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The HIV/AIDS Challenge in Africa
The implementation arrangement of OSSREA’s project titled “The HIV/AIDS Challenge in Africa” involves two phases. The first phase includes initial activities such as call for proposals, jury meeting and planning workshop. The second phase includes major activities such as the research work, dissemination workshops, and publication of research outputs. OSSREA has now completed all the initial activities of the first phase. During the last few months of 2003, OSSREA conducted the jury meeting and the planning workshop.
Jury Meeting and Selection of Proposals
The jury convened on 24th and 25th March 2003 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and discussed the results of the review that were individually undertaken earlier. The jurors came up with similar conclusions on most of the proposals. Further discussions were held on the differences. Finally, they recommended the award of the grants to the following researchers:
Ethiopia
1. “The Challenges and Opportunities of Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia’s Higher Education System: What Role for Tertiary Education?” by Dr. Abebe Haile Gabriel;
2. “Feasibility of Antiretroviral Drug Therapy in Ethiopia”, by Dr. Abdulhamid Bedri Kello;
3. “Social Responses to the HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia: Case Studies of Commercial Sex Workers, People Living with HIV/AIDS and AIDS Orphans and Community-Based Burial Associations in Addis Ababa”, by Prof. Andargatchew Tesfaye, Dr. Alula Pankhurst and Dr. Ayalew Gebre;
4. “The Role of Gender Relations and Sexual Negotiation on HIV Risk Awareness and Risky Behaviours in Ethiopia”, by Dr. Yared Mekonen, Dr. Tsehaynesh Messele, Dr. Yetnayet Asfaw, Mr. Gugsa Yimer and Mr. Ambaye Degefa;
Kenya
5. “The Magnitude and Impact of HIV/AIDS on the Sugarcane Sub-Sector: A Case Study of Western Kenya”, by Prof. C. A. Shisanya, Dr. Elisabeth Bukusi, Mr. Z. A. Kwena, and Ms. C. Ambasa;
6. “The Challenges of Fosterage HIV/AIDS Orphans in Nyanza Province, Kenya”, by Dr. Joram N. Kareithi, Ms. Maurice Kong’ong’o and Mr. Omar Egesah;
7. “HIV/AIDS Assessment Study in the Private Sector in Kenya”, by Dr. Philomena W. Muiruri;
8. “Emotional Care of AIDS-Orphaned Children in Kenya”, by Dr. Hezborn M.N. Kodero;
South Africa
9. “An Investigation into HIV/AIDS Condition in South African Informal Settlement Communities: Cases from the Limpopo and Northwest Provinces”, by Prof. Nana C. Kirk and Dr. Hassan Omari Kaya;
10. “AIDS, Poverty and Inequality in South Africa”, by Prof. Newman Kusi and Dr. E. Nkem Abonta;
11. “Investigating the Impact of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic on Clinics Staff in Two Rural Districts in South Africa”, by Dr. Uta Lehmann;
12. “Poverty Dynamics in HIV/AIDS Affected Households in Soweto, South Africa: A Pilot Study of Income-Earning Households”, by Ms. Veni Naidu and Dr. Frikkie Booysen;
13. “Living with an HIV+ Caregiver: An Exploratory Study of the Factors That Impact on Care Giving and Young Children’s Developmental Outcomes”, by Prof. Leslie Swartz, Prof. Andy Dawes, Prof. Greg Hussey and Ms. Rene Brandt;
Zimbabwe
14. “The Impact of HIV/AIDS on the Health Sector in Zimbabwe”, by Dr. M. Chimbari and Ms. J. F. Mangoma;
15. “The Social and Economic Impact of HIV/AIDS on Rural Households in Zimbabwe: The Case of Masvingo and Manicaland Provinces”, by Prof. Marvelous M. Mhloyi; and
16. “Girls’ Susceptibility and Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS: The Zimbabwean Case”, by Dr. Naomi Wekwete and Dr. Nyasha Madzingra.
The researchers are senior scholars with proven research skills. They have a rich research experience on HIV/AIDS related issues in their respective countries. For most of the proposed studies mentioned above, two or more researchers formed a team drawn from different disciplines.
Planning Workshop
The planning workshop was held on 14th and 15th April 2003 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The workshop brought together research grant winners from the four countries, jury members, relevant government and NGO representatives, resource persons and journalists from the local media. The purpose of the workshop was to create a forum for exchange of ideas on the proposals that had been selected by the jury.
The meeting was formally opened by Dr. Alfred G. Nhema, the Executive Secretary of OSSREA. Dr. Nhema welcomed the participants and introduced the objectives and activities of OSSREA. Dr. Nhema underscored that OSSREA is trying to give the resources that would help African scholars to continue with their scholarly research. In his reference to the HIV/AIDS project, the Executive Secretary briefed the participants on the research objectives, implementation process and the expected outputs. He then gave a brief description of the selection process, which was fairly elaborate and transparent. Accordingly, Dr. Nhema pointed out that the initiative was advertised extensively in the four countries; as a result, 72 proposals by a total of 144 applicants were received. From these, the selection committee chose only 16 proposals. The Executive Secretary then congratulated the winners on being selected to be participants in the project.
In the presentation sessions, the participants discussed the proposals presented by the winners. Each presentation included: (i) justification of the study, (ii) methodology, (iii) expected outputs, (iv) policy relevance, and (v) in-country dissemination strategy. The presentation was followed by detailed comments made by the reviewers. Other participants also raised questions and comments. The workshop provided an opportunity to identify challenges and suggested recommendations needed to adjust and revise the proposals.