expanded rapidly as well.

A number of people have paid for gift memberships to allow new organizations, both in the U.S. and overseas, to join CCIH and become a part of this global network of Christians promoting international health and wholeness from a Christian perspective. The cost of dues is modest: $40 for a developing country organization and $100 for a small U.S. organization. Contact CCIH Program Associate Sharon Franzén for more information, sfranzen@ccih.org.

GLOBAL PLAN TO STOP TUBERCULOSIS LAUNCHED

On January 27 The Stop TB Partnership (http://stoptb.org) announced the launching of its new Global Plan to Stop Tuberculosis (2006-2015) at the World Economic Forum 2006 in Davos, Switzerland and in Nairobi Kenya. The partnership was formed in 2000 and comprises a network of over 400 international organizations, countries, donors from the public and private sectors, governmental and nongovernmental organizations and individuals. The new Global Plan to Stop Tuberculosis (http://stoptb.org/globalplan/), announced by Nigerian President Obasanjo, UK Chancellor Gordon Brown and Microsoft’s Bill Gates, follows the original 2001-2005 plan. It calls for $56 billion (triple the current investment) over the next 10 years with the following goals: expansion of access to quality TB diagnosis and treatment; treatment of 50 million people for TB, saving 14 million lives; introduction of a new drug to fight TB by 2010; and to produce, by 2015, a safe, affordable and effective TB vaccine. The plan has as its target the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of halting and beginning to reverse the incidence of global tuberculosis, hoping to halve both prevalence and death rates from the 1990 baseline by 2015. Britain has already promised $74.63 million for anti-TB drugs for India and Bill Gates donated $600 million. For more information go to http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L26623575.htm; http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-01/27/content_4109597.htm.

NEWS FROM THE GLOBAL HEALTH COUNCIL

Global Health Resources Tracking Report

The Global Health Council released its Global Health Opportunities report this week, outlining the current state of global health expenditures and investment needs. The report's release comes on the heels of President Bush's fiscal year 2007 budget recommendations, which include both important increases in funding for HIV/AIDS and malaria, and proposed cuts to child health and family planning programs that, if not increased by Congress, would do great harm. The report focuses on four health areas, including child health, women's health, HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. In addition, given the widespread problems of under-nutrition and malnutrition, it considers food as a health intervention.

The Global Health Opportunities report was developed with the assistance of a team of experts and is intended to serve as a straightforward, understandable guide for policy-makers, advocates, reporters and others working to shape future global health policy and programming.

Click a link below for more information:
More information on the report or to download a copy of the report

View the Council's press statement on the President's budget

Details on President Bush's FY07 global health budget recommendations

Global Health Council Infectious Disease Network

The GHC operates an Infectious Disease Network which provides occasional updates on malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and other diseases. To receive these updates please contact Nicole Bates (nbates@globalhealth.org) at the GHC and indicate which diseases you are interested in.

Global Health Directory

The Global Health Council offers a free on-line directory of more than 500 organizations actively involved in the frontlines of global health. Up-to-date contact information, mission statements, details on service focus, regions/countries served and target groups plus expanded indices make the Global Health Directory a comprehensive, easy-to-use reference tool. Global Health Council members can submit, update or add information about their organizations online. Go to http://www.globalhealth.org/directory to access the directory. For a list by name of the 320 organizational members of the Global Health Council, with links to their respective websites, go to http://www.globalhealth.org/view_top.php3?id=232.

DVDs AVAILABLE FOR RX FOR SURVIVAL SERIES

As promised, DVDs of the popular six-hour global health special, Rx For Survival, shown in November on PBS, are now available for purchase. (To review CCIH's coverage of the event, go to http://www.ccih.org/bulletin/1105.htm#32.) The three-DVD set can be obtained from WGBH, the NPR station that produced the series, for just $40. For more information, go to http://shop.wgbh.org/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10051&storeId=11051&categoryId=29154&langId=-1

HIV/AIDS RESOURCES

CBO/FBO Capacity Analysis: A Tool for Assessing and Building Capacities for High Quality Responses to HIV/AIDS: Published by the CORE Initiative, this new toolkit is based on an existing toolkit for nongovernmental organizations developed by the International HIV/AIDS Alliance. The tool enables community- and faith-based organizations to analyze levels of capacity in different organizational and technical areas. It is designed to facilitate group discussions between members of community organizations, allowing participants to assess their own strengths, weaknesses, and capacity-building needs. The tool includes helpful tips for conducting capacity assessments and is useful for planning, monitoring, and evaluating capacity-building support. More information is available at http://www.coreinitiative.org/Resources/Publications/Capacity_Analysis.

Globalhealthfacts.org: This new Web site, http://www.globalhealthfacts.org, operated by the Kaiser Family Foundation (http://www.kff.org/), provides regularly updated data on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other emerging health issues at the country and regional levels. Data are available in charts, tables and maps and can be downloaded for analysis. The Website also provides information on programs, funding levels and demographics and the economy.

Publications from World Religions for Peace: Religions for Peace (http://www.wcrp.org/RforP/RFP_1_MAIN.html) builds, equips and networks inter-religious councils to harness the power of cooperation among religious communities at the national, regional and global levels to transform conflict, build peace, and address critical problems like HIV/AIDS. It is a founding partner of the Hope for African Children Initiative, a consortium, including CCIH member World Vision, which focuses on increasing the capacity of local communities to provide support services to orphans an