January 2008, Issue no 62
http://resource.regional.net
impact@regionalnet.org

1. Funding Opportunities

2. Announcements and Upcoming Events

3. Useful Links

European Commission, Directorate-General, Justice, Freedom and Security - Community Actions of the European Fund for the Integration of the Third-Country Nationals
Application deadline: January 31, 2008


Overall objectives
· Support the efforts made by the Member States in enabling third-country nationals of different economic, social, cultural, religious, linguistic and ethnic backgrounds to fulfill the conditions of residence and to facilitate their integration into European societies.
· Development and implementation of national integration strategies for third-country nationals in all aspects of society in particular taking into account the principle that integration is a two-way dynamic process of mutual accommodation by both immigrants and citizens of Member States.
· Facilitation of the development and implementation of admission procedures relevant to and supportive of the integration process of third-country nationals.
· Development and implementation of the integration process of newly-arrived third-country nationals in Member States.
· Increasing of the capacity of Member States to develop, implement, monitor and evaluate policies and measures for the integration of third-country nationals.
· Exchange of information, best practices and cooperation in and between Member States in developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating policies and measures for the integration of third-country nationals

Financed actions
a. Enhance interaction between third-country nationals and Member State citizens and promote integration measures and best practices targeted at society as a whole
b. Promote integration strategies and measures targeted at different immigrant groups
c. Reinforce the complementary linkage between migration and integration policies

Eligibility
· National, regional and local authorities registered in any of the 26 Member States (27 member states minus Denmark) participating in the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals
· Non Governmental Organisations
· Public or private bodies (including university departments, research centres)
· International organisations, working on a strictly non-profit basis, with proven experience and expertise in the fields covered, taking into account their respective competences
· Actions may include partners and participants from Denmark, candidate countries and other non EU countries, but the cost for their participation may not be covered by the Community contribution and must be financed entirely by non-Community resources
· Proposals must include active partnership in at least five Member States involved in the Integration Fund (the Member State where the applicant is registered counts for the compliance with the minimum number of Member States involved)
· Proposals must be submitted by a legal person, i.e. the coordinator, who carries out the project with at least four other distinct and unrelated legal persons established in different participating Member States.

The indicative total amount available for grants for ‘Community Actions’ in 2007 is 4.243.000 Euro. The amount of grant per project cannot exceed 80,00% of the total eligible costs. Community funding per project will not exceed 500.000 Euro nor be less than 80.000 Euro.

More information
Website:
http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/funding/integration/docs/call_for_proposal_2007/call_proposals_2007_en.pdf
http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/funding/integration/docs/call_for_proposal_2007/guide_2007_en.pdf
http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/funding/integration/funding_integration_en.htm
E-mail: JLS-INTEGRATION-FUND@ec.europa.eu
JLS-ARGO@ec.europa.eu


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Young Policy Institutes Grants - Dorian and Antony Fisher Venture Grants Program
Application Deadline: January 31, 2008


The Atlas Economic Research Foundation will be giving several significant grants of up to $100,000 to promising, young think-tanks. Our Dorian and Antony Fisher Venture Grants Program will be given to institutes that represent ‘great investments’: still at an early stage where a $100,000 grant could be transformative, but already possessing a strong track record for promoting sound public policies.

The grants are made possible by the generosity of the late Dorian Fisher ‘the wife of Antony Fisher, who was instrumental in his founding of Atlas in 1981’ and the many current Atlas donors who are inspired by the Fisher legacy. Dorian and Antony believed that independent think tanks can produce enormous leverage for changing the climate of ideas in a country. They saw that investments in emerging think tanks could be extremely cost-effective, especially when complimented with mentoring to further improve those think tanks_T prospects for long-term success. For this reason, Atlas has created the Dorian and Antony Fisher Venture Grants program, which will provide grantees with funding over a period of three years, during which time Atlas will be in frequent contact to help develop plans and to monitor performance. One part of the grant will be structured as a matching program, providing strong incentive for think tanks to develop a base of local supporters.

Eligibility for 2008 Fisher Venture Grants: As this program focuses on helping think tanks that are no more than eight years old, we will only accept applications from think tanks founded after January 1, 2000. There are no geographic restrictions on who may apply.

Selection Criteria: Fisher Venture grants are given to think tanks that represent ‘great investments' for the future of liberty. That is, they will be given to early-stage institutes that can have an important impact in the climate of ideas (high returns), and that have a demonstrated track record and commitment to good practices (suggesting a tolerable level of risk). Atlas will enlist members of its board of advisors in the selection of winners of Venture Grants. The inaugural class of Fisher Venture Grantees will be introduced at the Atlas Liberty Forum in Atlanta, GA (April 25-27, 2008).

To Apply: Please fill out the short online application form.

Structure of Fisher Venture Grants: $20,000 in year one; up to $30,000 in year two; and up to $50,000 in year three. (To receive full grant, grantees must raise an additional $20,000 and $30,000 from new donors in the second and third years of the grant term).

More information
Website: http://www.atlasusa.org
E-mail: yiqiao.xu@atlasusa.org (Ms Yiqiao Xu)


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European Commission DG Education and Culture - Lifelong Learning, Leonardo da Vinci
Application deadline: February 8, 2008


The Leonardo da Vinci programme addresses the teaching and learning needs of all those in vocational education and training, including placement in enterprise of persons other than students, as well as the institutions and organisations providing or facilitating such education and training. It is part of the new Lifelong Learning programme (2007-2013), which supports projects and activities that foster interchange, cooperation and mobility between education and training systems within the EU.

Specific objectives:
- To support participants in training and further training activities in the acquisition and the use of knowledge, skills and qualifications to facilitate personal development
- To support improvements in quality and innovation in vocational education and training systems, institutions and practices
- To enhance the attractiveness of vocational education and training and mobility for employers and individuals and to facilitate the mobility of working trainees.

Target group:
- People learning in all forms of vocational education and training except at tertiary level
- People in the labour market
- Institutions and organisations providing learning opportunities in the fields covered by the Leonardo da Vinci Programme
- Teachers, trainers and other staff within those institutions or organisations
- Associations and representatives of those involved in vocational education and training, including trainees', parents' and teachers' associations
- Enterprises, social partners and other representatives of working life, including chambers of commerce and other trade organisations
- Bodies providing guidance, counselling and information services relating to any aspect of lifelong learning
- Persons and bodies responsible for systems and policies concerning any aspect of vocational education and training at local, regional and national level
- Research centres and bodies concerned with lifelong learning issues
- Higher education institutions
- Not-for-profit organisations, voluntary bodies, and NGOs

The following actions are supported:
- Mobility of individuals which may include:
- Partnerships focusing on themes of mutual interest to the participating organisations
- Multilateral projects aimed at improving training systems by focusing on
- Thematic networks of experts and organisations working on specific issues related to vocational education and training
- Study and preparatory visits for mobility, partnership, project or network activities
- Accompanying Measures: other initiatives aimed at promoting the objectives of the Leonardo da Vinci Programme.

Participating countries: 27 EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Turkey.

More information
Website: http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/llp/structure/leonardo_en.html
http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/llp/structure/leonardo_en.html


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Aspen Institute Romania - Young Leaders Programme - Call for Nominations
Application deadline: February 11, 2008


Aspen Institute Romania launches the Young Leaders Programme and calls for nominations of talented young Romanians who have the potential and commitment to be leaders in their field.

The objective of the programme is to promote and advance progressive leadership within Romanian society and to create a network of young future leaders based on shared values and common interests.

10-20 young Romanians aged between 25 and 35 will be selected each year to pursue a programme which will develop their understanding of key concepts and values shaping our society, expand their knowledge of the principal challenges facing modern Romania, and provide training in practical leadership skills. The participants will design and implement a group community service which demonstrates both the Aspen values and the leadership qualities of the participants.

The programme will consist of four separate modules over the year, beginning on 1-6 June and concluding in December. The modules are designed to stimulate the intellectual and personal development of the participants. Details of the programme, the selection criteria and the nomination process are available on the website.

Nominations should be made for the 2008 programme by sending a letter of recommendation and a completed nomination form to by e-mail. The letter of recommendation should include a summary of the nominee’s.

More information
Website: www.aspeninstitute.ro
Email: liz.galvez@aspeninstitute.ro (Mrs. Liz Galvez, Executive Director)


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Central European University - Summer University (SUN), Budapest, Hungary
Application deadline: February 14, 2008


Established in 1996, CEU's Summer University 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. Courses involve distinguished international faculty (including CEU professors), and advanced doctoral students, junior or post-doctoral researchers, teachers and professionals as participants.

While application from all over the world is encouraged, continued priority is given to applicants from Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and countries experiencing emerging democracies worldwide. Applicants from these countries, when admitted on merit, will be eligible for scholarship, while those from developed countries will usually be expected to pay fees.

More information
Website: http://www.sun.ceu.hu


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Central European University - ‘Public Management of Urban Change in Transitional Cities’ Summer Course, July 7 - 18, 2008, Budapest, Hungary
Application deadline: February 14, 2008 (for scholarship applicants), May 30, 2008 (for fee-paying applicants)


The course will review the theoretical underpinnings of current urban policy, planning and management practices and provide course participants with a broad range of international case studies and practices that reflect the current state of the discipline. The course's geographical relevance will be broader than Central and Eastern Europe and will help young faculty and practitioners to better understand challenges faced by public policymakers and managers, NGOs and the private sector in rapidly changing urban environments. The dual focus on theory and practice will be particularly useful for participants developing their research agendas.

Course participants will have an opportunity to better understand how traditional governance structures are being challenged as local governments must take on new responsibilities, and consequently must also generate resources and depend on an array of new partnerships with other government agencies, diverse communities within and outside their jurisdictional boundaries, the private sector and civil society. International cases presented during the course will illustrate how traditional hierarchical forms of ‘government’ are giving way to ‘governance’ that is built on a horizontal web of external relations of government. This approach requires a more sophisticated and strategic interplay among market forces, traditional bureaucracies and participatory processes. Given this context, urban programs and their formulation and implementation have become much more complex.

The course will offer a conceptual framework for discussing, distinguishing and evaluating planning methods and practices at the local government level, and help to promote more analytical and critical thinking about the application of various methods and their outcomes. This opportunity will be particularly important to young faculty and advanced doctoral students who are in the early stages of their academic and research careers.

Target group: M.A or M.Sc in a subject related to the topic. 3 years professional experience in academia, local government, or organizations involved in local policies or development.

The language of instruction: English

Tuition fee: 500 Euro. Financial aid is available.

Application forms are encouraged to be submitted through the on-line registration https://online.ceu.hu/sun system. In addition to the completed application form, the following supporting documents are requested to be sent by regular mail:
· CV (with a list of publications if any)
· A Statement of Purpose - In the Statement of Purpose please describe how the course is relevant to your teaching, research or professional work, and in what way you expect to benefit from it. You are advised to consult the detailed course description on the course web page so that the statement of purpose is in accordance with the main objectives of the course.
· Outline or draft of a case study or a teaching block with a topic related to the course topic
· One Letter of Recommendation http://www.sun.ceu.hu/03-application/Rec-Letter-2008.doc.

More information
Website: www.sun.ceu.hu/urban
http://www.sun.ceu.hu/02-courses/course-sites/urban/detailed.php
E-mail: summeru@ceu.hu


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European Commission DG Education and Culture - Europe for Citizens, Active Civil Society for Europe (Action 2)
Application deadline: February 15, 2008


'Active Civil Society for Europe' is part of the 'Europe for Citizens' programme, which aims to bridge the gap between citizens and the EU by providing instruments to promote active European citizenship. Action 2 is targeted at civil society, and in particular to foster action, debate and reflection related to EU citizenship and democracy, shared values, common history and culture through co-operation within civil society organisations at EU level.

It supports civil society organisations and think tanks, as unique links between European citizens and the EU. Civil society organisations at European, national, regional and local levels are important elements of citizens' active participation in society and help to invigorate all aspects of public life. European public policy research organisations have a specific role to play in providing ideas and reflections on European issues, on active European citizenship or on European values and in feeding the debate at European level.

Europe for Citizens has four Actions:
1. Active citizens for Europe (town twinning, citizens' projects and support measures)
2. Active civil society in Europe
3. Together for Europe (high visibility events, studies, surveys and opinion polls, information and dissemination tools)
4. Active European Remembrance (preservation of the main sites and archives associated with the deportations and the commemoration of the victims)

Action 2. Active civil society in Europe has three measures:
Measure 1: Structural support for European public policy research organisations (think-tanks)
This measure is aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity of European public policy research organisations (think tanks), which are able to provide new ideas and reflections on European issues, on active European citizenship or on European values.

Measure 2: Structural support for civil society organisations at European level
This measure will provide civil society organisations of European dimension with the capacity and stability to develop their activities at European level. The purpose is to contribute to the emergence of a structured, coherent and active civil society at European level.

Measures 1 and 2 offer structural support, also referred to as operating grants, to organisations, pursuing an aim of general European interest. Operating grants provide financial support to costs necessary for the proper conduct of the normal and permanent activities of the organisations selected.
In order to enhance long term planning and provide greater financial security for organisations, there is now also the possibility of multi-annual parntership.

Objectives for the call for structural support are:
- Foster action, debate and reflection related to European citizenship and democracy, shared values, common history and culture through cooperation within civil society organisations at European level
- Encourage interaction between citizens and civil society organisations from all participating countries, contributing to intercultural dialogue and bringing to the fore both Europe's diversity and unity.

Themes: Organisations should work around the following themes: future of the EU, active European citizenship, intercultural dialogue, impact of European policies in societies, people's well being in Europe, employment social cohesion and sustainable development.

Measure 3: Support for projects initiated by civil society organisations
The aim of this measure is to support cooperation on concrete projects of civil society organisations from different participating countries. A variety of organisations, established at local, regional, national or European level, can be involved.
These projects should raise awareness on issues of European interest and on concrete solutions that can be found through co-operation and co-ordination at European level. Projects should correspond to at least one of the following features: action, debate, reflection, networking.

Eligible applicants:
- All stakeholders promoting active European citizenship. For example: local authorities and organisations, European public policy research organisations (think-tanks), citizens' groups, civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, trade unions, educational institutions, organisations active in the field of voluntary work, organisations active in the field of amateur sport, etc. Some actions of the Programme are however targeting a more limited range of organisations.
- Be from 27 EU Member States. The programme can also be opened to other countries, according to the agreements signed: EFTA countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; Candidate countries: Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Turkey; Countries from the Western Balkans: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia (incl. Kosovo).

More information
Website: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/citizenship/action2/measure3/call2008_en.htm
E-mail: eacea-p7-civilsociety@ec.europa.eu


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European Commission DG Education and Culture - Lifelong Learning, Jean Monnet programme
Application deadline: February 15, 2008


The Jean Monnet programme supports institutions and activities in the field of European integration. It has the objective to enhance knowledge of the European integration process. It does so by encouraging higher education institutions and/or associations of professors and researchers specialising in European integration to create teaching, research, reflection, information and debate activities on the European integration process. It is part of the new Lifelong Learning programme (2007-2013), which supports projects and activities that foster interchange, cooperation and mobility between education and training systems within the EU.

Priority themes:
- The evolution of the EU (including institutional change, governance and enlargement)
- The EU and the dialogue between peoples and cultures
- The EU in the world: model for peaceful integration and international rule of law
- The EU's visibility in the world
- The EU, globalisation, economic prosperity, growth and social justice, and social cohesion
- The EU, science, energy and sustainable development
- European citizenship, European culture and European history
- The transnational analysis of the European Union's image in the media.

1. Teaching activities
- Jean Monnet Chair: full-time teaching post entirely devoted to European integration, minimum 120 hours teaching hours per academic year.
- 'Ad personam' Jean Monnet Chair: experienced professor with a longterm teaching and research background and/or major organizational achievements in European integration studies, recognized at an international level.
- Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence: pluridisciplinary structure pooling scientific, human and documentary resources for European integration studies and research within one or more universities.
- European Module: short programme of European integration study, minimum 30 teaching hours per academic year, may be pluridisciplinary.

2. Academic and research activities
- Associations of professors and researchers specializing in European integration: associations whose explicit purpose is to contribute to the study of the European integration process and whose aim is to enhance the visibility of regional or national scientific and physical resources in this domain.
- Information and research activities relating to European integration: aims to promote discussion, reflection and knowledge about the European integration process.
- Multilateral research groups: research partnership leading to integrated academic network with a joint research plan and pluridisciplinary synergies in the field of EU studies.

Target Group:
- Higher education institutions within and outside the Community as recognised within their own countries
- Teachers and researchers specialised in the field of European integration studies in all forms of higher education within or outside the Community
- Associations of professors and researchers, institutions and research centres concerned with the study of the European integration process within and outside the Community
- Associations and representatives of those involved in education and training within and outside the Community
- Public and private organisations responsible for the organisation and delivery of education and training at local and regional levels.

More information
Website: http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/ajm/calls/index_en.html


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European Commission – Consolidating Partnership between Civil Society Organizations and Public Authorities for Raising Minority Rights in the Western Balkans - Call for proposals
Application deadline: March 3, 2008


The objectives of the call are to:
· Ensure the wide participation of public and private members of the civil society, to strengthen civil society organisations, i.e. to support civil society dialogue in the Western Balkans and enable civil society organisations to fulfil their role through joint actions in: contributing to a consolidated democracy in the region and participating in the decision making process; encouraging effective intercultural exchanges and ensuring the protection of the rights of persons belonging to a minority in the Western Balkans countries.
· Support partnerships between civil society organisations and build up network with a focus on those which are active in the promotion of the rights of minorities, as well as between these organisations and the public authorities.

The project proposals should fall within one or more of the following priorities:
* To help, develop and implement activities that ensure the participation and representation of ethnic minorities
* To facilitate in country and regional cooperation and partnership between civil society organisations, and between civil society organisations and public authorities, ensuring continued interaction and mutual confidence, joint and coordinated activities
* To raise awareness of civil servants about: the need of equal access and participation of minorities in the democratic process and effective implementation of relevant minority rights legislation and regulations; as well as the expertise gained and examples of best practices provided by civil society organisations
* To create and strengthen regional networks, coalitions, advocacy action groups to maintain effective dialogue and interaction with local government, state institutions in areas of interest for ethnically diverse populations, enhancing a better understanding of the role played by civil society.

The total amount under this call for proposals is EUR 1,950,000.00. Grants will range between EUR 200,000 and EUR 300,000 and the EC will finance between 65% and 80% of the total eligible costs of the action.

The Applicant and the Partners must form a partnership of:
* Applicant: 1 organisation from a Western Balkans country
* Partners: at least 1 organisation from the EU and at least 2 organisations from other Western Balkans countries
* Applicants must be nationals of Albania, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo.

More information
Website: http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/tender/data/d90/AOF80890.doc
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/tender/data/d91/AOF80891.zip


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Implementation of the CIVICUS Civil Society Index - Call for Partner Organizations/ Call for Statements of Interest
Application deadline: March 31, 2008


Civil society is playing an increasingly important role in governance and development around the world. In most countries, however, knowledge about the state and shape of civil society is limited, and there are few opportunities for civil society stakeholders to come together to discuss and reflect on the current state of civil society and the challenges it is facing.

The CIVICUS Civil Society Index (CSI) is a participatory needs assessment and action planning tool for civil society around the world, with the aim of creating a knowledge base and momentum for civil society strengthening initiatives. The CSI is initiated and implemented by, and for, civil society organizations at the country level, and actively involves, and disseminates its findings, to a broad range of stakeholders including: government, donors, academics and the public at large.

The two primary goals of the CSI are: to enhance the strength and sustainability of civil society, and to strengthen civil society’s contribution to positive social change. To achieve these goals, civil society stakeholders make use of participatory and other research methods to create an assessment of the state of civil society. This assessment is then used to collectively set goals and create an agenda for strengthening civil society in the future.

Over the years 2003-2006 the CSI was implemented in 53 countries around the world and is currently being implemented in six additional African countries. Each country produced a final Country Report and the results of the project were published in two volumes by the title of CIVICUS Global Survey of the State of Civil Society, Country Profiles (published in May 2007), and Comparative Perspectives (published in December 2007) by Kumarian Press.

If your organization_Ts work focuses on strengthening civil society in your country and is interested in implementing the CSI, let us know by e-mail. Please note that amongst the selection criteria are a broad-based constituency at the national level as well as experience and background in both advocacy and research. The selection process will end on the 31st of March and future partner organizations will be informed in late April 2008. The project implementation shall start in May 2008 and span over 2008 to part of 2009.

More information
Website: www.civilsocietyindex.org
E-mail: index@civicus.org


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Enabling the Civil Society Sector for Active Contribution in the Pre-accession Process in the Area of Democratisation and Human Rights in Croatia - Call for proposals
Application deadline: March 31, 2008, 10.00 CET


The Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Croatia, Central Finance and Contracting Unit is seeking proposals for the projects that will contribute to successful accession related reform processes and meeting of political criteria for EU membership in the field of democratization and human rights in Croatia with financial assistance from the Phare 2006 programme of the European Communities.

The overall objective of the Programme is to enable participation and active contribution of CSOs’ in developing, implementing and monitoring public policies and Acquis related policies (at all levels) in Croatia and contributing in raising of awareness of the benefits and challenges of EU accession.

The specific objective of this call for proposal is to support CSO projects that contribute to successful accession related reform processes and meeting of political criteria for EU membership in the field of democratization and human rights.

The project proposals should fall within one or more of the following priorities:
• Enhancing local development and citizens’ participation
• Setting up of cross-sectoral partnerships with the aim of enhancing democratisation and human rights processes and practice
• Supporting intra-sectoral cooperation, partnership and networking of CSOs with the aim of strengthening civil society influence and participation in development, implementation and monitoring of public policies related to democratisation and human rights issues.

The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 967.500,00. (This allocation consists of EUR 860.000,00 Phare funds and EUR 107.500,00 contribution of the Government office for cooperation with NGOs). The Contracting Authority reserves the right not to award all available funds.

Any grant awarded under this programme must fall between the following minimum and maximum amounts: minimum amount: EUR 50.000,00, maximum amount: EUR 100.000,00. A grant may not be for less than 50 % of the total eligible costs of the action. In addition, no grant may exceed 90% of the total eligible costs of the action. The balance must be financed from the applicant's or partners' own resources, or from sources other than the European Community budget or the European Development Fund.

More information
Website: http://cfcu.mfin.hr/
http://cfcu.mfin.hr/tenderYYY/PHARE_2006.htm


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Delegation of the European Commission to Bosnia and Herzegovina - European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR)
Application deadline: April 1, 2008, 16:00


The general objectives of the new financing instrument are to contribute to the development and consolidation of democracy and the rule of law, and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, within the framework of the Community’s policy on development cooperation, and economic, financial and technical cooperation with third countries, and consistent with the EU’s foreign policy as a whole. The response strategy under the EIDHR builds on the work being done with and through civil society organisations aimed at defending the fundamental freedoms which form the basis for all democratic processes and helping civil society to become an effective force for political reform and defence of human rights. In this way, it will complement the new generation of geographical programmes, which will increasingly mainstream democracy and human rights, though focusing primarily on public institution! -building.

The 2007-2010 strategy sets out five specific EIDHR objectives:
Objective 1 Enhancing respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in countries and regions where they are most at risk
Objective 2 Strengthening the role of civil society in promoting human rights and democratic reform, in supporting conflict prevention and in consolidating political participation and representation
Objective 3 Supporting actions on human rights and democracy issues in areas covered by EU Guidelines, including on human rights dialogues, on human rights defenders, on the death penalty, on torture, and on children and armed conflict
Objective 4 Supporting and strengthening the international and regional framework for the protection of human rights, justice, the rule of law and the promotion of democracy
Objective 5 Building confidence in and enhancing the reliability and transparency of democratic electoral processes, in particular through election observation.

Country-based support scheme will be covered only under the Objective 2. Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the countries qualified for this scheme under Objective 2. These Guidelines set out the rules for this Objective.

The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 1.195.000. The Contracting Authority reserves the right not to award all available funds. Any grant awarded under this programme must fall between the following minimum and maximum amounts: minimum amount: EUR 30.000, maximum amount: EUR 100.000. A grant may not be for less than 50% of the total eligible costs of the action. In addition, no grant may exceed 80% of the total eligible costs of the action. The balance must be financed from the applicant's or partners' own resources, or from sources other than the European Community budget or the European Development Fund.

More information
Website: http://europa.ba/


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Schuler Helfen Leben - Youth Projects in South-East Europe - Call for proposals


Schuler Helfen Leben (SHL) is a charitable organization which wants to support youth projects in South-East-Europe to contribute to peace, reconciliation and democracy in the whole region step by step. Our current balance: more than 15 million Euros donated and more than a hundred projects in Albania, Croatia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Romania, Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo.

Since 1998 SHL regularly calls on pupils throughout Germany to participate in the Social Day. For one day pupils will not go to school but work and donate their earnings to SHL. In order not to limit the participation of these young people to the one-day-action the selection of projects will be partly put in their hands.

SHL is looking for non-profit organizations, which want to use a part of the Social Day donations for a project implemented on their own. These projects should aim at a direct support of children and young people. We are looking for projects, which follow an inter-ethnic approach and strengthen local organisations. Especially in rural areas we see a particular need for more intensive youth work.

Projects from following countries in South-East Europe can apply: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and UNMIK Kosovo.

More information
E-mail: oliver.kainrad@schueler-helfen-leben.de (Oliver Kainrad)


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Rotary Centers - Rotary World Peace Fellows
Application deadline: July 1, 2008


Rotary Centers provide Rotary World Peace Fellows with the opportunity to pursue a master’s degree in conflict resolution, peace studies, international relations, and related areas. Each year, up to 60 Rotary World Peace
Fellowships are offered on a competitive basis at six Rotary Centers, which operate in partnership with seven leading universities: Duke University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA, International Christian University, Tokyo, Japan, Universidad del Salvador, Buenos Aires, Argentina, University of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, University of California, Berkeley, USA, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.

Coursework at the Rotary Centers focuses on preventing and resolving conflict by addressing its root causes ― for example, responding to hunger with food security, disease with health care, illiteracy with education, poverty with sustainable development, and environmental degradation with conservation. Fellows put classroom lessons into practice through an applied field experience, when they work with a variety of governmental and nongovernmental organizations worldwide.

The fellows are chosen from countries and cultures around the globe based on their potential as leaders in government, business, education, media, and other professional areas.

Interested applicants must apply for Rotary World Peace Fellowships through their local Rotary club. Because application deadlines vary, only your local club can provide specific dates. Scholarship availability varies by district. If your local district is not offering scholarships, you may wish to inquire next year. If your hometown doesn’t have a Rotary club, try entering the names of nearby cities.

Applicants must
· Hold an earned undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university or its international equivalent (based on a four-year curriculum)
· Be proficient in a second language (including the language of the proposed host university)
· Possess excellent leadership skills
· Demonstrate a commitment to peace and international understanding through service, academic, or professional achievements
· Have a minimum of three yeasr combined paid or unpaid full-time work experience in relevant field
· Be a citizen of a country where there is a Rotary club.

Applicants must apply through a Rotary club in the area of their legal or permanent residence or place of full-time study or employment. People with disabilities and members of Rotaract clubs are eligible and encouraged to apply.

More information
Website: http://www.rotary.org


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Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation - Civic Participation, Cross-border Initiatives and East-East Co-operation
Application deadline: December 31, 2008 (rolling basis)


The Black Sea Trust operates with a small, skilled staff with extensive experience in the region. BST grantmaking is overseen by an Advisory Board with representatives from every BST-supported country, as well as from the BST founding partners (Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and USAID). BST grantmaking committee is composed of German Marshall Fund and BST staff members, and BST founding partners. An extensive network of proposal reviewers made up of partner donors and local experts further guide BST grantmaking review and ensure coordination.

The Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation is inviting proposals from organizations and institutions in the countries of the Wider Black Sea Region on the Trust_Ts three programs: civic participation, cross-border initiatives and east-east cooperation. Through its grantmaking, BST supports a wide range of innovative and creative forms of citizen participation, cross-border initiatives and east-east cooperation. Preference will be given to those proposals designed to increase citizen engagement with government; have an impact on public policy; strengthen leadership skills of individuals and organizations; facilitate cross-border and/or cross-sector cooperation; and allow for the transfer of experience and innovative ideas through a clear communication and dissemination plan.

Who is eligible: Non-governmental organizations, governmental entities, community groups, policy institutes, other associations legally registered in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Turkey, Ukraine and Russia (the oblasts of Krasnodar and Rostov). The projects have to be implemented in one or more of the countries mentioned.

Individuals and political parties may not apply. Non-indigenous organizations may not apply. Cooperative projects between indigenous and non-indigenous organizations are considered under East-East Cooperation component, yet non-indigenous administrative costs will not receive BST support. The Black Sea Trust does not support scholarly research, academic fellowships and scholarships, one-off events, humanitarian aid, refugee or IDP return, religious activities, the arts or sciences. BST only supports travel and website creation/maintenance as components of larger activities.

How to apply: BST grants generally range from $5,000 and $75,000, with most grants falling between $15,000 and $25,000. BST can support exceptional multi-year projects, renewable on an annual basis contingent upon satisfactory interim reports and performance.

There are no application deadlines. Project proposals are accepted on a rolling basis and grant decisions are made monthly. Final approval will be made by a grantmaking committee or, if over $25,000, by the German Marshall Fund's Board of Trustees.

Applicants must complete the following two forms in English only: Application Form and Budget Form. All inquiries will be acknowledged by email within two weeks of receipt. Final decisions are typically announced within 10 weeks of application.

More information:
Website: http://www.gmfus.org/about/office.cfm?city=bucharest (for Romania)
E-mail: BlackSeaTrust@gmfus.org (Subject line should include: the word 'PROPOSAL', the name of your organization, and the country in which your organization is located)
ainayeh@gmfus.org (Alina Inayeh, Director BST Bucharest)


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‘Foresight and Research Priorities Setting in South Eastern Europe with Special Consideration of Climate Change’ Training Seminar, March 6 – 7, 2008, Bled, Slovenia - Call for Applications
Application deadline: January 31, 2008, 12.00 CET


Organisers of the IX. Bled Forum: Bled Forum on Europe Research Association (http://www.bled-forum.org), Slovenian Research Agency (http://www.arrs.gov.si/en), Austrian Science and Research Liaison Office (ASO) Ljubljana and Sofia (http://www.aso.zsi.at), UN Global Compact Slovenia.

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

Participants of the training seminar will also have the opportunity to participate in the IX. Bled Forum on Europe conference on ‘Foresight and knowledge based governance responses to Climate Change’. The conference will take place on March 7 (beginning at 14:00) and Saturday March 8th 2008 (till 14:00).

The participants in the Seminar will receive basic and practical knowledge on:
- What is Foresight?
- How can foresight results be taken up by STI policy makers and practitioners especially with regard to research priorities setting?
- How can Climate Change issues be addressed in foresight exercises and respective research priorities setting activities?

The organisers intend to cover - with financial support of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science and Research - 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 for the participation at the foresight conference and at the training seminar. A limited number of applications for participation of candidates from non-SEE countries (especially applications from Austria and ASO countries Slovenia and Bulgaria are encouraged) will be considered, too but with limited support to travel and accommodation costs.

If you would like to participate BF 2008 SEE Foresight training seminar you are kindly requested to fill in the Registration/Grant Application Form available on internet and send it by e-mail.

More information
Website: www.bled-forum.org
www.aso.zsi.at
E-mail: aso-ljubljana@zsi.at (Mr. Gorazd Weiss – for training seminar)
blaz.golob@arrs.si (Mr. Blaz Golob – for conference)
polzer@zsi.at (Mr. Miroslav Polzer)


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Analytical - ‘The Western Balkans - part of the EU?’ - Call for papers
Application deadline: January 31, 2008


Analytical is an electronic journal published by Analytica, which is focused on studying and analyzing the recent and ongoing socio-political and economic developments in the Western Balkans and the wider region. The journal includes contributions - articles, opinions, comments - that approach the subject area - countries of the Western Balkans - from various perspectives: political, IR, economic, historical, sociological, educational, etc.

Analytical now accepts submissions for the first issue. The topic of the first issue is ‘The Western Balkans - part of the EU?’

The contributions to the first issue are expected to address the subject of prospective EU membership of the Western Balkan states, as well as the EU experiences of Romania and Bulgaria that joined the EU in the last round of EU enlargement. Contributions could address the various aspects of EU accession efforts of the Western Balkan countries including but not limited to: political efforts to fulfill Copenhagen criteria and SAP requirements, public perceptions, public discourse and popular culture, efforts for economic integration and regional cooperation, foreign investments in the area, migration issues and migration policies, historical perspectives of European integration, etc.

The papers should be original and not previously published. Format: MS Word Document. Papers should be written in APA style (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/APA_style). Times New Roman. Font size: 12. Line spacing: 1,5. No indentation. Standard MS Word margins. Limited to 2000 - 5000 words.

More information
Website: http://www.analyticamk.org/
E-mail: journal@analyticamk.org


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‘Transatlantic Dialogues. Eastern Europe, The U.S. and Post-Cold War Cultural Spaces’ Workshop, May 24, 2008, Bucharest, Romania - Call for Papers
Application deadline: January 31, 2008


This Workshop is organized within the framework of the Fifth International Conference of the Romanian Association for American Studies, ‘The Sense of America. Histories into Text’.

The workshop focuses on the topical issue of transatlantic relations in the post-Cold War period and specifically addresses the question of transatlantic exchanges, representations and misrepresentations that characterize this age of transition and upheaval. Post-communism, itself a highly volatile term, has come to signify a cluster of historical, social, cultural, economic discourses about change in Eastern Europe. While Cold War mythology was largely responsible for drawing up a vision of a highly polarized world, the post-Cold War configuration is still undergoing a process of negotiation to account for new structures of organization that cut across fields as diverse as culture, literature, education, politics, social life, economics.

The organisers welcome approaches dealing with the multiple binds of post-Cold War configurations from a variety of disciplinary and inter-disciplinary perspectives including literature, history, political science, sociology, economy, visual arts, media and film studies, popular culture. Papers
may address themes such as those below:
· Converging discourses: post-communism, post-colonialism, post-modernism
· The post-communist transition and the renegotiation of Eastern European identity
· The postmodern ethos and post-Cold War cultural/social dynamics
· Eastern European predicaments and models for the future
· The ‘end of history’ in transatlantic perspective
· Transatlantic relations in the age of globalization
· U.S. cultures in Eastern European contexts
· Exporting Eastern Europe to the USA: techniques of representation and dissemination
· Post-Cold War U.S. literary and media discourses about Eastern Europe.

The organizers are inviting proposals for 20 minute papers on these and other themes related to the topic of the workshop. 300-word abstracts should be submitted by e-mail. A selection of papers will be published in the workshop proceedings.

More information
E-mail: transatlanticdialogues@gmail.com (prof. dr. Rodica Mihaila, Dr. Roxana Oltean or Ioana Luca)


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United Nations Association of Serbia – Belgrade International Model United Nations BIMUN, March 27 – 30, 2008, Belgrade, Serbia
Application deadline: January 31, 2008


Participants at the BIMUN are social science students from all over the world. BIMUN gives students a possibility to learn more about current international issues and ways to resolve them within the UN system, to apply basic diplomatic curtesy and also contribudes to development of their personal skills (public speaking, nagotiations, debating and compromise). 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. ‘BIMUN 2008’ will be an opportunity for new experiences, diplomatic debates and young leaders networking. The working language of the conference will be English.

'Belgrade International Model UN - BIMUN 2008’ 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 UN- Revitalization of General Assembly’, Human Rights Council – ‘The Rights of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons in the Western Balkans’, UNESCO World Heritage Committee - ’Protection of the World Heritage and Sustainable Development’, BIMUN Plenary Forum – ‘Global Action regarding Climate Changes’.

Eligible to take part in this event are social science students and postgraduates up to 29 years of age, fluent in English. Also, one has to send filled in application form and a motivation letter, up to 250 words. Best
participants will get a financial award and a chance to participate in BIMUN Plus Project.

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


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Tischner European University – ‘European Union Policies in the Making’ International Conference, April 18 – 19, 2008, Krakow, Poland - Call for Papers
Application deadline: February 4, 2008


Apart of its institutional setting (the Reforming Treaty), today we can observe significant developments in five key areas of the European Union. Those are the following policies: Common Foreign and Security Policy, European Security and Defense Policy, Energy and climate protection, Transport, Lisbon strategy.

The CFSP seems to be progressing better than before, drawing lessons from past experiences since the Maastricht treaty and improvements of Amsterdam treaty. Similarly, the ESDP is evolving fast, with the Member States learning to cooperate within new structures and contributing to peacekeeping and/or peacemaking missions. Energy policy combined with efforts to manage the climate change amounts now to a major challenge for both the EU as a whole and its member states in what they attempt to achieve: a single market for energy, secure in supply and responding to climate change. The transport sector, in
turn, provides examples of success (air) and clear lack of it (railroads). The implementation of the Lisbon Strategy appears even more tricky. Here, the instruments are soft, cooperation is difficult and results are systematically criticised.

The conference ‘European Union Policies in Making’ aims at summarising recent and current efforts of the EU to build up or strengthen up its policies in those five important fields. The objective of our conference is to provide an opportunity to have a closer look at internal developments in all five policies. With this in mind, the Tischner European University invites scholars, practitioners and PhD students to submit paper abstracts within one or more of the five areas mentioned above.

For its analytical framework, the conference takes the ‘EU as a political system’ approach. Therefore, both separate analyses of respective policies as well as their comparisons are welcome. Papers presented should deal with institutions' and other actors' (businesses, NGOs, etc.) strategies, resulting regulatory regimes and wider consequences for both the sectors tackled and the current course of integration efforts. Authors might draw larger conclusions as to the dynamics of sectoral integration, appropriateness of tools used and intersectoral similarities as is the case of network-based economies and approaches, for example.

All those interested in presenting a paper during the conference should fill in an application form on the website and send it via website together with an abstract of maximum 1800 characters with spaces. The results of selection proceedings will be announced by 18.02.2008. The authors of abstracts selected will be requested to provide the final version of their papers by 31.03.2008. All papers presented during the conference will be published in the conference proceedings.

The working language of the conference will be English. The abstracts and papers are also expected to be delivered in English.

There is no participation fee in this conference. Lodging and board during the conference will be provided by the organisers. Other expenses, including travel costs, have to be paid by the participants.

The Conference ‘European Union Policies in the Making’ is an element of a larger project under the same title, funded by the Jean Monnet program, within the framework of the Lifelong Learning Program of the
European Union.

More information
Website: www.eup.wse.krakow.pl
E-mail: pkugiel@wse.krakow.pl (Mr Patryk Kugiel)


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Nebula 4.4 - Call For Papers Issue 15
Application deadline: March 15, 2008


We encourage submission of academic articles from any discipline, covering any subject or topic, provided that the language used is non-specialist and appeals to a wide audience. Unlike many academic publications, Nebula is not limited to a specific school, faculty, or subject. We are also interested in providing an alternative view to mainstream cultural and political ideologies. As such, we encourage non-fiction, intellectual writing, that does not follow the generic conventions of academic writing but which demonstrates substantial sophistication and which may be of interest to a broad audience. We encourage contributors to offer their political readings of a particular social/political or military crisis current in the world. We are particularly interested in writings that may be deemed marginal or seem to be against the grain of mainstream ideologies. Our project is to ensure the publication of writin! g of high calibre that may be rejected by conservative institutions. Nebula also accepts ‘free writing’ that is not politically motivated, but which may be attuned to various other cultural, social or artistic concerns (including television, film, media or music studies). Nebula also accepts creative work in any form which can be displayed on the world wide web. Poetry, graphics, cartoons, short stories are all welcome for consideration.

All claims within articles or reviews must be evidenced. We will not accept hoax or poorly researched material. We are very intolerant of plagiarism. All submissions must be accompanied by a short letter to the editors which will include some autobiographical information and any institutional affiliations (or brief CV). Please make all attachments in .doc wherever possible. Articles and reviews are not limited to any particular referencing style but MUST be consistent throughout each submission. Only the most original, well- presented and well thought-out pieces will be considered for publication.

More information
Website: http://www.nobleworld.biz
E-mail: nebula@nobleworld.biz
editors@nobleworld.biz


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spacesofidentity.net – ‘Digitizing Central Europe: Alternative Media and Spaces of Identity’ - Call for Papers
Application deadline: March 15, 2008


A multidisciplinary international web-journal dedicated to issues of tradition, cultural boundaries and identity formation in Central and Eastern Europe.

In the post-Soviet and new-EU member-state imaginaries of contemporary Central Europe, digital media and technologies such as weblogs, internet-based social networking, text messaging, internet radio etc. have played a significant role in mediating and re-signifying public spheres and constructing public homes that negotiate, and often express an ambivalent relationship with, national, supra-national, urban and global spaces of identity. While often inviting participatory forms of engagement with public issues and blurring the boundaries between civic, journalistic and academic engagement, the complex, opaque and skill-demanding new mediascape of blogging, Web 2.0 and flash mobs has also opened up a ‘digital divide’ based not only on affluence but also on age, gender and language. This asynchronicity of participation has produced nationalist and populist backlashes to global and transnational imaginaries, sometimes supported by the more traditional media of radio! broadcasts, (national) television and the popular press.

The special issue of spacesofidentity.net invites contributions that explore how contemporary media cultures in Central Europe harness the normalizing and subversive potential of electronic media for critique and identity formation. Topics and case studies could include, but are not limited to:
· The impact of digital media on civic engagement, academic and journalistic writing
· Diasporic communities and media cultures
· Metroblogging, communities of proximity, and urban culture
· Flash mobs and cultures of resistance
· YouTube, documentary, and protest
· Comments, web polls and populism
· Social networking, poking and popularity
· Global Internet English, national languages, and identity formation
· Cyrillics, diacritics and power

Contributors are encouraged to keep their submissions to less than 10,000 words. Submissions should not have been previously published in English. All submissions should be accompanied by a 100-word abstract and a brief biographical note including institutional affiliation. References should be given as in-text quotations in parentheses according to MLA style. Full references should be formatted in MLA style and placed at the end of the document after the endnotes, in alphabetical order. Please make sure that
any information on your authorship is deleted from the submisson file (including the user info in Word and Acrobat). spacesofidentity.net is using a double-blind reviewing system, meaning that the identities of both authors and reviewers will be concealed from each other. We ask all authors to provide the contact details (including e-mail addresses) of at least two potential peer reviewers for their manuscript. These should be experts in their field of study, who will be able to provide an objective assessment of the manuscript. Any suggested peer reviewers should not have published with any of the authors of the manuscript within the past five years and should not be members of the same research institution. Members of the Editorial Board of the journal can be nominated. Suggested reviewers will be considered alongside potential reviewers identified. Please send your submissions by e-mail or submit them via the web interface.

More information
E-mail: editors@spacesofidentity.net


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International Essay Competition 2008
Application deadline: March 23, 2008


Shaping the City of Your Dreams
In 2007, for the first time in human history, the majority of people in the world, particularly in developing countries, will be living in urban areas. Life in the city is often associated with more opportunities, better access to employment, education, health and other services. Cities are often called engines of economic growth, contributing disproportionately to the national gross domestic product (GDP). They are also centers of innovation, entrepreneurship and investment. But many cities also have a large part of their population living in slums, without essential services such as water, sanitation and energy, and threatened by environmental hazards, violence and social exclusion. As more and more people move from the countryside to the city, and as city populations grow, there is a growing need for solutions to the issues of urban poverty, environment, and urban infrastructure (housing, roads, water, energy etc.).

What can you do to shape the city of your dreams?
Please answer all three questions below:
1) Think about the city you live in. What are the biggest opportunities and challenges for people living there?
2) What needs to be done to transform your city into the city of your dreams?
3) What could be your role, working together with your peers, in shaping the city of your dreams? Please focus on one or two points you mentioned in question 2).

You may use some of the points below to structure your answer:
· If you have been personally involved in concrete initiatives, write specifically about your experience: Who have you worked with? Who have you helped? What have you accomplished? In what way would you consider this work to be innovative? How have you measured the results of your work?
· Looking ahead: How would you expand or improve the impact of your work? How can other youth replicate your experience?
· If you don’t have practical experience, write specifically about your ideas: How would you work with your peers to shape the city of your dreams?

The International Essay Competition is open to all young people, students and non-students alike, between the ages of 18 and 25 (born between 1983 - 1990). Essays should be submitted by individuals.

Your essay may not be longer than 10 pages (4000 words maximum), 1.5 line-spaced. You are required to provide an abstract of no more than one page. An abstract is a short summary in which you explain the aim, the methodology, the reasoning and the main conclusions of your paper. The abstract will be used by the jury to make a pre-selection. You may submit your paper and abstract in English, French, Spanish, Arabic or Portuguese. The submission process for the Essay Competition is entirely Internet-based. Essays submitted by email or post will not be accepted.

More information
Website: http://www.essaycompetition.org
E-mail: info@essaycompetition.org


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Eurasian File ‘The Balkans’ and ‘Turkish Foreign Policy’ - Call for Papers
Application deadline: March 30, 2008 / May 30, 2008


‘The Balkans’ Special Edition (Volume 14/ No. 1)
Possible headings: The Status of Kosova and its Regional/Global Impacts, The Problems of Dayton's Bosnia and the Future of Bosnia, The Future of the Peace Process in Macedonia, The EU's Vision Regarding the Future of the Balkans, The Expectations of Balkan Countries from EU Membership, A Comparison of US/ Russian Balkan Politics, The Perception of Turkey in the Balkans, The Roles the EU and NATO Should Assume to Control of the Sources of Tension in the Balkans, The Pre-Conditions for Effective Regional Cooperation in the Balkans, Lessons to be Learned from Former Initiatives and CEFTA 2006, Organized Crime in the Balkans.
The journal will be published in June 2008.

’Turkish Foreign Policy Special Edition (Volume 14/ No.2)
Possible headings: The Fundamental Dynamics of Turkish Foreign Policy (TFP), Decision-Making Processes and Mechanisms in TFP, TFP and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Military, TFP, the Media and Think-Tanks, TFP, Crisis Management and Diplomacy, TFP and Economy, Searches for Alternative Directions for TFP, TFP and Ethnic Lobbies.
The publishing date is December 2008.

The articles to be sent to the Eurasian File should be in Microsoft Word format, typed in Times New Roman, 12pt. The articles should not be shorter than 4500 words nor longer than 10000 words. Book reviews should be between 1500-2500 words. (The footnotes and references sections are not included in the word count). The articles should be sent with summaries, not exceeding 200 words, added to the first page of the article along with Heading, and Key Words. The authors should provide their names, titles, place of duty and e-mails. The graphics or visual material desired to be used in articles should be of high resolution quality. It should be kept in mind that the as journal is published in black and white so graphics should be chosen accordingly. The journal contains articles both in Turkish and English. References should be notified with endnotes and at the end of the text, under the title of ‘References’, the full identification of references should be provided ! in an alphabetical order according to the surnames of the authors. The completion of the missing sections in footnotes and references is the most energy and time consuming act in the period towards publishing.

One month (the most) from the date of publishing, an authors fee of 300$ (for those authors submitting their articles from abroad-and 400 New Turkish Liras from Turkey) is paid to the authors whose articles have been published in the Eurasian file along with 3 copies of the related edition.

More information
Website: http://www.asam.org.tr
E-mail: editor@asam.org.tr


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Development Youth Prize
Application deadline: March 31, 2008


The Development Youth Prize is open to schools in the 27 member states of the European Union. Pupils must be aged between 16 and 18 (inclusive) at the time of the deadline. All entries must be associated with a school. There is a limit of one entry per pupil.

All contributions must include two parts: a short message and an artwork in the form of a poster or a multimedia presentation. The focus for the 2007 competition is Africa - Sustainable Development. There are three themes for entries: Climate Change, Water and Energy and Sustainable Tourism. Pupils can choose one or combine them.

School details and the message must be entered using the form on this website. Entries can either be sent digitally using the same form, or sent by post to the European Schoolnet office in Brussels. Please post entries at least 2-3 weeks before the deadline to be sure it will arrive in Brussels before the deadline. No exceptions can be made for entries that arrive late.

The message
The message should accompany the artwork, e.g. a caption for a poster. It can be written in any of the 23 official EU languages. If the message is not in English, French or German, a translation into one of these languages must also be provided. The message must not be longer than 100 characters in either language version. The message must be submitted via the entry form on this website. It can also be included in the artwork.

The artwork
Entries can be in the form of a multimedia presentation or a poster.

· Multimedia presentation
A multimedia presentation is a set of connected digital images that are linked and combined with text. Any kind of visual expression can be chosen such as photos, paintings, drawings etc. Use of audio is possible, but not digital video. The following file types are accepted: Flash (SWF), PowerPoint (PPT), and MP3. Contributions must not exceed 15 MB.

· Poster
A poster must be a combination of visual expression and a short and clear message. The visual part can be a drawing, painting, collage etc. The written message can be included in the poster or considered separately. The maximum size of posters allowed in this competition is A3. If submitted online, maximum file size is 5 MB. Accepted file types are JPG, GIF and PDF.

More information
Website: http://www.dyp2007.org/ww/en/pub/dyp2007/homepage.htm
E-mail: sylvia.binger@eun.org (Sylvia Binger)


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'Performing Biographies: Memory and the Art of Interpretation' Conference, December 12 – 14, 2008, Cracow, Poland
Application deadline: April 1, 2008


Organized by the Research Network 3 of the European Sociological Association Biographical Perspectives on European Societies in cooperation with the Institute of Audiovisual Arts of the Jagiellonski University Cracow and Pauza Foundation for Promotion and Development of Contemporary Art.

This interdisciplinary Conference aims to explore and analyze systematically a wide range of biographical perspectives through story telling, performance and different kinds of visual art like film, video, photography, digital media etc. It is addressed to researchers who are willing to discuss and discover new fields and not take answers for granted. We hope it to be an open forum for discussion and networking in the context of each others company.

The conference has 3 main panels:
Panel 1: Performing biographies
The sessions and workshops of this panel will address the rise and implications of the idea of performance in social science and its applicability to the study of individual lives. The notion of performance is widening social science approaches to the study of individual life to include not only the traditional use of text from the transcribed oral account, but modes of expression and representation from the various arts (drama, music, dance, poetry, etc.) and visual technologies, including use of the web and multi-media. The aim of the panel is to show something of the range and scope of these approaches for an understanding of the individual as an acting, feeling and relational being.
Main themes: the nature of performance and performing biographies; artistic expression and everyday identities; performance as research; performing gender; the expression of individual biography in text, digital media, visual and sound.
Chair of the panel: Prof. Brian Roberts (University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, UK) broberts@glam.ac.uk

Panel 2: The art of interpretation
The sessions and workshops of this panel will focus upon methodological issues, themes and perspectives. A key focus will be the creative process involved in conducting biographical research using a wide range of visual methods. It will also explore how we come to understand and interpret systematically the artistic
and visual materials produced and performed in biographical frame.
Main Themes: using visual methodologies in biographical research; interpretation as art; visual hermeneutics; performance analysis; including analysis of film, video, photo, and digital storytelling into biographical studies.
Chair of the panel: Thea Boldt (Georg-August-University, Goettingen, Germany) TheaBoldt@gmx.de

Panel 3: Memory and biographical memorizing
The panel would be mainly devoted to the problem of individual memory and the process of memorizing in different social contexts. The key point for discussion here is the dilemma between telling today and being in the past: how do people move between Past and Present; what is the process of selection from the Past; how could we stimulate the memorizing process (place memory, visual memory, collective story), images of collective memory in personal biographies. Another aspect to discuss here will be how changing social context (for example, in the situation of migration) can influence the process of memorizing and memory selection; what could be the interplay between public historical discourse and individual memory. The most important point here is how to interpret such past-present interplay and use it to research firsthand data. As memory is a communicative activity it is interesting to examine the mutual relation between collective and biographical memory as a framing pro! cess of biographical work on individual as well as collective identity formations.
Main themes: Memory and post-soviet biographies; body memory and Shoa; theory and interpretation of social and cultural memory; collective biographical memory and identity.
Chair of the panel: Prof. Victoria Semenova (Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia) victoria-sem@yandex.ru

The Language of the Conference will be English.

The discussions, workshops and performances within the realms of social science research will be accompanied by an exhibition of biographical performance and art organized by the Pauza Foundation. The participants in the conference are welcome to take part in the exhibition. Please see www.pauza.pl or contact Karolina Harazim, the Chair of the Pauza Foundation for details: k.harazim@fundacjapauza.pl.

More information
E-mail: TheaBoldt@gmx.de (Thea Boldt)


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4th Kosovar and Regional Student Conference about Social Issues, May 9 - 10, 2008, Prishtina, Kosova
Application deadline: April 4, 2008


The conference gathers youth from around Kosova to discuss important social issues facing Kosova. Ultimately, the 3rd Kosovar and Regional Student Conference about Social issues aims to bring students from different ethnicities together in the effort to:
· Provide an opportunity for the youth to present scientific studies in a professional manner.
· Create an environment in which the professional exchange of student ideas can occur.
· Create an environment in which youth can engage in discussions and debate about issues important to the region.
· Generate new ideas and offer potential solutions to social issues.
· Encourage youth to be active participants in society.
· Build ‘cooperative bridges’ among young people from different municipalities and ethnic groups.
· Inform public opinion about issues facing youth and the need to solve these problems.

ASK cordially invites students from high schools throughout the region (Kosovo, Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania) to participate in this conference. It is our hope that students regardless of their ethnic, religious, or cultural background will gather together and create an environment in which participants of the conference can exchange views about issues facing society in the spirit of respect and cooperation.

Students research any social issue they believe is both relevant and pertinent to their society or the region. After choosing a topic of research, each student/group of students must then write an original, well-researched and well-argued research paper examining their chosen issue. The final reports will then be submitted and reviewed by a panel of experts. The panel of experts will select the best reports. These reports will then be presented at the Conference. The selected students will present in the format of a 15 minute presentation. Following each presentation 15 minutes will be allotted for questions, answers and debate. During each presentation there will be simultaneous translation in English and Albanian. At the end of the conference, students who participated will receive a Certificate of Excellence. Those who submitted reports but were not asked to present will receive a Certificate of Appreciation.

The Conference will be held in Prishtina, Kosova, at the American School of Kosova. Participants from municipalities or countries other than Prishtina will be accommodated in the ASK dormitories free of charge. ASK will cover both transportation (by bus) and accommodation expenses necessary for the participants.

The official language of the conference is English. Kosovar students may submit reports in English or Albanian. Students residing in countries outside of Kosovo must submit reports in English. We will provide simultaneous translation from the local language into English and vice versa.

Reports should be original and authentic. Each report must be submitted as a hard copy together with a copy of the report on CD. Reports must be submitted at the American School of Kosova in Prishtina. A maximum of three people in each group. Those selected for presentation at the conference will be notified on April 30, 2008.

More information
Website: www.ask-conference.org
E-mail: conference@ask-conference.org


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The Journal of Power Institutions in Post-Soviet Societies no 9, December 2008 - ‘Relations between Russian & Post-Soviet NGOs and the Power Ministries’ - Call for Contributors
Application deadline: June 15, 2008


Pipss.org is a new electronic journal of social sciences devoted to the armed forces and power institutions of post-Soviet societies. Pipss.org is a multi-disciplinary journal, which addresses issues across a broad field of disciplines including sociology, anthropology, political science, psychology, economics, history, legal science. Its main objective is to study changes and their underlying mechanisms in post-Soviet republics, through the analysis of the institutions that remain most hidden from the public eye: armies and power institutions. As an electronic journal, pipss.org also aims to promote scholarly debate across as broad an audience as possible, and make CIS research available to Western scholars. Thanks to its international scientific board drawn from a large pool of leading academics and experts in their respective fields, it is in a position to become a leading source of analysis on post-Sov! iet societies. Pipss.org is a principal partner of the International Security Network (www.isn.ethz.ch) and a member of the CNRS/EHESS scientific journals network Revues.org.

The aim of this issue is to shed new light on the relations between Russian & Post-Soviet NGOs and what are known as the ‘power ministries’ – the Defence and Interior Ministries, the Ministry of Justice, etc. - in areas such as justice (prisons, prisoners, judiciary reform, etc), the police (police brutality, etc.), the army (violence, veterans and post-military service care, etc.) border checks (immigration, etc.) and others.

During the Soviet era there were no independent associations and the only independent reports concerning the power ministries came from dissidents, victims of their strategies. After the fall of the USSR, two concomitant changes occurred: the power administrations opened onto society, claiming ‘civil control’ of the army, for example, (a theme very popular at the end of the 1980s), and many independent associations wishing to work in cooperation with the power ministries were created. Today, 20 years after Perestroika, what has become of these relations? How have they evolved? Our main interest is the empirical analysis of the actual content of the work of these associations, but also the interactions themselves between the NGOs and the power ministries. These are two themes we would like to explore in this issue.

Another subject of interest will be the NGOs that were to varying degrees ‘encouraged’ to be set up and whose work can thus be ‘oriented’ by the administrations themselves, in particular by reactivating the notion of ‘civil control’ over the army or the police, for example, but also more generally over matters concerning human rights.

Pipss.org therefore requests researchers in the social sciences to submit articles and in-depth interviews of NGO members, as well as their partners in the power ministries (members of various administrations: heads of police, prison directors, for example), in particular concerning the work they do in common and on their attitude towards this cooperation. The editor of this issue would be particularly interested in a comparison between the work of NGOs in the big cities and those in provincial cities (for example, a comparison of Moscow/St. Petersburg NGOs with provincial ones such as in Nizhni-Novgorod, Ekaterinburg, etc.) - in the sense that in theory, smaller associations have less latitude and lesser means than large ones. The editor would very much appreciate an introductory article on NGOs' work in Russia in general.

Articles and interviews can cover the following subjects (among others): The question of NGO access to power ministries, Relations of NGOs with the administration: the nature of their ties / rethinking these ties, Analysis of NGO discourse concerning their role, Transnational links, Reasons behind power ministries' cooperation with NGOs, Institutional forms of cooperation with the power ministries.

The journal will be published in four languages (French, English, Russian, and German with a 100-word abstract in English) thanks to which most authors will be able to write in their mother tongue. This will ensure greater precision in the articles and avoid a decrease in scientific quality. But we draw your attention to the fact that most pipss.org readers are essentially English speakers, therefore we do encourage articles in English in order to reach an audience as broad as possible.

The articles submitted to pipss.org for publication should be original contributions and should not be under consideration for any other publication at the same time. Manuscripts should be attached as Microsoft Word format. References should be given in footnotes. There should be a cover page stating the author's background and affiliation, full address. If you wish to submit an article, please first contact the editorial board and send a 100-word abstract in English.

More information
Website: www.pipss.org
E-mail: contact@pipss.org (Elisabeth Sieca-Kozlowski, Chief Editor)


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EuroEd – FACE IT! Project


The European project FACE IT! offers training opportunities and materials for the provision of Family Learning programs aiming to promote and develop Active Citizenship and Participatory Democracy. The training courses and tools are for community based tutors and practitioners, as well as professionals involved in informal education. The training program focuses on increasing skills and knowledge in the areas of Family Learning, Active Citizenship and Participatory Democracy.

The FACE IT! training program includes both international and national training events in Ireland, France, Romania, as well as UK and Italy. Also, the FACE IT! International Conference in Iasi, Romania, at the end of June 2008 will pool experience and expertise from all around Europe and provide further training to participants.

More information
Website: http://www.faceitproject.org
http://www.faceitproject.org/family_learning.htm
http://www.faceitproject.org/active_citizenship.htm
E-mail: info@faceitproject.org (Anca Colibaba, project coordinator)


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http://nextmile.eu/consultancybank.php


The Consultancy Bank is aimed at providing support for Bulgarian and Romanian NGOs and their networks in the fields of:
- Participation in the European Civil Society processes
- Improvement of institutional capacity of soacial NGOs and their networks
- Design of new service provision methods for vulnerable groups (in the context of network co-operation)
- Enabling direct contact between experts and organisations

This is an online database and automatic registration system. After login and entering the Members Only Area (MOA) you can access the Consultancy Bank experts or become one of them by filling in the short online CV form.


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http://www.impreuna.arts.ro/


The Impreuna Network Romania

The Community Arts Network aims to bring together both practitioners and beneficiaries who are involved in Community Arts for people with special needs. The website is intended to be a useful tool to help the network develop and bring the best care possible to those who are all too often in the lowest margins of society.

The network consists of over 700 members from Romania and abroad, professionals working in various fields: educators, psychologists, carerers, doctors, nurses, teachers specialized for children with special needs, but also parents of the children with special needs, all of whom use combined arts techniques in their everyday life and activity. The common goal of all these people is to improve the life of their beneficiaries. This fields started to develop in Romania ever since 1990, when specialists from abroad working with Romanian professionals started to explore the possibilities of using arts as an answer to the various needs of people with special needs within the Romanian institutions.


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http://www.suedost-institut.de/


New site for the Institute for South-Eastern European Studies (Suedost-Institut) within the framework of the Scientific Centre for East- and South-Eastern Europe in Regensburg (Germany)

On January 10th 2008 the new library of the Scientific Centre for East- and South-Eastern Europe Regensburg was opened up in an official ceremony. The specialized library of the Centre offers 350,000 bibliographical items. The Centre gathers the three independent, former Munich based Research-Institutes ‘Institute for Law in Eastern Europe’, ‘Institute for Eastern European Studies’ and ‘Institute for South-Eastern Europe’.

The interdisciplinary Institute for South-Eastern Europe works on the topics history, culture, applied geography and present-day problems related to the region of South-Eastern Europe. The main tasks of the institute are the publication of the learned journal ‘Sudost-Forschungen’, the quarterly appearing ‘Sudosteuropa’ and the series of monographs ‘Sudosteuropaische Arbeiten’. A monographic history of South-Eastern Europe in cooperation with the Universities of Regensburg and Vienna is in preparation.

On its new site the Suedost-Institut will try to contribute to a boost in the field of South-Eastern European history at the University of Regensburg, which will be further strengthened by a professorship for South-Eastern European History at that university starting its activity in spring 2008.

E-mail: info@suedost-institut.de


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http://www.insightturkey.com/


Insight Turkey continues to analyze developments in Turkey and in the region with the contribution of its distinguished authors. In this issue it focuses on two topics: the geopolitics of energy from Turkey to Europe and from China to Russia, and mutual perceptions of the Europeans and the Turks.

E-mail: insight@insightturkey.com


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http://www.amalipe.com/en/index.php?nav=publications


Center _Amalipe - Roma Integration in Bulgaria 2006, Annual Report

This report concerns the main trends in Roma integration process from January to December 2006 with accents on education, social policy, living conitions, connecting EU accession with Roma integration and gender equality. Special attention is paid to institutional an normative framework for Roma integration at national, regional and local levels.

Deyan Kolev, George Bogdanov, Maria Metodieva, Teodora Krumova and Boyan Zahariev are the report authors. The report combines results from permanent monitoring of the daily activities of certain national institutions with results of field survey about the state of Roma integration in 17 municipalities all over Bulgaria realized by Center _Amalipe and 8 other Roma NGOs. The monitoring of the activity of central level institutions (such as National Council for Cooperation on Ethnic and Demographic Issues, Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Labour, and so on) provides information about the real input of resources (funancial and human ones) and about the really implemented activities for Roma intregration by the side of institutions concerned. It indicates also the main tendencies of the governmental policy for Roma integration as well as the changes in it. The field survey reveals the real outputs, outcomes and impact of the activities unertaken by central instituti! ons. It reveals also the main trends in Roma integration at local level without matter whether they are results of a deliberate policy or of a random and unguide process.

E-mail: center_amalipe@yahoo.com


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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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