January 2007, Issue no 53
http://resource.regional.net
impact@regionalnet.org

1. Funding Opportunities

2. Announcements and Upcoming Events

3. Useful Links

GEMMA - Master in Women's and Gender Studies
Application deadline: January 31, 2007


Master in Women's and Gender Studies is a joint European multidisciplinary programme which provides high quality academic education and professional competencies for students wanting to conduct further research or intending to work in the areas of women's studies, gender studies and equal opportunities. This European Master is unique in the way it brings together approaches to feminism from all cardinal points in Europe. Created as a result of concerted efforts on the part of several universities working together within the Socrates Thematic Network ATHENA, it brings together the expertise on postgraduate studies of all the institutions involved. In its composition the GEMMA consortium represents the harmonisation of eight different institutions from seven different European countries: University of Granada (co-ordinator), University of Bolonia, Central European University of Budapest, University of Hull, ! Institutum Studiorum Humanitatis, Ljubjiana (ISH), University of Lodz, University of Oviedo and University of Utrecht.

The languages used by the consortium universities will be English, Italian and Spanish.

Admission information
a. Students should be in possession of a University Bachelor degree or its equivalence (180 ECTS, minimum 3 years of study).
b. Students should have proven knowledge of the language of instruction of the host institution. Knowledge of the language of the mobility institution will also be valued.
c. Students should complete application form in all sections. Applications can be completed in English or or in any of the other two teaching languages (Italian and Spanish).
d. The mobility will be conducted in the third semester
e. Students should attach the following documents:
1. Motivation letter.
2. Official copy of the student’s previous academic record and diplomas (the candidate must provide a translation into any of the GEMMA working languages).
3. A photocopy of the candidate’s passport.
4. Two letters of recommendation.
5. Certificates proving sufficient knowledge of the language of instruction of the hosting institution (English TOEFL or Cambridge Proficiency test, or equivalent, Spanish Instituto Cervantes DELE certificate or equivalent and Italian Dante Institute standard test or equivalent).

Complete application and official copies of original documents must also be posted to the GEMMA central office. The date of stamp will be considered. Documents should be posted by express mail so that they are received at the GEMMA consortium central office by February 9 at the latest.

Master registration fee: 5500 EUR per year. Scholarships available.
Selection criteria
a. Scientific excellence. 50%,
b. Prior relevant knowledge/experience 15%
c. Proven knowledge of one of the languages 5%
d. Motivation 20%
e. Social skills and competences 5%
f. Other 5%.

More information
E-mail: cantero@eduser.be
gemma@ugr.es


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Programme Roms & Voyageurs, Grants for local projects in the sector of informal & non formal education to improve Roma's inclusion
Application deadline: February 15, 2007, 4 pm (local time)


This programme has been designed to be an operational collective programme, following the work's basis of the Collective programme for Roma and Travellers conducted between 2004 and 2005 by Comité PECO. This programme of Comité PECO was co-funded by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It made an inventory-diagnosis of the Roma' educative situation in five countries: Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro. Fnasat-Gens du voyage (Fnasat), as a member of Comité PECO, was appointed by Comité PECO for the realization of the 5 inventories of fixtures.

On this basis, Fnasat is now launching a European regional programme to develop local initiatives in the field of informal and non formal education. This programme aims at supporting Roma and Travellers' integration in Bulgaria, Slovakia, Romania and France. It follows the objectives of the Roma's Decade and will involve a large range of actors (NGOs, local authorities and governmental service.).

An ad hoc transnational committee, representative of the four countries, that we called the Transnational Pilot Committee, will assure the respect of the programme's objectives. The Committee members are responsible of the good implementation of this programme as well as of the selection and the follow up of 6 projects conducted in Bulgaria, Slovakia, Romania and France by local NGOs.

For its 1st year, this operational programme is supported by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a close cooperation is settled. Indeed, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs is careful of this group dynamics and, in this context, Fnasat proposes to carry this aid development programme for NGOs during the following three years.

Objectives of the Programme Roms & Voyageurs:
- To foster the implementation of national policies for Roma and Travellers in Bulgaria, Slovakia, Romania, and France
- To promote the dialogue and exchange of knowledge between the majority and Roma and Travellers
- To reinforce advocacy capacity of NGOs involved in non formal educational actions which support Roma and Travellers' integration in Bulgaria, Slovakia, Romania, and France.

Objectives and frame of the grants:
In the framework of this call for proposals, Fnasat proposes to allocate grants for local NGOs from Bulgaria, Slovakia and Romania. 6 projects will be selected and cofinanced. Later (Year 2), another call for proposals will be published for French NGOs. This call for proposals is one of the main tools of this Programme. It is made for NGOs from Bulgaria, Slovakia and Romania which are developing informal and non formal educational initiatives. The main goal of the grants is to reinforce capacity building of NGOs from eastern countries which are fostering the implementation of inclusion policies for Roma and Travellers. This grant is to support their innovative or new actions, as well as to extend their projects that are needed further development. But it carries also major targets like:
- Developing a regional network working for Roma and Travellers' inclusion
- Promoting the role of non formal and informal education to further Roma and Travellers' inclusion.

Furthermore, it is important to underline that the Transnational Committee, as the pilot authority of this programme, has been involved from the beginning of this programme. It has been designing this call for proposals and the programme tools. This Committee which has written these guidelines will meet again to evaluate and select collectively the 6 projects. Later, the Committee members will assumer the follow up of the projects development in close cooperation with Fnasat and the national coordinators. The mission of this Transnational Pilot Committee (TPC) and Fnasat is to support NGOs all along the development of their projects. They will also be promoting and communicating projects results and good practices in order to bring changes into local practices. National coordinators will be nominated to support this work in each country.

More information
E-mail: romale@zahav.net.il (all the documents related to this call for applications will be sent in a zip file (1.5 MB) upon request at with the phrase 'Grants for local projects' in the 'Subject' line)


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The Romanian Environmental Partnership Foundation - Seak Up and Get Involved program
Application deadline: February 15, 2007, 16:30 local time


The program adresses to the environmental NGOs of Romania and will be implemented between 2006 - 2009. The mission of the program is to enhance, strengthen and support the advocacy and watchdog activities of Romanian environmental NGOs, for the purpose of increasing the contribution of these organizations and their constituency to policy shaping, law enforcement and legislation implementation (both EU + national) monitoring.

The program is co-funded by the Trust for Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe and it was developed in order to contribute to the enhancement of the accountability, transparency, and effectiveness of public institutions, as well as to the strengthening of civic support for democracy, promoting democracy of citizens and engaging other stakeholders.

Specific objectives:
- To improve environmental law enforcement and monitoring on local and national level
- To improve the public funding mechanisms for NGOs
- To initiate environmental policy analysis and dialogue between NGOs and local and national decision makers
- To raise awareness and take action against illegal and unsustainable initiatives through NGO and public involvement Beside grantmaking, the program will include capacity building and networking components as well.

More information
Website: http://www.epce.ro/atituden.htm
E-mail: csillad@fpc.topnet.ro (Csilla Dániel)


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Institute for Human Sciences - Robert Bosch Fellowships
Application deadline: February 28, 2007


The Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) awards four research fellowships during the academic year 2007/08. The programme, which is generously supported by the Robert Bosch Foundation, is focused on South-Eastern Europe.

Conditions
· Robert Bosch Fellows are invited to spend six months at the IWM in Vienna to pursue their research project while working in residence at the institute. The fellows will receive a stipend in the amount of EUR 10.000 to cover all expenses related to the stay in Vienna (travel, apartment, health insurance, incidentals).
· Robert Bosch Fellows will be members of the international and multidisciplinary scholarly community at the IWM. They are invited to present and discuss their project in lectures or seminars.
· The IWM will provide the fellows with a personal office with PC, access to internet and e-mail, in-house research and administrative facilities.

Eligibility
Applications are accepted from Ph.D candidates and Post-doctoral researchers who
· Either are of South-Eastern European origin,
· Or are affiliated to a university or research institution in the region,
· Or, independent of their origin, who pursue research on South-Eastern Europe.
The program is directed to graduates with a degree in the humanities and social sciences, that will work in Vienna on a research project of her/his choice that is related to one of the IWM’s main research fields.
Although there is no strict age limit, preference will be given to applicants up to the age of 35.

Application Procedure
The application consists of the following materials:
1. Application form
2. Concise research proposal in English (max. 4 pages)
3. CV and list of publications
4. Two letters of reference from scholars familiar with the academic work of the applicant.
Applicants will be given notice of the decision in April 2007.

More information
Website: http://www.iwm.at/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=491&Itemid=546
E-mail: fellowships@iwm.at (Subject header: Robert Bosch Fellowships)


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Culture Programme 2007 - 2013
Application deadline: February 28, 2007


The general objective of the Programme is to help enhance the cultural area shared by Europeans, the foundations for which lie in their common cultural heritage, through the development of cultural cooperation between artists, stakeholders and cultural institutions in the countries taking part in the Programme, with a view to encouraging the emergence of European citizenship.

The objectives of the Programme are:
· To promote transnational mobility of people working in the cultural sector,
· To encourage the transnational circulation of artistic and cultural works and products,
· To encourage intercultural dialogue.

This call for proposals aims to meet the objectives of the Programme by awarding Community grants, following a selection process, to two types of actions from any artistic or cultural field:
· Strand 1.1 multiannual cooperation projects
· Strand 1.2.1 cooperation measures.
The intention is to strengthen European cultural cooperation by supporting approximately 136 applications (around 16 multi-annual cooperation projects and around 120 cooperation measures). In general, particular attention will be paid to activities promoting intercultural dialogue where some or all of the actions are intended to be carried out in 2008, the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue

Multi-annual cooperation projects (Strand 1.1)
Funding will be provided for cultural cooperation projects aiming to achieve sustainable and structured cooperation between cultural operators from countries participating in the programme. The funding is intended to support these projects during their launch and structuring phase or during their geographical expansion phase to enable them to develop over the long-term and achieve financial independence.
These projects must involve at least six cultural operators from at least six of the countries participating in the Programme. They must last between three and five years.
Projects that receive funding must start before 15 November 2007 without fail and finish by 14 November 2012 at the latest.
Grants will be awarded under item 15.04.44 of the general budget of the European Union. Under the reserve of the credit appropriation decided by the budgetary authority, the total budget for 2007 will be approximately EUR 15, 5 millions for actions under strand 1.1 (multi?annual cooperation projects). The intention is to provide financial support for around 16 multi-annual cooperation projects (strand 1.1). Community funding cannot exceed 50% of the project’s total budget and it is degressive in nature. It must come to between EUR 200.000 and EUR 500.000 per year. This funding is given for a period of three to five years. It should be noted that there is no obligation to allocate all the available funds.

Applicants who meet the following criteria will be subject to an in depth assessment
- Eligible establishments/bodies/types of applicant
· A public or private body with a legal status whose principal activity lies in the cultural field and whose registered office is located in one of the countries participating in the Programme,
· Have the financial capacity to complete the action proposed,
· Have the operational capacity to complete the action proposed.
The Programme is also open to non-audiovisual cultural industries, and in particular small cultural enterprises, where they are acting in a non-profit making cultural capacity.

- Eligible countries
Cultural operators are eligible if their registered office is located in one of the countries participating in the Programme:
· the Member States of the European Union,
· the three EEA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) subject to the adoption of the appropriate decision by the mixed EEA committee,
· the candidate countries (Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey) and the western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia including Kosovo (UN Security Council Resolution 1244)), subject to conclusion of the appropriate Memorandum of Understanding laying down the detailed rules for their participation.

- Eligibility period
The actions that receive funding must start before 15 November 2007 without fail and finish by 14 November 2012 at the latest.

- Eligible actions
Activities for which funding can be granted must comply with the principles underpinning the Community measures in the field of culture and take account of the objectives laid down in Section 2.2 and the conditions defined in Section 2.3.

- Eligible proposals
· Only proposals submitted in two copies, using the official application form, duly completed and with the original signatures as required, and sent within the specified deadlines will be accepted.
· Application files must include an official letter from the applicant, documents certifying its financial and operational capacity and all the other documents specified on the application form.
· Applications must be written in one of the official languages of the European Union. However, for practical reasons and to speed up the assessment procedure, it is recommended that applications be submitted in one of the three working languages of the European Commission (English, French or German).
· Handwritten applications are not allowed.
· Applications sent by fax or e-mail will not be accepted.
· Applications must present a balanced budget (expenditure = income), and comply with the maximum ceiling Community co-funding set at 50% of the total eligible budget.
Only those applications that are complete and valid at the closing date of the call for proposals will be accepted.

More information
Website:
http://eacea.cec.eu.int/static/en/culture/call092006/index.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/culture/eac/culture2000/contacts/national_pts_en.html


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NISPACEE - Translation of Selected Publications into CEE National Languages
Application deadline: February 28, 2007


NISPAcee's accepts applications in the frame of a project with the aim of translating selected publications from English into CEE national languages based on requests and needs of governmental institutions or NISPAcee member institutions from CEE countries.

How to apply:
· Eligibility is limited to institutions with professional interest in public administration in Central and Eastern Europe
· Applicants will have to prove the utility of the translated publications in their respective countries, the distribution policy, quality of translation, and an ability to cover the distribution costs
· Priority will be given to institutions, which will distribute the publication at their own expense
· Applicants should determine clear overall calculation of costs of translation (checking/editing) and publishing (priority will be given to reasonable price quotes for translation and publishing).

Applications should contain the following information:
· grant recipient (name of institution, address, contacts, responsible person)
· description of goals and objectives (purpose of translation, who will use the translated materials)
· distribution (number of copies, distribution policy – in details)
· list of selected publications for translation (to rank them according to their importance)
· request for a grant including detailed budget of translation and printed costs (maximum price per page for translation could be 10 USD including editing).

More information
Website: http://www.nispa.sk/_portal/page.php?sid=74


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European Cultural Foundation - Project Grants Programme
Application deadline: March 1, 2007


The European Cultural Foundation - ECF promotes cultural co-operation in Europe. It aims to contribute to an open and democratic Europe, which respects the basic human rights and cultural diversity of its people.

What projects are eligible:
Cultural - The project should have a strong cultural objective. We support the creation of artistic work, media projects or cultural policy development as well as capacity building of cultural organisations or international collaboration of arts managers, etc.
Co-operation - The project should be concerned with European cross border cooperation. In exceptional cases we also support regional cooperation that does not transgress the national level, when ECF considers it to be essential to achieve future European cooperation.
European - The project has to be organised by a cultural organisation in Europe, or from across the Mediterranean.
Outcome - The project must have a clear end-result that can be evaluated.
Read here about the other fields of interest: http://www.eurocult.org/we-support-cultural-cooperation/grants/what-do-we-like/

The ECF provides grants that support projects developed by independent cultural organisations. The objective of the grants is to encourage small to medium-sized cultural organisations to work together across geographical and cultural divides.

Candidates eligible to apply are small and medium-sized independent cultural organisations that work on cross-border and inter-regional projects.

Lead organisations are: Independent cultural organisations (NGOs) from western, central, eastern and south eastern Europe, including Turkey, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus and Russia.

Partner organisations are: Independent organisations from the south Mediterranean, including Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria and Tunisia. Organisations from these countries will be supported as partners, in projects submitted by a European NGO.
International projects will only be considered if there is a strong European component.

The avarage grants awarded by the ECF is EUR 10-15 000 and 80% of the project's total costs.

More information
Website: http://www.eurocult.org/we-support-cultural-cooperation/grants/application-guide/
http://www.eurocult.org/we-support-cultural-cooperation/grants/apply-for-a-grant/


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Delegation of the European Comission in Romania - Democracy, human rights, the rule of law, independence of justice and fight against corruption
Application deadline: March 9, 2007, 16:00 local time


Programme objectives:
This Call for Proposals aims at further strengthening the advocacy role of NGOs in supporting democracy, rule of law, protecting fundamental human rights, access to information, freedom of expression and related independence of media, independence of justice and fight against corruption.

Eligible activities:
Under the current Call for Proposals, grants will be awarded to actions that further strengthen the advocacy role of NGOs in supporting democracy, the rule of law, protecting basic human rights, access to information, freedom of expression and related independence of the media, independence of justice and fight against corruption.

Who can apply:
Romanian non-governmental non-profit organisations which may act individually or in consortium with other Romanian non-governmental non-profit organisations and/or Romanian local/national public authorities/institutions and/or non-governmental non-profit organisations based in any other Phare country or EU country.

Financing conditions:
The value of the grants is between 10,000 and 60,000 EUR/project (EU contribution up to 90.00% of the total eligible costs of the project).

Questions may be sent by e-mail or by fax no later than 17 February 2007 indicating clearly the reference of the call for proposals.

More information
Website: http://www.infoeuropa.ro/jsp/page.jsp?cid=197&lid=2&id=26619
www.fdsc.ro
E-mail: ileana-h@fdsc.ro


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Delegation of European Comission in Romania - Citizens Advice Bureaux. Consolidation of existent CABs
Application deadline: March 9, 2007, 16:00 local time


Programme objectives
This Call for Proposals aims at supporting the NGOs in order to further strengthen the network of Citizens Advice Bureaux (CABs) and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the services provided by CABs.

Eligible activities
Under this subcomponent the grants will be awarded for actions proposing to consolidate the existent CABs and only for those that can clearly demonstrate the existing need for continuous provision of services offered, and also the efficiency of the functioning as a Citizens Advice Bureau. CABs should continue the general line featured under the 2000, 2001 and 2003 Civil Society programmes, and the proposed actions must focus on their development in view of extending the areas of assistance and improving the quality of services, ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of the provided services, in order to reach sustainability and achieve sustainable impact.

Who can apply
- Non-governmental non-profit organisations from Romania, which have already established CABs under 2000 Civil Society Development Programme, 2001 Civil Society Programme or under Phare 2003 Strengthening the Civil Society in Romania Programme
- CABs established under the above programmes that have been set up as non-governmental nonprofit organisations distinct from the founding organisations.
The applicants must be members of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux. Applicants must act in consortium with at least one local authority. The local authority partner(s) may be a city hall, a local council, a county council, a prefecture, a decentralised service of the central government at local level, public institution that may be subordinated either to city hall, local councils, prefectures, county councils, or decentralised services of the central government. The applicant may also act in partnership with other local authorities, and/or other non- governmental nonprofit-making organisation(s).

Financing conditions
The value of the grants is between 8,000 and 18,000 EUR/project (EU contribution up to 80.00% of the total eligible costs of the project).

Questions may be sent by e-mail or by fax no later than 17 February 2007 indicating clearly the reference of the call for proposals.

More information
Website: http://www.infoeuropa.ro/jsp/page.jsp?cid=197&lid=2&id=26620&changeLangEv=1
www.fdsc.ro
E-mail: stef@fdsc.ro Stefania Andersen


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Neighbourhood Programme Romania - Ukraine 2004 - 2006
Application deadline: March 12, 2007, 16:00 local time


Ministry of European Integration is seeking proposals for activities in the field of:
Local socio-economic development - Priority 1 (with Measures 1.1.-Expand and strengthen tourism and 1.2-Cross-border economic cooperation)
Cross border integrated infrastructure systems – Priority 2 (with Measures 2.1.- Develop cross-border transport and border infrastructure and 2.2.-Improve cross-border environmental management)
’People to people’ actions - Priority 3 (with Measure 3.1.- Joint Small Project Fund) in the counties Tulcea, Botoşani, Suceava, Maramureş, Satu Mare, located in the Romania - Ukraine border region, with financial assistance from the Neighbourhood Programme of the European Communities.

The full Guidelines for Applicants and Annexes are available for consultation at the Joint Technical Secretariat, established within the Regional Office for Cross Border Cooperation Suceava (address: 8th Mihai Eminescu Street, Suceava, code 720183, Suceava County, Romania), on the website of the Regional Office for Cross Border Cooperation Suceava (www.brctsuceava.ro) and on the website of the Ministry of European Integration: www.mie.ro.

More information
Website: www.brctsuceava.ro
E-mail: brctsuceava@yahoo.com
phare2005@brctsuceava.ro


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Delegation of European Comission in Romania - The Development of Community Mental Health Services
Application deadline: March 22, 2007, 16:00 local time


Programme objectives
This Call for Proposal aims to develop and promote community health services in the existent centres for mental health (current laboratories for mental health) and independent centres (community centres with activities in mental health) and also to pilot mobile-type of intervention in rural areas and/or small town area within one community centre with activities in mental health. The actions to be supported under this Component should relate to mental health promotion, mental health at workplace, advocacy in the field of mental health, education and information on mental health issues, community mental health services, etc.

Eligible activities:
Under this component the grants will be awarded for actions proposing to facilitate the involvement of nongovernmental organizations in increasing the quality, accessibility and acceptability of mental health care services, through developing and promoting community health services in the existent centres for mental health (current laboratories for mental health) and independent centres (community centres with activities in mental health) and also through piloting mobile-type of intervention in rural areas and/or small
town area within one community centre with activities in mental health.

Who can apply
Romanian non-governmental non-profit organisations which must act in partnership with public authorities/institutions. The partnership is mandatory with the public authority/institution that runs a mental health centre or, in case of the independent centre a public authority/institution that supports the activity of the centre or activates in the area of interest/activity/domain of the centre. In case of piloting mobile-type of intervention, the partnership is mandatory with a public authority/institution having the headquarters in the community in which the mobile pilot intervention is applied. As an exception, only those public authority/institutions established only at county level may have their headquarters in other community, but in the same county as the centre operates.
The applicant may also act in artnership with other Romanian non-governmental non-profit organization(s) and/or other Romanian public authorities/institutions.

Financing conditions
The value of the grants is between 20,000 and 50,000 EUR/project (EU contribution up to 95% of the total eligible costs of the project).

More information
Website: http://www.infoeuropa.ro/jsp/page.jsp?cid=197&lid=2&id=26618&changeLangEv=1
www.fdsc.ro
E-mail: cristina-maria.tauber@ec.europa.eu (Cristina Maria Tauber)
mihaela@fdsc.ro (Mihaela Mohorea)


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Ohio Northern University - Democratic Governance and Rule of Law LL.M.
Application deadline: March 31, 2007


The LL.M. in Democratic Governance and the Rule of Law provides young lawyers from emerging democracies with the training and tools to implement law reforms that support stable democratic institutions and the rule of law in a free-market economy. The LL.M. is a fully-funded, one-year program of study designed for lawyers practicing in the public sector whose first law degree was earned from a law school outside the U.S. This program is not designed to help our students pass the American Bar and/or practice law in the United States. Students are required to commit to 2 years further public service upon return to their home countries. Through small classes with outstanding faculty, close interaction among the students and with the faculty, and numerous short seminars and field observations, students will receive an intensive education in practical democracy and law.

Admission is open to lawyers with two to five years experience in the public sector, working on governance and rule of law issues. Additional criteria include a recognized law degree, admission to the bar, a PBT TOEFL score of 600 or higher or a CBT TOEFL score of 250 or higher, and recommendations (including those from employers, and U.S. foreign aid offices and contractors). The personal statement from the applicant will also be weighed heavily. The final selection will be made by the director and LL.M. committee at the law college.

Students accepted to the LL.M. program will be fully supported during their studies. Tuition and fees, books, room and board, travel, and a monthly stipend of $500 are all provided. The objective of the program includes allowing young lawyers committed to public service to have the benefits of a study program not otherwise available to them for financial reasons.

More information
Website: http://www.llm.onu.edu/
Email: LLM@onu.edu
s-larrabee@onu.edu


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SEE-ERA.NET Networking for Southeast Europe - Pilot Joint Call for Research Proposals
Application deadline: March 31, 2007


Background and objectives
The ERA-NET scheme is an innovative component of the European Union’s Sixth Framework Programme addressing national or regional research funding or managing bodies. Its intention is to improve the co-operation and co-ordination of national research activities and thus strengthen the European Research Area (ERA).

Supported under the ERA-Net scheme, the SEE-ERA.NET began its work in September 2004. SEE-ERA.NET aims at structuring and expanding the ERA to the West Balkan countries (WBC) by co-ordinating and supporting RTD activities so far conducted preferably at bilateral level. SEE-ERA.NET is trying to develop a systemic approach to joint activities, such as combining policy development, capacity building, infrastructure development, brokerage and networking activities, ending up with joint research projects.

In order to establish a first pilot case of a Joint Call, the SEE-ERA.NET Steering Board has decided to create a new multilateral funding programme within the context of the SEE-ERA.NET network.

All 14 countries in the SEE-ERA-NET project have declared that they will participate with national financial contributions to this first pilot joint call: Albania, Austria, Bosnia&Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Slovenia, Serbia.

What kind of projects will be funded?
The SEE-ERA.NET Pilot Joint Call focuses on specific thematic areas:
- Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology: sub area ‘Sustainable production and management of biological resources from land, forest and aquatic environments’
- Information and Communication Technologies: sub area ‘Applications Research’
- Environment: sub area ‘Environmental Technologies’

Applications can be submitted for:
2.1. Research projects
These projects shall be conducted by a project consortium with at least three participants from three different countries and at least one of them must be from a Western Balkan country.
Applications should be submitted for small and short term multilateral research projects and short preparatory activities such as feasibility studies or pilot investigations with a duration of up to 9 months including exchange of scientists in order to prepare bigger and longer future research projects.

2.2. Network projects
The thematic network projects are preferably aiming at the co-ordination and co-operation of scientists in one specific scientific area based on mutual visits and small Workshops.
This specific type of projects shall be conducted by at least five partners from three different countries of which two from Western Balkan countries are mandatory.
The docking of scientific institutions/teams to existing networks and existing and ongoing R&D projects (i.e. linking up teams of young researchers to already existing successful multilateral projects or institutional networks) will be possible. Research and network projects might start in September 2007 with a duration of up to nine months.

2.3. Summer Schools
Summer Schools should be organised by a project consortium consisting of at least three participants from three different countries; among them at least one from a Western Balkan country.

Who is funded?
Applications for project funding may be submitted by legal RTD entities eligible according to the national regulations of the participating countries. This funding scheme targets at institutional collaboration: legal private persons may not apply.

What does the funding cover?
The National Funding Bodies (this is the respective Ministry or agency acting on behalf of the responsible Ministry for a specific country) of the countries eligible for this call will promote the projects by providing non-repayable grants. Expenditures have to be actual, economic and necessary. Mainly expenses for mobility of researchers will be covered (for Romania only mobility expenditures can be covered.).
In addition, expenditure for the following types is eligible for grants, if justified by the nature of the project:
- Staff for the implementation of events and investigations of feasibility
- Cost of events and meetings, e.g. rental of venue, logistics
- Physical resources, e.g. consumables, printing costs, small equipment, etc.
Indicative budget per project will be up to EUR 20.000 for a period of maximum 9 months.

Applications will be considered on the basis of the following criteria:
- Scientific quality of the work plan (relevance, originality). – A special weight will be applied to this criterion.
- Innovative potential of the expected project results or networking or docking activities for future utilisation or co-operation
- International competitiveness of participating research groups in the field(s) of the proposal
- Feasibility of the project (appropriateness of the methodology, budget and timetable)
- Level of collaborative interaction between the groups and added value of the consortium
- Training aspects, if applicable
- Involvement of young scientists
- Sustainability
- Regional co-operation among the West Balkan Countries
- Southeast European capacity building
- 'Brain Gain and re-integration measures for mobile scientists from the Western Balkan Countries.

More information
Website: http://www.see-era.net/pjc


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The Global Fund for Women - Grants for women’s groups
Application deadline: accept proposals all year


The Global Fund for Women supports women's groups that advance the human rights of women and girls. We strengthen women’s groups based outside the United States by providing small, flexible, and timely grants ranging from $500 to $20,000 per year for operating and project expenses. First-time grant awards generally range from $3,000 to $9,000 per year. We value local expertise and believe that women themselves know best how to determine their needs and propose solutions for lasting change.

We welcome proposals that may fall into, but are not limited to, the following broad thematic areas:
- Building Peace & Ending Gender-Based Violence
- Advancing Health and Sexual & Reproductive Rights
- Expanding Civic & Political Participation
- Ensuring Economic & Environmental Justice
- Increasing Access to Education
- Fostering Social Change Philanthropy.

Application criteria
Please note that your group MUST meet all the following criteria to be eligible for a grant:
It is based in a country outside the United States. We do not fund US based organizations. Its primary focus is advancing women’s equality and human rights, with these goals clearly reflected in its activities.
It is a group of women working together. We do not accept requests from individuals.
It is governed, directed, and led by women. Women must fill all or most of the leadership roles.

Priorities:
The Global Fund receives over 3,500 proposals each year and awards about 600 grants annually. Unfortunately we do not have the resources to provide funding to all the groups that meet our criteria. We do, however, give priority to women’s groups that might particularly benefit from our support. These include groups that:
1. Are in the first five years of existence. Groups do not need to be registered non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to qualify for funding.
2. Do not have access to funds from larger donor agencies.
3. Are located in a region or country that has extremely limited access to funding resources.
4. Are working on issues that are difficult or controversial for women to raise in their communities, yet are critical to the realization of women’s human rights.
5. Are organized and led by women from particularly marginalized populations, including but not limited to: refugees, rural women, economically disadvantaged women, women with disabilities, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQI) populations, sex workers, women affected by military occupation, women in conflict and post-conflict regions, girls and young women, and women from ethnic, religious, and cultural minorities.
6. Actively include the perspectives of those served by or benefiting from the group’s activities.

In addition, please note that the Global Fund does NOT fund the following:
1. Individuals
2. Scholarships
3. Government entities
4. Groups without a strong women’s rights focus
5. Groups based and working primarily or only in the US
6. International organizations proposing projects with local partners.

Groups whose sole purpose is to generate income or to provide charity to individuals
Groups headed and managed by men, without women in the majority of leadership positions
Political parties or election campaigns
Women’s branches/departments/projects of mixed gender organizations. Exceptions: Women-focused projects within mixed-gender organizations may occasionally receive support from the Global Fund if they work with particularly marginalized groups: for example, women within groups of people with disabilities or women within LGBTQI organizations.

Review process
You may submit a request in any language, by e-mail, fax, or post. We usually accept proposals all year, but grants are awarded only four times a year after approval by our international Board of Directors. After you submit a proposal, a notice of receipt will be sent within 3 weeks of its arrival at the Global Fund. You will receive a decision on your proposal or a request for additional information in approximately 4-5 months. Due to the large volume of requests we receive, final grant awards may not be made for up to 7 to 9 months. In addition, please note that the Global Fund is not able to award a grant to all the deserving groups that apply and that we are also often unable to award the total amount requested.

Urgent requests
The Global Fund for Women accepts urgent requests related to a crisis of some kind, or for requests that pertain to organizing or attending a conference, or other time-bound event. Such requests will be considered outside of our normal grant cycle due to their time-sensitive nature. Applications must be submitted by organizations, not individuals, and must be received at least 8 weeks before the event. Funding for such requests is extremely limited and preference will be given to past Global Fund grantees. To apply for an urgent request please follow the directions at www.globalfundforwomen.org/3grant.

More information
Website: http://www.globalfundforwomen.org
E-mail: ecis@globalfundforwomen.org (Angelika Arutyunova, Program Officer, Europe and the Former Soviet States)


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‘Introduction to Foresight as an Instrument for Policy Making’ training seminar, March 1 – 2, 2007, Bled, Slovenia
Application deadline: January 29, 2007, 12.00 CET


The target group for the training seminar & conference participation grants are people interested in launching, carrying out or using Foresight activities in support to policy-making within the SEE countries (Albania, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia (including Kosovo), FYR of Macedonia).

It will be organised in cooperation with the FOR-LEARN project team of Institute forProspective Technological Studies (IPTS) of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre as a preliminary event to the ‘VIII. Bled Forum on Europe’. Participants of the training seminar will also have the opportunity to participate in the VIII. Bled Forum on Europe conference. The conference will take place on March 2 and 3.

The participants in the Seminar will receive basic and practical knowledge on:
- What is Foresight,
- What it can (and cannot) achieve,
- How to design and carry out a Foresight exercise.

Participants will have the opportunity to do some practical exercises in small groups. Depending on the interest of participants, specific topics such as the role of Foresight in innovation policy or in regional
development could be addressed.

The organisers intend to cover the costs for registration, travel (public transport) up to 400 Euros per person and for accommodation (half board for the days of the training seminar and the conference) for about 20 – 25 participants from SEE countries (eligible countries see above) for the participation at the foresight conference and at the training seminar.

More information
Website: www.aso.zsi.at
http://www.bled-forum.org/index_eng.html
E-mail: aso-ljubljana@zsi.at


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Journal of Civil Society 17th Issue – Call for papers
Application deadline: January 30, 2007


Journal of Civil Society is a peer reviewed and quarterly published academic journal. It is the first and only journal in Turkish on civil society. It not only accepts national, but also looks for international contributions. The articles are published in Turkish with English abstracts. Journal of Civil Society wants to review the theoretical perspectives and practices together and produce original ideas, techniques and critics for a progress in the field. The Journal gives priority to original research papers.

The journal is issue-based. Nowadays, we are preparing 17th volume of the Journal which is on ‘City’. We want to publish articles about ‘city, urbanization, history of urbanization, modern city, the city as a
manifestation of civilization, governance, localization, anomy, crime in the city, emigration, city planning’. The articles contain between 4000-5000 word are welcome.

More information
E-mail: editor@siviltoplum.com.tr


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'Financing Metropolitan Governments in Transitional Countries'
Application deadline: January 31, 2007


After more than fifteen years of transition the issues of managing large cities has become increasingly significant and challenging. The laws on capital cities were part of the decentralization process; in countries where ‘fast decentralization’ took place new structures were introduced at the beginning of the 90s (Warsaw, Budapest, Bratislava, etc.). The emerging structure was under constant criticism, mostly because of its fragmented nature (especially Warsaw and Budapest), which is why, for instance, the two-tier system of Warsaw was replaced in 2003 by a one-tier system. ‘Latecomer’ decentralizers are looking for the best model for their capital cities: e.g. Skopje after the Ohrid agreement moved towards decentralization and adopted a two-tier system, while Belgrade is currently in search of a model.

The political weight of large cities (typically capitals) has greatly increased in the Baltics, the former Yugoslav republics and the Caucasus, as the share of the population living in the capital cities of these transition countries typically exceeds 20%, but in some cases even 30% (32% in Riga; 39% in Tallinn; 40% in Tirana). Among the many problems experienced in large urban areas is how such cities can be integrated into the intergovernmental fiscal system in order to make the capital city competitive and avoid the violation of local autonomy (a principal element of decentralization).

Eligibility and target researchers
The following cities are eligible for the research program: Belgrade, Bratislava, Bucharest, Budapest, Chisinau, Kiev, Lubljana, Minsk, Moscow, Prague, Riga, Saint-Petersburg, Sarajevo, Skopje, Sofia, Tallinn, Tirana, Vilnius, Warsaw, Zagreb. In the project 8-10 cities will be selected for case studies representing EU countries, accession countries, and countries of the former Soviet Union.

Researchers are normally civil servants, members of advocacy groups or professional associations, policy researchers and policy advisers. An advanced degree or equivalent is required. Applicants should be citizens of the countries noted under the topic. As a rule, Researchers will be based in their home countries and will be required to attend two international workshops. Researchers are expected to continue with their current employment, spending only up to fifty percent of their time on the Research program.

Target Researchers:
1. Current/former municipal officials
2. Local government practitioners
3. Local government association members
4. Former local government practitioners turned consultants
5. Policy researchers

Applications must include ALL of the following materials:
1. Statement of interest (1 page maximum)
2. Research proposal (2,000 words maximum) including a well-defined research problem, topic justification, research methodology, and expected outcomes of the research.
3. Professional CV/s (which includes: full name, email and telephone number of the applicant/s, country of origin and residence)
4. English language writing sample (maximum 5 pages)
5. The name and contact information of three people familiar with the professional capacities of the applicant.

More information
Website: http://lgi.osi.hu/documents.php?id=1413
E-mail: lgprog@osi.hu (please include in the subject line ‘Financing Metropolitan Governments in Transitional Countries’)


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United Nations Association of Serbia – ‘Belgrade International Model United Nations – BIMUN’ April 25 – 29, 2007, Belgrade, Serbia
Application deadline: January 31, 2007


BIMUN is a youth conference designed to furnish a structure and forum for students to work with the most pressing international issues from a perspective outside of the classroom, and thus broaden their awareness of the world of politics.

In this educational exercise, students take over roles of UN diplomats, represent different countries and discuss certain topics, which are on the agenda. Participants, as delegates, elaborate strategy, prepare resolutions, negotiate and resolve conflicts, following the UN procedure.

’Belgrade International Model UN - BIMUN 2007’ will feature comprehensive simulations of the following UN bodies, with focus on real-life agenda items:
- The UN Security Council
’The Risk of Nuclear Proliferation : Situation in Iran’
- General Assembly - VI Committee
’Strengthening the Role of the United Nations - Reform of the Security Council’
- Human Rights Council
’The Rights of National Minorities in Southeastern Europe’
- UNESCO World Heritage Committee
’Protection of Endangered Heritage in Conflict Areas’.

Students of social sciences from all over the world are invited to participate. We would particularly like to encourage students from the Southeastern European to take part in the conference in order to develop regional links and partnerships. Eligible to take part in this event are social science students and postgraduates up to 29 years of age. The working language of the conference will be English.

More information
Website: www.unaserbia.org.yu
E-mail: unaserbia@gmail.com


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Ultrasound Foundation - UH Fest 2007, SHARE workshop, March 19 – 25, 2007, Budapest, Hungary
Application deadline: February 1, 2007


UH Fest 2007 will stage 40-45 acts from 10-13 countries between 22-25 of March, 2007. All the events will take place at one venue, Merlin theatre at the heart of the city. Ultrasound Foundation can invite interested participants (technicians, musicians, sound and video artists, promoters, culture activists) from Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia Slovakia and Poland for a weeklong stay in Budapest.

More information
Website: www.fest.uh.hu
H/SK/PL/CZ
http://fest.uh.hu/SHARE_application_Budapest2007_visegrad.doc
UKR/SRB/CRO/SLO/RO
http://fest.uh.hu/SHARE_application_Budapest2007.doc


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Festival Break 2.4, November 5 – 18, 2007, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Application deadline: February 1, 2007 (postmark)


The purpose of the multimedia festival Break is to explore new artistic expressions and contemporary topics and to emphasize emerging poetics whose artistic discourse has not yet been deep-rooted within firmly established standards, criteria and cultural values.

We are currently seeking art projects, from established, mid-career, and emerging artists, that address the theme selected for the festival: Potemkin village. Definitions of the Potemkin village:
- Pretentiously showy or imposing facade intended to mask or divert attention from an embarrassing or shabby fact or condition
- Something that appears impressive but is ineffective and insubstantial
- Any hollow or false construction, physical or figurative, meant to hide an undesirable or potentially damaging situation
- Politically generated appearance that covers a less impressive underside

The application must include the completed application form, supporting material, and a project presentation (visual and/or text) on A4 sheet. All the project presentations on A4 sheet might be exhibited in this format during the festival Break 2.4. For the selection of projects to be realized and presented during the festival Break 2.4, decisions will be made on March 1, 2007. Only successful applicants will be contacted.

Organizer:
>From 1997 to 2000, the festival was produced by the Student Organization of the University of Ljubljana and had the primary function of presenting young emerging artists. Since 2001, the festival has been the project of Zavod K6/4, a non-profit institution operating in the area of contemporary art and culture.

More information
Website: http://www.break-festival.org
E-mail: info@break-festival.org (Mateja Jurič)


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National School of Political Sciences and Public Administration - ‘Globalization and the Politics of Development’ international conference, May 17 - 19, 2007, Bucuresti, Romania
Application deadline: February 4, 2007


In co-operation with Babes Bolyai University, Cluj, Romania and the European Institute of Romania.

In exploring this theme, papers are encouraged along the following themes: the impact of globalization on policy making and implementation; changes induced by the shifting role of the state; contemporary actors of development; globalization and European integration: consequences upon national development policies; sustainable development policies in the context of globalization; globalization and communication; mass media as the drivers of globalization; European regional development policy; development models of other economic regions (the Pacific Rim, North America); development and modernization; the situation of the new EU Member states from Central and Eastern Europe; innovation, research and education: the magic triangle of contemporary development; innovation management; project management as a macroeconomic strategy of development; project-oriented companies and the project-oriented nation.

Deadlines for paper submission February 4, 2007: abstract submission; February 12, 2007: abstract acceptance; April 15, 2007: full paper submission; April 30, 2007: full paper acceptance. The abstracts (max. 200 words followed by 3-5 keywords) will be submitted for review in electronic MS Word format. Please provide the full names, affiliations, mailing addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses of all authors, indicating the contact author. There will be accepted only one paper for each participant as a first author.

Conference languages will be English and French. Abstracts, papers and paper presentations will be made in English or French. The accepted papers will be published in the conference volume. The conference fee is EUR 100/participant and it includes: conference volume, conference agenda, conference briefcase, welcome reception, coffee breaks, and the conference banquet. The fee will have to be paid no later than May 5, 2007.

More information
Website: http://www.conference.snspa.ro (guidelines for full paper submission will be available on the website in due time)
E-mail: conference@snspa.ro
alina.bargaoanu@comunicare.ro (Alina Bargaoanu, PhD, PMP Faculty of Communication and Public Relations)


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The Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) – ‘Teaching Law, Human Rights and Ethics’ summer course, July 9 - 13, 2007, Budapest, Hungary
Application deadline: February 14, 2007


This is a one-week course for junior law faculty and senior students interested in pursuing academic career, who wish to learn more about the use of innovative methods of teaching about human rights in relation to various aspects of rule of law, ethics, including experiential learning. The course is devoted to giving participants knowledge on cutting-edge topics, specifically within the themes of: (1) human rights and the rule of law, and (2) professional ethics.

The course will also provide skills development in new methods of pedagogy. The ultimate goal of the course is to convey challenging material, technical know-how and motivation to a group of young academics who will be expected to have an impact on reform of higher legal education through their own curricular innovations.

The course will consist of three components:
1) Discussions about the relationship of human rights and rule of law in general and some of the key concepts embedded in rule of law, such as good governance and sustainable development as well as strategies and methods of promoting them. Critical to the discussion will be an understanding of the key role that civil society plays in governance, policy formulation as well as social development and poverty alleviation. The objective will be to encourage the participants to develop their own ideas for enhancing participation in governance and the accountability of the state to society and their understanding about the role that contemporary legal education has to play. Topics covered will include: human rights and the promotion of the rule of law, the development of civil society networks and their role in good governance and poverty alleviation. Methodology: These topics will be examined using a case study methodology.
2) Discussions about different ethical conceptions of the role of the lawyer and the cultural contexts in which the lawyer's role is defined. Topics covered will include the issues of confidentiality and its boundaries, conflict of interests and its definition, the duties that lawyer has towards the client, the society, the court and others and the tensions between the interests of the client and interests of the human rights groups. Methodology: Hypothetical scenarios, role-plays and simulations will be used for the sessions on professional ethics.
3) Teaching methodology sessions aimed at integrating the conceptual discussion about human rights and the rule of law and professional ethics into practical pedagogy and curriculum development. Participants will share their experiences with innovative teaching methodologies, their goals and uses in different instructional settings (such as classroom, simulations, case rounds, etc). They will also discuss ways of incorporating them into the curriculum and will identify the challenges that they may face. During the methodology sessions, participants will work in small groups, divided according to selected topics from the themes of human rights and the rule of law or professional ethics in order to prepare a demonstration class for the larger group. They will need to select a particular point in the semester's syllabus where teaching human rights and the rule of law and/or professional ethics would be appropriate. Each small group shall choose: (1) an instructional setting (cl! assroom, small group, case rounds, etc); (2) a methodology to portray the teaching opportunity and (3) a plan or course outline for the suggested course to be reflected in the curriculum.

More information
Website: https://online.ceu.hu/osun/
http://www.sun.ceu.hu/4Applicants/apply_now.php


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Central European University - Summer University
Application deadline: February 14, 2007 (unless stated otherwise in the announcement of a particular course)


The CEU Summer University (SUN) program hosts high-level, research-oriented, interdisciplinary and innovative academic courses as well as workshops on policy issues for professional development in the social sciences and the humanities. The one- two or three-week long courses involve distinguished international faculty (including CEU professors), and advanced doctoral students, junior or post-doctoral researchers, teachers and professionals as participants. Financial aid is available (see further details on the web site).

More information:
Website: http://www.sun.ceu.hu/3Courses/courses.php
http://www.sun.ceu.hu/3Courses/descriptions/Corruption-2007-detailed.pdf
E-mail: summeru@ceu.hu


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Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights - 18th International Summer School on Human Rights, June 23 – 30, 2007, Warsaw-Miedzeszyn, Poland
Application deadline: February 15,2007


The School is intended for human rights activists, university teachers and representatives of the institutions from all levels of public administration dealing with human rights issues from Central, Eastern European and CIS countries. We are sorry to inform that our offer is limited in scope only to those who have not yet participated in our Summer or Winter Schools. The program is open to university graduates or last-year university students. Our programme combines lectures and workshops on the historical and philosophical background of human rights, domestic and international systems of human rights protection as well as applicability of rights of primary importance. The lectures will be given by renown professors, university teachers and experts in the field of human rights and international law. English and Russian are the working languages of our Summer School. Ability to communicate freely in one of ! the above is required.

Participants (65 people all together) will be selected by a selection committee on a competitive basis. In case of around 50 people the following expenses will be covered: international round-trip travel expenses (train, air or bus - economy rates) and accommodation in double rooms and meals during the course. Around 15 people may participate in the School under the condition that they partially cover the expenses themselves (according to what is stated in the application form). Lectures and workshops, translation of classes, educational materials, medical insurance while on the territory of Poland are free of charge provided that participants attend all classes. Visa expenses, domestic travel expenses within participants' countries and accommodation and meals while on travel will not be covered.

Should you be interested in our offer please submit an application pack consisting of:
· Application form
· One-page curriculum vitae
· Reference letter from your organization/employer.

More information
Website: http://www.hfhrpol.waw.pl/en/index_pliki/18ISSHR.html
E-mail: 18summer@hfhrpol.waw.pl


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Balkan Case Challenge 2007, May 20 – 25, 2007, Vienna, Austria
Application deadline: March 1, 2007


WUS Austria invites exceptional students from Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Kosovo UNMIK, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia, who study law, economics, political sciences, international relations, information technologies or related disciplines to take part at the at the Balkan Case Challenge 2007 Student Case Competition.

Students participate in one of the four different case competitions:
Business Case Competition (BIZ) offers a real Business Case Study for students of business, economics, management and marketing.
Law Moot Court (LMC), a simulation of the International Court of Justice for law students.
Model United Nations (MUN), a simulation of the UN Security Council Session for students of political sciences and other students interested in international relations, diplomacy and related fields.
Information Communication Technologies (ICT) Case Competition presents a real ICT Case study and addresses therefore students from information technologies or related fields.

The Balkan Case Challenge facilitates recruitment processes: students prove their skills and present themselves to potential employers and identify them. International companies get the chance to recruit future staff from the region, who corresponds to their standards in addition to having the necessary regional knowledge.

The BCC 2007 in Vienna consists of two parts:
1) The Case Study Competition (May 20 - 23)
2) The Job Fair 'Day South-Eastern Europe' (May 24)

Who can apply?
- Students of the above mentioned or related disciplines, graduates and post-graduates from all state and private institutions of higher education with excellent skills and academic performances
- Students with excellent English skills (the competition will be conducted entirely in English)
- Students below 28 years of age at the time of applying (with an increase for female applicants with children: 3 years /child)
- Students expecting to complete their studies within maximum 2 years from the moment of application.
Please note: The organizers will make every effort to cover all travel and accommodation costs with full board.

Important: Participants from Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Moldova, Romania and Slovenia apply directly for the finals of the BCC in Vienna, whereas the participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo UNMIK, Montenegro and Serbia qualify through the respective sub competitions.

More information
Website: www. bcchallenge.org
E-mail: bcc-info@bcchallenge.org


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‘Dynamics of National Identity and Transnational Identities in the Process of European Integration’ conference, June 7 - 10, 2007, Sofia, Bulgaria
Application deadline: March 15, 2007


Conference organised in frames of the Jean Monnet Action - Support for Study and Research Centres 2006, Program of the European Commission by The Balkan Ethnology Department of Ethnographic Institute and Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

Academic papers are invited for the international conference on ‘Dynamics of National Identity and Transnational Identities in the Process of European Integration’.

The conference will include following topics:
- Theoretical and methodological framework for the research of euro-integration, globalization and nationalism;
- The development of national and trans-national identities and the challenges of EU integration;
- EU integration, globalization and national identification;
- EU integration and creation of new multiethnic states;
- EU integration and migrations.

Papers in frames of wide range of social sciences and humanities are welcome. All abstracts will be reviewed by members of a Scientific Committee and the authors of the approved papers will be notified by 31 of March.

Conference language: English.

A limited possibility for fellowships (travel costs and accommodation) is available.

More information
Website: http://212.72.210.65/sr-www/JMC.html
E-mail: balkan_ethnobg@yahoo.co.uk


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‘Second Conference On Human Security, Terrorism & Organised Crime In The Western Balkans: Realities, Risks And Responses’, October 4 – 6, 2007, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Application deadline: March 31, 2007


The second conference of the HUMSEC project focuses on the multiple interactions among transnational illegal organizations, state institutions, and the civil society in the Balkan region, and how these influence
post-conflict capacity building. Contributions by regional experts, comparativists and theory-oriented social scientists, as well as governmental and non-governmental practitioners are particularly welcome.

Presentations may cover one or more of the following:
Thematic Bloc 1: The Rise and Demise of Transnational Terrorist and Criminal Organizations
1.1 The emergence and proliferation of transnational terrorist and criminal organzations
1.2 The role of external actors in the Balkan region
1.3 Political and economic agendas of non-state violent actors: Greed, grievance, or both?
1.4 Deconstructing and reconstructing designations: ‘terrorism’, ‘organized crime’, ‘legality’, and ‘human
security’.
Thematic Bloc 2: Conflict and the Transformation of State and Society
2.1 Public and private responses to political violence and the Security Sector reform
2.2 The strategic interactions of networks, international and local actors, and the role of borderlands in post-conflict societies
2.3 Peacekeeping, peacebuilding and conflicting agendas in counter-terrorism and counter-crime policies
2.4 Legitimacy, efficiency, and implementation gaps in post-conflict capacity building
Thematic Bloc 3: Strategies of Repoliticization and Reintegration of Conflict Actors
3.1 Mechanisms of actors´ transformation during and after conflict settlement
3.2 Incentives to prevent conflict actors from becoming spoilers to the peacebuiding process
3.3 The dynamics of institutional inclusion and exclusion of conflict actors
3.4 Unintended Consequences of counter-crime and counter-terror strategies.

Each presentation at the conference will be in English language and will be expected to take 15-20 minutes, before discussion. Please submit your suggestion for a presentation (titles of proposed papers, plus abstracts of approximately 300 words) by using the online form. You may submit one or two proposals. It is unlikely that two presentations would be accepted from the same person or institution, however you may wish to offer alternatives. If wishing to submit two proposals, please make two separate submissions.

More information
Website: www.humsec.eu
Email: maddalena.vivona@etc-graz.at


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®enska Infoteka – ‘Women and Politics - Class Differences in Feminism’ seminar, May 17 – 19, 2007, Dubrovnik, Croatia


Organized in cooperation with Heinrich Böll Foundation and Inter University Center Dubrovnik.

A practical change of women's position in society requires action based on the understanding of the given power relations, domination and (re)production of social roles. The seminar 'Women and Politics' came out of the need for empirically founded analyses of social phenomena significant for women's position, as well as for the discussion grounded in such analysis.

®enska infoteka, an institution that systematically works on collecting and disseminating documentation and information regarding women, and at the same time cooperates with the network of activist women's non-governmental organizations, has chosen a thematic ‘Women and Politics’ for a main pillar of the multiyear project of international conferences and seminar discussions. The term 'politics' is used in its wider sense - we regard as politics all spheres of social life in which women appear (or not). As our aim is to provide a comprehension needed for effective social change, the seminar is designed as a working session of female scientists, researches, politically engaged intellectuals and activists. Each year seminar deals with a different aspect of social life, which is relevant from the feminist perspective. The title for this year is 'Class Differences in Feminism'.

In the last two decades, the issue of class differences in feminism has been raised by the feminists coming from the Third World countries (Spivak, Jajawardena, Ray etc.). This discussion emerged as a result of the
intensification of the processes of globalization (followed by unwelcome repercussions) on economical and political levels. European feminisms (both Western and Eastern) did not have this topic on their agenda for many reasons, above all, because feminism itself was (its vast majority) rooted in intellectual, thus middle class, social background. With the political changes after the fall of the so called communism/socialism, the situation has changed and we can notice class differences in feminism either within national scopes or in the relations between Eastern European feminism and feminism of ‘The Old Europe’ (Western). In sociology, the term 'class' has always had strictly economic connotations. Due to its Marxist origin it has become a rather unpopular term during the 90's. It is still wildly used in its broader meaning, as category, or a group with distinctive characteristics. Class in this sense is convenient as a subject of our topic because it allows us! not to omit any social category, which may turn out to have a considerable impact on the social reality. However, political and cultural changes across Europe are induced by the demands from the sphere of economics. Therefore it seems to be wise not to let go the narrower, Marxist and Weberian, meaning of the term too easily.

The fact is that the political left and the civil society have nowadays lost themselves and need to be redefined. For the feminist movement, this implies that different means and, to a lesser amount, aims, existing together under the joint name of the feminist movement, must be put within the frame of the
current economic and political constellation. In this post-transitional moment, in time of the growing new world order, when goals, strategies and allies have to be articulated a-new, it is important to understand the social categories accountable for the differences within feminist approaches.

During the 11th seminar 'Women and Politics' we intend to explore the ways in which the existence of the differences - in employment and type of economic sector, economic power, social status, type and degree of education etc. - among feminists, influence the access to knowledge and social power to women as a group in its own right. We seek to address the issues like:
- Which are the different feminist approaches relevant in the Eastern Europe today? Which differences in priorities and understanding of appropriate measures that need to be undertaken divide the feminist movement?
- To what extent do these differences emerge as a result of the different social backgrounds?
- Which of the social categories play the most important role in formation of the different feminist approaches?
- How is the feminist struggle influenced by the fact that one belongs to more than just one social category and that these categories intersect and produce complicated loops of privileged and deprived groups?
- Which of the marginalized groups and elites (with female members) are tend to develop their particular interests, leading to divergence of interests and mutual misunderstanding among feminists? On the opposite, in what situations does this divergence of membership expend the access to knowledge, power and wealth for women?
- To what extent is the division on the academic, professional activist and grass-root activist feminism becoming rigid, and why? On the opposite, in which fields do they successfully complement one another, and why?

We invite you to submit your contribution to the discussion centred on these questions (minimum 10 pages) on the email. Please include in the application the name of your organisation and/or your
fields of interest.

The seminar is orientated toward researchers/scientists and activists from the Eastern Europe engaged with feminism and human rights of women, but it is open for all interested to give a contribution to the discussion.
The criteria for the selection of the participants will be the following:
1. Is the received paper concerned with the proposed topic?
2. Scientific argumentation of the thesis
3. A striving to cover the different approaches to the topic.

More information
E-mail: zinfo@zamir.net


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CEU Summer University - 'Multi-Disciplinary and Cross-National Approaches to Romany Studies. A Model for Europe', July 2 - 20, 2007


Research training objectives:
The training we offer will take place in a series of events over two-three years from May 2007 to summer 2009. When you sign up to this programme therefore you are minimally committing yourself to training between April 207 and April 2008 - a partially self and partially staff selected cohort will proceed to training in teaching methods and then the organization of their own summer school in 2009. The series of events over the training period includes electronic/distance seminars, visits to supervisors and, above all else, three summer schools the first of which takes place in Budapest July 2007.

The program offered here thus differs in structure and goals from the other CEU Summer schools this year and also previous 'editions' of this ('Plight of the Roma') school. The fundamental goal is to turn those of you who apply this year and who are willing and able to pursue this goal into the trainers of the future. The summer school in 2009 will thus be taught, in significant part, by the most ambitious and talented of the successful candidates this year.

Our aim throughout is to bring together young (mostly doctoral) researchers working on issues that concern Roma and Gypsies so that you will be able to gauge the development of Romany politics and culture over the past century from the perspective of Romany Studies and from that of the social scientific study of the countries of the region. Interaction with leading senior researchers is the core of all training activities. The experts will draw directly on their current research and extensive international collaborations to offer you the opportunity to hone your own skills.

Context
Today, after sixteen years of democratic politics and, to a greater or lesser extent, reformed bureaucratic structures the plight of Romany populations in the former communist countries shows little signs of alleviation. The fundamental aim of this training is to enable you better to understand the conditions of this stalemate situation. For some of you it will help you better to act to create conditions that will in the future break the current deadlock.

The multi-disciplinary field of Romany studies forms the overarching structure for the series of events we offer. The training is designed to encourage you to engage with a broader intellectual field than that you may have encountered so far within your own doctoral programme within a particular discipline. We believe it is impossible to teach coherently about Romany problems in any one country outside of a broader comparative and transnational perspective and so we will select teachers and trainers from a wide pool.

We aim to influence both the way you carry out your research in future and the ways in which you communicate and, especially teach your findings. We recognise that there is a growing demand for training and teaching in Romany studies across Europe and, consequently, for materials for such courses. 'Romology' is increasingly widely taught in schools and especially in the training institutes of teachers, the police, social workers and other agencies of the state. One aim of the training will be to provide all the participants with the intellectual tools to take a critical look both at current practice and, through an examination of academic research, to consider what might replace current often rather poor or even bad practice.

We will encourage you to incorporate the new perspectives provided by our training into your own research findings as well as into your own teaching materials. In particular a 'cut' of the trainees (6 from the original 25) from 2007 will in turn become the trainers of the next generation of 'Romology' teachers for the summer school in 2009.

In the course of your training you will confront a wide range of training models and taught modules in the residential sessions. Approaches from five main fields will be brought together: history, linguistics, anthropology (including ethnographic film), public policy and sociology (including demography). Senior staff will provide training in their own field during the residential courses. An important part of the training will be multi- and interdisciplinary seminars in which participants doing PhDs in different disciplines will be confronted with the diverse perspectives of their senior trainers and will be encouraged to think across these divisions. Cultivating the ground of interdisciplinary collaborations is a time-consuming process involving mutual tolerance and patience. The electronic classrooms/seminars will also incorporate senior trainers from different academic fields. The partner institutions (and trainers) have been selected for their complementarity and diverse! theoretical and empirical research backgrounds. The acculturation offered by the project in multidisciplinary work will enhance your research flexibility by offering you training in research methods that can be used to conduct inter- and multi-disciplinary cross-national research.

Our 'series of events' is not just aimed at academic doctorands. We recognize that there is an urgent need to develop more coherent policy approaches to the treatment of the largest minority in Europe. (See below on Eligibility).

Content
Issues of language (rights), economic exclusion (and specialization), the historical legacy of persecution, the role of gendered images of the social order in the maintenance both of radical social exclusion and of the Romany social order as well as an examination of film as a means of presenting Romany lives (both for research and 'entertainment' purposes) will, amongst other topics, form core themes of our workshops.

A unique feature of the summer school (and the two that come in 2008 and 2009) will be a two-three day long field trip and assessment-exercise to two Romany communities in Hungary/Romania. This will provide you not only with a 'hands-on' experience in 'rapid survey work' but also the opportunity to reflect on the use of such methods in teaching. We will also, finally, prepare the 'ethnographic film' training that will take place in Cluj, 2008 with intensive film viewing and interpretation. In some of this work we will collaborate with the Media Globalization and Post-Communist European Identities Summer School.

The first electronic seminar in April 2007 will allow you to begin to appreciate the breadth of doctoral research in Romany Studies today and to reflect on the state of your own research. It will also enable you to participate in the structuring of the first residential course, i.e. Budapest, July 2007. The second electronic seminar in early Spring 2008 will offer training in research methods through the discussion and critique of your ongoing data collection. This is in effect a 'fieldwork' or 'data collection' seminar. Professor Matras, for instance, might provide further specialised guidance on collection of linguistic materials; a historian might provide further training in archival investigations etc.. The exact configuration of topics covered will depend on trainee demand.

In the second year the residential course in Cluj July 2008 will provide three parallel trainings in research methodologies: the interpretation and use of linguistic and socio-linguistic data (using the interactive website at Manchester as a model); the use of ethnographic film in research and teaching about Roma (using the extensive work done by our senior trainers, Csilla Kato, Dumitru Budrala and Bogdan Neagota as well as other highly qualified local academics); qualitative and quantitative methods in examining poverty and the informal economy in Europe today (using the expertise of several of our trainers). Once a day an interdisciplinary seminar will bring the participants together.

The further training program will also include two more distance learning seminars as well as an ongoing electronic classroom that will provide resources and a site for the exchange of ideas and materials during the whole training program. The electronic seminars will, in order: identify and explore the main themes of the training through debating the trainees' research projects; build methodological preparedness for data collection and provide intensive mentoring on course preparation for the final summer school. The format will normally involve five 70-minute online seminars preceded by discussion board format debate about circulated texts.

The last residential summer school in Budapest, July 2009, will invite a new intake of early researchers for training conducted partly by those of you who wish to experiment in running a summer school and whom we deem ready and prepared to do so. As with the first summer school (2007), the focus will be on offering a multidisciplinary training as well as specialization seminars in the second week with fieldwork incorporated in the curriculum.

Eligibility
a) Minimum requirement is a first degree allowing the student to pursue doctoral studies.
b) The main target group is junior and postdoctoral researchers interested in developing Romany Studies primarily involved in academic MA or Ph.D. education. Other persons who are engaged in research in a non-academic environment (think tanks, government departments, NGOs and the like) are also eligible. Given the political and policy importance of the topics we deal with we expect a significant minority of our trainees to be researchers in NGOs, government or other non-university public institutions. We expect the majority, however, to be academically engaged researchers.
c) Eligibility categories:
· Early-stage researchers with up to four years' experience of their research career (engagement in a relevant academic program or professional activity) Applicants in this category will in general have precedence.
· Experienced researchers with up to ten years' experience of their research career (engagement in a relevant academic program or professional activity)
· Experienced researchers with more than ten years' experience of their research career (engagement in a relevant academic program or professional activity), who have a 'European Union' citizenship, but do not live in Europe at the time of the events.

More information
Website: http://www.sun.ceu.hu
E-mail: summeru@ceu.hu


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Institute for Strengthening Democracy in Bosnia – ‘Democracy and Human Rights in Multiethnic Societies’ international seminar, July 9 – 13, 2007, Konjic, Bosnia&Herzegovina


Participants are kindly requested to give formal acceptance of this invitation as soon as possible, including your institutional affiliation, city, and country. Working titles are also welcome at this stage. Participants are also encouraged to propose and organize workshops and panels. Any other initiatives on your part are highly appreciated.

A number of grants for travel and accommodation for participants from SEE countries might be available. The organizer is endeavouring to provide necessary funding.

Students, women, members of minority groups, disabled persons, and senior academics are encouraged to participate in the seminar.

More information
Website: http://www.rokkan.uib.no/bihdemocracy/
E-mail: izjd-ko@bih.net.ba


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EGOART – EGOART prize


In 2003 the art group EGOART awarded for the first time the prize EGOART, as a natural alternative to the other prizes in European region. The aim of this prize is to appreciate the projects and the realizations of artworks, performances, happenings or other creation of the widest spectrum from artistic activities. The prize is focused on contemporary art and also has the ambition to encourage projects with unconventional character even if those works would cross the frame of the established ethical, social or sociological rules. The prize is been awarded annually. Any artist is eligible, no conditions have been set.

· Application forms that do not contain a picture of the work will not be accepted. The Egoart Group and the jury will make a selection of entered works, so the number of contestants doesn’t exceed cca75.
· There are no fees or rules for entering our competition and work only on Internet comunication basis.
· To register for the Art Prize you need to visit our site www.egoart.sk, where you can find all instructions how to register.
· By registering for the comtetition you and sending your materials (images) you agree that they can be used on our site and for public presentation of Art Prize.
· You can register only once with the same first name + last name / group name and you can send up to 5 images as the product/project documentation.
We will contact every applicant by e-mail with more information about the dates and places of the realization and the presentation of the project.

More information
Website: www.egoart.sk
E-mail: info@egoart.sk
cenaegoart@yahoo.com


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www.personal.ceu.hu/PolSciJournal


CEU Political Science Journal - Issue V

CEU Political Science Journal is a publication emerged within the academic community of Central European University, Budapest. It is primarily targeted at graduate students from CEU, but valuable contributions from outside are also welcome. The 4th issue approaches the topic of transition viewed from different perspectives and emphasizes ore sub-fields of social sciences: public policy, political economy, gender, international relations.

5th issue - December 2006:
Articles:
Stoycho Stoychev, Types of Ethnic Minority Representation in Central and Eastern Europe
Ana Pejcinova, Post-Modernizing Afghanistan
Claudia Ciobanu, Sociallz Constructed Scarcity on Lake Victoria, Tanzania.
Inna Viriasova, The Problem of Freedom in the Works of Michel Foucault


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http://www.labforculture.org


LabforCulture.org, the new website and community dedicated to European arts and culture, is now live in five languages: English, French, German, Polish and Spanish. LabforCulture.org is calling for everybody involved in the sector - including artists, managers, curators, producers and directors - to visit and make use of this dynamic and comprehensive new resource.

Developed and supported by some of Europe’s leading cultural organisations, LabforCulture.org provides a vast, unprecedented range of cultural information, debate and research. The website also provides a platform for networking and cultural collaboration and exchange, and is now Europe’s largest interactive online cultural community.

Visit to:
• Consult an extensive cultural directory with links to key organisations, networks and databases
• Find out how to get funding for your organisation, project or initiative
• Access a wide selection of online news sources to keep you informed about what’s happening in arts and culture in Europe
• Add your own content, to give better visibility and access to your work
• Join the online cultural community, MyLabforCulture, a place to meet, exchange and collaborate.


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http://lgi.osi.hu/newsletters.php


The Managing Multiethnic Communities Newsletter is an initiative of the Managing Multiethnic Communities Project (MMCP) of the Local Government and Public Service Reform Intiative of the Open Society Insitute, Budapest, Hungary.

The weekly Newsletter contains news, information on upcoming events, competitions, publications and resources, innovative policy initiatives, and research activities relevant to ethnic relations, multicultural politics, conflict prevention in multiethnic communities of Central and Eastern Europe, Southeastern Europe and the Newly Independent States.

The language of communication is English.

Subscribers are encouraged to send information for posting: lgiresearch@osi.hu.


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http://www.minorityrights.org/TrainingManuals/TrainingManual.asp?ID=39


Minority Rights Advocacy in the European Union: A Guide for NGOs in South-East Europe


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Euroregional Center for Democracy

Semenic Nr. 10
300035, Timisoara
Romania

Tel: + 4 0256 221 471
Fax: + 4 0256 436 633

http://www.regionalnet.org

Editor:
Camelia Cocioba

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