News & Updates

September 2022 Edition, Issue 57

Happy new month! Welcome to another edition of the CARTA monthly updates. Read on to keep abreast with what is new.

CARTA in Rwanda

The CARTA Secretariat convened focal persons from all CARTA African and non-African Partner Institutions on September 27 and 28 for the 14th Partners Annual Forum (PAF). At the meeting, partners were updated on the progress of the program and had an opportunity to deliberate and provide suggestions to further improve the operation and strategies of CARTA.  On Thursday 29, the team held the 25th Board of Management (BoM) meeting. The Rwanda venture was concluded with a monitoring visit to UR which was carried out by CARTA’s M&E and finance team.

We recognize that men and women experience barriers and opportunities differently. CARTA therefore continually endeavors to pursue gender equity - to ensure that all our fellows are able to fully and equally maximize the opportunities provided by, and through the program.

A new collaborative report titled ‘Transforming Education Through African-led Research and Solutions’ elaborates on some of the strategies CARTA has in place to provide a conducive and equitable environment for all its fellows. Read on page 10 here

Christine Mbindyo (cohort 8) graduated from the University of Nairobi during the 67th graduation held on September 23, 2022. Christine was also promoted to a lecturer position in the Department of Veterinary pathology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary medicine at the university.

Mohamed Kassim (cohort 4 graduate, University of Dar es Salaam) has been promoted to Senior Lecturer in the Department of Information Studies at the same University. Mohamed teaches courses on information literacy, organization of knowledge, and user information needs.

Yolanda Malele-Kolisa (cohort 5 fellow, University of the Witwatersrand) has been promoted to the position of Head of Department, Community Dentistry in the School of Oral Health Sciences at Wits. Prior to the appointment, Yolanda was serving as the Head of the Clinical Unit within the Department.

Oluwaseun Oladapo Akinyemi (cohort 4 graduate, University of Ibadan) has been appointed by the United Nations Civil Society Network (UNCSONet) as a Senior Public Health Officer to oversee the medical and public health efforts of the organization in the Asian region. Oluwaseun assumed his new role on October 3, 2022, and will be based in Hong Kong.

Kudus Adebayo (cohort 6 graduate, University of Ibadan) has been appointed to the Editorial Board of the African Humanities Programme (AHP) Book Series. His scope of responsibilities will include contributing to the development of guidelines on the editorial direction of the AH series; providing thoughtful written assessments of manuscripts submitted to Editorial Board members for consideration; providing names and contact details of potential peer reviewers and manuscript mentors; and acting as a resource person at meetings and workshops organized to further the objectives of AHA.

Funmilola Oyinlola (Cohort 7 fellow, Obafemi Awolowo University) was appointed to be a member of the University Research Seminar and Workshop Committee at Obafemi. The committee aims to assure the quality of research and research training effectively by developing, monitoring and reviewing academic policies and their effectiveness in the university. The committee was officially inaugurated by Prof Adebayo Simeon Banire, Vice-Chancellor at Obafemi on September 27, 2022.

Nishimwe Aurore (cohort 7 fellow, University of Rwanda) has won a research grant from Belgium, Flemish funding (VLIR-UOS) worth 70.000 Euros for her project titled ‘piloting a novel, scalable, eHealth technology for the control and management of elevated blood pressure in Rwanda,’ to be implemented in Rwanda for a period of two years, effective September 2022.

Julienne Murererehe (cohort 8 fellow, University of Rwanda) has won first prize in the International Association for Dental Research(IADR) - South Africa (SA) Division Conference competitions. Her category was the post-graduate competition. The prize includes representing the SA-Division at the global IADR post-graduate competitions in 2023.

Charles Ssemugabo (cohort 9 fellow, Makerere University) presented two abstracts at the 34th Annual Conference of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE 2022), in Athens-Greece on September 18-21, 2022. The first, a poster presentation was based on a mixed methods study on pesticide residue trends in fruits and vegetables from farm to fork in Kampala metropolitan area, Uganda.

The second was an oral presentation titled ‘ An assessment of health risks posed by consumption of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables among residents in the Kampala Metropolitan Area in Uganda.’ He also presented this abstract at the International Society of Exposure Science 2022 Annual Meeting in Lisbon-Portugal that took place between September 25-29, 2022. 

In addition, Charles won the best poster presentation at the 16th Joint Annual Scientific Health Conference organized by Makerere University in collaboration with the Uganda National Association of Community and Occupational Health (UNACOH). The poster was titled, ‘Community engagement and environmental modifications to reduce injury risks among children in a low-income urban community in Uganda.’ The conference was held in Kampala, Uganda between September 21-23.

Frederick Oporia (cohort 10 fellow, Makerere University) was invited to make a presentation at the inaugural symposium on drowning prevention in Tanzania held between September 14 - 16, 2022 in Dar es Salaam. Tanzania is in the initial stages of developing a National Action Plan for Drowning Prevention and along these lines, Frederick shared the experience and approach that was used to develop the first-ever national strategy for drowning prevention in Uganda. 

Frederick joined Charles (featured above) in participating at the 16th International Joint Annual Scientific Conference. He delivered two oral presentations, one from his PhD, and the other from a project he coordinates but is still related to his PhD study on drowning prevention. Within September, he has also had an opportunity to facilitate a short course - Philosophy of Science/Methods, teaching PhD students in one of the research institutes.

Lilian Njagi (cohort 9 fellow, University of Nairobi) was supported by CARTA to attend an internship at the University of California San Francisco Hair Analytical lab (UCSF HAL) between late August and early September. Lilian reports that it has been an exciting experience learning about all the non-invasive methods developed to monitor adherence to antiretroviral and TB treatment. These methods involve using hair and urine samples to check treatment adherence. From her internship, she is in an active collaboration with the UCSF HAL team, to write a grant in response to an NIH call on adherence assessment using point-of-care tests developed by the team.

APHRC launches the digital health fellowship in honor of Pauline 

Towards the end of July 2022, the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) lost a colleague, a great member of the APHRC family and an outstanding researcher, Dr. Pauline Bakibinga. Pauline was an Associate Research Scientist at the center, highly passionate about health systems research, focusing on community and policy engagements and digital health technologies. On September 23, 2022, APHRC held a special memorial service to honor and celebrate Pauline. To remember Pauline's dedication in digital health, the center launched the Dr. Pauline Bakibinga Fellowship For Digital Health in Africa during the ceremony. Learn more about Pauline, her work and achievements here

Eisenhower Fellowships Global Programme 2023

In spring 2023, Eisenhower Fellowships will assemble a diverse group of visionaries from across the globe and invite them to the United States for a unique five-week program with both in-person and virtual components. Fellows will develop a project, foster professional relationships and launch dynamic, concrete collaborations with their American counterparts, their cohort and the prestigious EF network of over 2500 Fellows from 115 countries. Typically, Fellows range between 32 and 45 years of age at the time of fellowship and are highly proficient in English. Applications are accepted across the globe but preference is given to candidates in countries where EF is active. To apply, click here

Deadline: October 10, 2022

Call for Proposals: Global Participation Fund (GPF)

The ORCID Global Participation Fund (GPF) was established in 2022 with the purpose of providing grants to increase Global Participation in ORCID, one of the four strategic priorities in our 2022–25 strategic plan. GPF aims to remedy gaps in ORCID participation from organizations in the Global South, especially in countries with low- and lower-middle-income economies (as defined by the World Bank). In these Focus Communities'' of the GPF, we aim to provide funds to: foster the development of ORCID Communities of Practice, working with local partners who can build understanding and use of ORCID in local contexts; and create and enhance technical integrations to support the realization of the benefits provided by the use of ORCID. To apply, click here

Deadline: October 13, 2022

2022 Joint WHO African Region and TDR Impact Grants for Regional Priorities 

This call is a joint initiative between TDR, the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases and the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Africa, who have a mutual interest in strengthening the capacity for health research in developing countries. The call reflects a commitment to increasing the level of implementation research to deliver high quality and cost-efficient health care solutions to people in resource-poor settings. The call is open to the WHO African Region, with a complete list of countries available here. Proposals may be submitted in English, French or Portuguese. To apply, click here

 Deadline: October 26, 2022

Getty/ACLS Postdoctoral Fellowships in the History of Art 2023-2024

ACLS invites applications for Getty/ACLS Postdoctoral Fellowships in the History of Art, made possible by the generous support of the Getty Foundation. These fellowships provide early career scholars from around the world time to undertake sustained research and/or writing for projects that will make substantial and original contributions to the understanding of art and its history. The program funds projects at all stages of development, and the ultimate goal of the project should be a major piece of scholarly work by the applicant. This program does not fund creative work (e.g., novels or films), textbooks, straightforward translation, or pedagogical projects. To apply, click here

Deadline: October 27, 2022

Call for Papers: IST-Africa 2023

Hosted by the Government of South Africa through the Department of Science and Innovation and Supported by the European Commission (EC) and African Union Commission (AUC), IST-Africa 2023 is the eighteenth in an annual series of Ministerial Level Technology Research and Innovation Conferences. It is co-sponsored by IEEE Society for Social Implications of Technology (SSIT and IEEE South Africa Section). To apply, click here 

Deadline: October 31, 2022

UJMT Fogarty Global Health Fellowship 2023-2024

Since 2012, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Johns Hopkins University, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Tulane University have offered mentored research training through the UJMT Fogarty Global Health Fellowship program, funded by the Fogarty International Center within the National Institutes of Health. The program aims to support projects across a diverse range of research topics. However, we expect targeted funding for proposals on HIV, mental health, and neurological disorders. The fellowship is open to eligible US doctoral and postdoctoral candidates and postdoctoral candidates from our focus countries. To apply, click here

Deadline: November 1, 2022

Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Programme 2022-2023

The Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program offers opportunities for independent research or study related to Smithsonian collections, facilities, and/or research interests of the Institution and its staff. Fellowships are offered to graduate students, predoctoral students, and postdoctoral and senior researchers to conduct independent research and to utilize the resources of the Institution with members of the Smithsonian professional research staff serving as advisors and hosts. These fellowships are offered through the Smithsonian’s Office of Academic Appointments and Internships, and are administered under the charter of the Institution. To apply, click here

Deadline: November 1, 2022

The Global Health Research Groups

Global Health Research Group funding is available to research groups either new to delivering applied health research globally or that wish to expand an existing partnership. The programme funds research to - build global research capacity by supporting specialist UK researchers to pivot to global health through new equitable and diverse UK-LMIC partnerships and networks; support UK-LMIC partnerships seeking to expand research programmes into new health areas and/or geographies; deliver high quality applied global health research targeted at the needs of people in LMICs, including e.g., scoping studies, needs analyses, economic analyses, pilot studies and potentially trials; generate robust new scientific evidence that will improve health outcomes for people in low resource settings through improving practice and informing policy; and develop research leaders of the future and strengthen research management capability to support sustainability in partner countries. To apply, click here

Deadline: November 23, 2022

African Research Leaders 2023

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) aims to attract and retain exceptionally talented ‘rising star’ individuals who will lead high quality research on key global health issues pertinent to SSA. Researchers should be supported by an enthusiastic local research environment and by a UK-based mentor as part of a partnership between the African and UK institutions. Apply for funding to support excellent global health research and strengthen research leadership across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Awards will provide support for up to five years and the requested amount should not exceed £750,000 in total. To apply, click here

Deadline: December 1, 2022

Opportunity Desk

Established in 2012, Opportunity Desk (OD) is the largest digital media platform that bridges the gap to education by sharing information on relevant learning and growth opportunities for youth around the world. These opportunities help to facilitate young people’s efforts in exchanging ideas and preparing themselves for the future. OD works to provide access to global experiences to all through educational opportunities, scholarships, training and conferences; fellowships, grants and awards; and jobs, internships and volunteer programs. Learn more here

Share with us news and updates such as upcoming events, meetings, story ideas, new collaborations, new trials/updates, upcoming and published papers, policy briefs, community engagement activities, scholarships, what you are reading, if you won a grant, attending or about an upcoming conference, a call for applications/funding/papers, etc.

To be featured in the next CARTA news and updates, send an email to cartacomms@cartafrica.org before October 20, 2022

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