Announcement: MacArthur India Fellowship

[Guest guest]

THE MacArthur FUND FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Gender Equity, Women's Empowerment, Reproductive Health and Reproductive Rights

2004-2005

The D. And T. MacArthur Foundation is a private, independent

grant-making foundation dedicated to helping groups and individuals foster

lasting improvement in the human condition. It seeks the development of

healthy individuals and effective communities; peace within and among nations;

responsible choices about human reproduction; and a global ecosystem

capable of supporting healthy human societies. The Foundation pursues this

mission by supporting research, policy development, dissemination, education

and training, and practice. Grants are made through two major integrated

programs-one on Human and Community Development, the other Global Security and

Sustainability.

POPULATION AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AREA

The Population and Reproductive Health Area of the Foundation is part of its

program on Global Security and Sustainability. The Foundation's strategies

reflect a comprehensive reproductive health and rights approach. The

program places women's well-being at the center of population policy and

emphasizes the rights of individuals to determine and plan family size. Central

to the approach is the belief that people will make wise individual choices if

they have information and access to adequate health care and if women are equal

partners with men in making sexual and reproductive decisions.

Two themes form the core of the Foundation's grant-making in the area:

Reduction in maternal mortality and morbidity

Advancing the reproductive and sexual health and rights of young people

The Population and Reproductive Health Area currently focuses its work in

four countries - Brazil, India, Mexico and Nigeria-as well as supporting

advocacy in the international arena and in the United States.

FUND FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT-INDIA

The MacArthur Foundation provides support for leadership development by

offering fellowships to those individuals who wish to evolve innovative

approaches, action and/or research initiatives in the areas of population,

reproductive and sexual health and rights. In addition, the Foundation makes

grants for policy advocacy and information dissemination strategies that

broaden public understanding of issues addressed through its grant-making or

that provide information useful to key audiences. It, therefore, welcomes

proposals that incorporate communications plans.

The India Program invites proposals that focus on:

Increasing the understanding of the underlying legal and social

factors affecting maternal mortality and morbidity and reproductive

decision-making of young people through research that influences policy,

including documentation of best practices Enhancing knowledge of key audiences

through innovative strategies on maternal mortality and morbidity and the

reproductive and sexual health and rights of young people

Increasing availability of gender-sensitive sexuality and life skills education

for young people, confidential health services and programs for young

men that promote sexual responsibility

Increasing the understanding of the links between adolescent

sexuality and reproductive programs with education and economic issues

Preventing sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS especially

among young people

Improving the quality of reproductive health service delivery and

care, especially emergency obstetric care

Improving access to safe abortion, non-terminal and emergency contraception

Increasing men's involvement and responsibility towards women's

health-seeking behaviour and the prevention of maternal mortality and morbidity

and sexual violence

Building linkages between primary health care and reproductive and sexual health

Developing models to improve dialogue between diverse groups, such as women's

groups, health care providers and policy makers

Advocating for changes needed in health, educational, and legal policies and

create the political will needed for their implementation

Advocating for sexual and reproductive rights within the framework of

human rights and gender equity and equality

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The Foundation is looking for candidates with innovative ideas, leadership

potential with a strong desire for personal and professional development.

The fellowship program is open to Indian women and men resident in any

part of the country who are between the ages of 25 to 45 years, and are in the

mid-stage of their careers. However, this restriction may be relaxed in the

case of women who started their careers late.

Applicants may be from any sector including social movements, women's

organizations, the corporate sector, media or academia. The fellowships are

awarded to applicants from a range of disciplines: social sciences, medicine

and health, management, law, education etc.

Preference will be given to individuals who have:

- A plan to develop professional capacity and knowledge

- A strategy to influence and impact policy and public debate

- Clearly defined and realistic objectives

- Indicators of progress towards those objectives

SELECTION PROCESS

Selection of fellows takes place through a competitive process. Fellowships

are for full-time work and are awarded for a period of one to two years.

The fellowship year is from August 1, 2004 to July 31, 2005. The deadline

for submission of applications is September 15, 2003.

For more information, contact:

The MacArthur Foundation

India Habitat Centre

Zone 5A, First Floor, Lodi Road

New Delhi 110 003

Phone: 91 11 4644006 * Telefax: 91 11 4644007

Email:mdeogire@...