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The HIV/AIDS Challenge in Africa: The Cases of Botswana, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia

The Organization for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA) is a regional research and capacity-building organization based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Currently, it has liaison offices in 18 countries in the region. OSSREA is offering research grants for the HIV/AIDS Challenge in Africa Project focusing on the following countries: i) Botswana, ii) Tanzania, iii) Uganda, and iv) Zambia.

Objectives

The project aims to enhance the awareness of policymakers regarding the macro-economic effects of HIV/AIDS and provide them with policy options for addressing and mitigating the adverse impacts of HIV/AIDS. It has the following specific objectives:

1. To assess how HIV/AIDS affects agriculture, health and education sectors based on comparative regional and country case studies by taking into account sector and regional variations;

2. To evaluate how well the HIV/AIDS epidemic is taken into account in poverty reduction strategies based on comparative regional and country case studies;

3. To study the condition of HIV/AIDS orphans in relation to forced migration, interruption of education, insufficient emotional care, inadequate nutrition, shelter and clothing, and lack of legal protection of orphans’ property, based on comparative regional and country case studies;

4. To study the relationship between gender and HIV/AIDS with reference to power imbalance and women’s rights;

5. To study the status of AIDS victims with reference to coping strategies and social support based on comparative regional and country case studies; and

6. Based on the research findings, to provide policy-makers and development practitioners with options for tackling the various socio-cultural and economic problems emanating from the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

The theme of the research project is The HIV/AIDS Challenge in Africa. The project generally emphasizes the social science dimensions of HIV/AIDS in Africa and incorporates the following sub-themes:

· Economic impacts of HIV/AIDS (including macroeconomic impacts, sectoral impacts, poverty impacts, etc.)

· Social impacts of HIV/AIDS (including changes in family structure, stigma and migration, etc.)

· Gender and HIV/AIDS (including power imbalances, women’s rights, vulnerability differentials, gender sensitive policies, etc.)

· HIV/AIDS and response mechanisms (including coping, actors, modalities and types of social support and other intervention strategies, etc.)

The research project adopts a case study approach that includes (i) Botswana, (ii) Tanzania, (iii) Uganda, and (iv) Zambia.

OSSREA encourages researchers involved in this project to collaborate with the country National HIV/AIDS Councils and other government and non-government agencies involved in HIV/AIDS programs and policy issues at the national level.

All applicants must be based in Eastern or Southern Africa, currently employed, enrolled in or otherwise affiliated with a national institution which conducts research. They must hold a PhD degree from an accredited academic institution in any of the following disciplines: Anthropology, Demography, Economics, Epidemiology, Population Studies, Public Health, Sociology, or related disciplines. They must have research experience in HIV/AIDS related issues in the above mentioned countries. The applicant’s institution must endorse the research to be undertaken and be willing to provide some support to the applicant.

The project focuses on three disciplines:

Economics/ Health Economics. Proposals from applicants in these disciplines are expected to raise issues related to the economic aspects of HIV/AIDS in line with the above mentioned objectives with reference to the country under consideration.

Epidemiology/ Public Health. Proposals from applicants in these disciplines are expected to emphasize issues such as the dynamics of HIV epidemic and its impact with reference to the country under consideration.

Sociology/Demography/Population Studies. Proposals from applicants in these disciplines are expected to focus on research problems related to socio-cultural aspects of HIV/AIDS with reference to the country under consideration.

A complete proposal should contain the following:

1. A current curriculum vitae.

2. Copies of all academic credentials

3. Title of Research Project.

4. Research Plan (objective, scope, significance, literature review, method of approach and design of research, and bibliography).

5. Any research or other scholarly endeavour previously undertaken in the proposed field of research.

6. List of publications or equivalent endeavour for the last five years.

7. A break-down of the budget in local and US dollars (describe each item and indicate how it is related to the research project):

a. Travel (include specific information concerning places to be visited, mode of travel, indicate rates, subsistence cost at approved rates, etc.). Travel expenses of spouse and children may not be claimed.

b. Assistants (include duration and rate of pay).

c. Materials and supplies (itemize where appropriate).

d. Other cost (specify).

8. A letter of endorsement from the institution of affiliation and official clearance from the relevant government authority (in countries where this is applicable). The letter should state that: a) the Institution will benefit from this research activity; and b) the activity is timely and appropriate for the field of interest of the researcher.

9. The size of proposal should be limited to a maximum of 10-15 pages with 1.5” line-spacing. Applications that exceed this page limit will not be considered at all.

The budget for the proposed research should not exceed US$15,000 and may be used to cover actual research costs (e.g., local travel and subsistence, supplies, acquisition of documents, photocopying, etc.).

Research grants will be awarded on the recommendation of a panel of scholars drawn from Eastern and Southern Africa. The panel will blind-review all proposals.

Grant applications and proposals should be submitted to OSSREA by mail before 30^th May 2004. Electronic submissions will not be accepted. Completed applications and inquiries should be addressed to:

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