Writers in Residence Project – Port Harcourt World Book Capital

Deadline: August 22, 2014

Application is open to emerging writers from all parts of Nigeria with interests in fiction and creative non-fiction to participate in the Writers in Residence Project.

The Writers in Residence project will bring together 12 selected writers (published and unpublished) from all over Nigeria to reside in the city of Port Harcourt for 3 weeks. Throughout their stay, they are expected to exchange ideas and engage in intense training sessions that will be anchored by seasoned literary professionals. They are also expected to draw inspiration and ideas for new works based on the theme of the Port Harcourt World Book Capital 2014: Books- Windows to our World of Possibilities, which would then be published in an anthology.

The city of Port Harcourt now in its 3rd month as UNESCO World Book Capital has launched various programmes to fulfill the World Book Capital (WBC) mandate as expressed in the winning bid.

Cost

• All expense paid

Benefit

• The objectives of the programme include inspiring a new generation of creative writers from all over Nigeria, showing the importance of inter-cultural communication and exchange in order to encourage creative collaboration, raising the profile of aspiring writers participating in the programme and enhancing the exchange of ideas, skills and experience amongst the participating writers.
• The Residency is expected to foster cooperation, unity and friendship among the writers thereby encouraging national integration and promote tourist activities in Rivers State, Nigeira.

Eligibility

• To participate, writers must be Nigerian citizens or permanent residents of Nigeria,
• be at least 21 years old
• and possess a portfolio of good quality written material.

Application

• Applications for the Writers in Residence programme must include
  • a statement of what they hope to achieve during the residency,
  • a detailed curriculum vitae
  • and a 1200-1500 words excerpt from a published or unpublished work.

All applications should be sent to wir@portharcourtworldbookcapital.org

 

Call for Application:Temple Academy Ibadan (Free Empowerment Training)

Nigeria has an alarming unemployment rate of 23%. It is worrisome that more than 60% of this unemployed population are youths, especially young graduates from our Tertiary Institutions. Research shows that graduate unemployment in Nigeria is traceable to absence of 3 categories of skill set – Employability skills, Leadership Skill and Entrepreneurial Skill.

In response to this obvious skills-gap, ThinkMore Solutions has designed the (ThinkMore Employability, Leadership and Entrepreneurial) TEMPLE Academy.  TEMPLE Academy will equip young graduates (Youth Corpers) in the afore-mentioned 3 areas and offer them opportunities to network with employers and obtain career advisory at NO COST. (TEMPLE Academy is a Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative of ThinkMore Solutions)

In order to groom the best crop of leaders, entrepreneurs and employable graduates in the academy, we invite nominations and recommendations of suitable candidates with exemplary character and knowledge savvy into the Academy.

FOR WHO?

If you are a Final Year Student, Fresh graduate, Youth Corp Member, Aspiring Enterpreneur, Entry level Staff or Management Trainee who desire to up your leadership, employability and enterpreneurship skills, then this academy is a MUST ATTEND for you. .

WHEN?

The tentative date for the maiden edition of this academy is 23rd August 2014 .The Academy runs for 4 simultaneous weekends (saturday only) per cohort. Sessions run for minimum of 3 hours each weekend and may extend beyond this ocassionally.

Dates for commencement of each cohort will be announced from time to time.

LOCATION

This maiden edition will be holding in the Conference room of Noridge Education Network, Off Poly Eleyele Road, Ibadan.

TUITION/PARTICIPATION FEE: Absolutely FREE. However, only successful candidates will be invited for the academy

HOW TO APPLY

The tentative date for the maiden edition of this academy is 23rd August 2014 and only 25 applicants will be shortlisted into the academy.

To apply into the academy, kindly complete and submit the registration form

Enquiries: +234- 812 887 3391

 

CALL FOR APPLICATION: Advanced Policy Advocacy and Engagement

Application deadline: August 22 2014

This course gives participants a thorough understanding of theories of change and how to influence processes in their own context to achieve social, political and policy change. Participants will build on existing skills to help plan and deliver effective advocacy strategies and build capacity and confidence in the ways in which relate to different audiences. Participants will also have a more thorough understanding of power dynamics and the operating space for civil society.

This particular course has been designed to raise awareness of the various aspects of challenges of civil society actors in conducting effective policy advocacy. The course will help participants to sharpen their vision, language and tools to advance the respective goals of their organization’s and as well enhance their individual skills in policy advocacy and engagement.

Objectives of the course
At the end of the course participants will be able to:
• Gain insight into the public policy perspective central to framing policy advocacy-oriented communication tools;
• Understand how policy papers, as the main example of policy communication tools, can support an evidence-based decision-making process;
• Build insight into a strategic approach to planning an advocacy campaign
• Analyse and reflect upon strategies for increasing the likelihood of achieving desired policy influence in the writing and using of policy papers;
• Build insight into the structure and advocacy purposes of the two main types of policy papers: the policy study and policy brief;
• Compare the differences between traditional academic writing and applied real world policy writing;
•Deepen understanding through analysis of relevant policy case studies & real world policy papers;
• Determine a suitable focus and objective for an advocacy campaign targeting the local policy context;
• Build insight into the nature of persuasive advocacy messages.

Course Methodology
• Presentations
• Case studies
• Group work
• Discussions

Target audience
This course is intended for civil society practitioners who have experience in doing advocacy and would like to explore some of the more complex and challenging aspects in a more discursive context.

Previous Participants Say…
“This training provided me with skills to write policy studies and briefs. This is a gap that must be closed in the West Africa sub region”. Rev. Fr Evaristus Bassey, Executive Secretary at Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria.

How to Apply: Complete, sign and email application form to policyadvocacy@wacsi.org or
Apply online, by clicking on the ‘Apply Online’ button below

Contribution Fee: A Course contribution fee of GHC800.00 (Eight Hundred Ghana Cedis Only, excluding bank transfer charges if applicable). The fee covers: Tuition, Feeding, Training materials, WACSI Publications and Certificate of Participation.

Participants will bear all costs related to transportation to and accommodation in Accra, Ghana.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: October 25, 2014

Language of instruction: English

Download call for application here.

Download list of courses scheduled for 2014 here.

26-29 August, 2013

07-10 October, 2014

Apply online

 

Call for Participation: MY DREAM NIGERIA- GEMSTONE Nation Building Conference

Click Here to Register

Without a DREAM the future is BLURRED!

#OurDreamNigeria is a nation that is undoubtedly the world’s most desirable nation to live in by Dec. 31, 2025.

Though it is unfortunate that we are OFF-SPRINGS of the PAST but we are blessed and become empowered when we realize that we are also PARENTS of the FUTURE.

Isn’t it better to LOOK AHEAD and PREPARE than to LOOK BACK and REGRET?

We Are GEMSTONE – Transformational Leaders, Transformation Nations.

Highlights Include:
*FD Speaks
*Health Talk
*Heroes Just Like You
*Nation Building Project
*Nation Builders Sign Up
*MyDreamNigeria (Plenary Sessions)
#ValueInfusion of GEMSTONE 10 Core Values

Our Faculty:

»»Sam NEYE
»»MartinMary FALANA
»»Olusola AMUSAN
»»Tunji ADEBOYEJO
»»Toyin ADEBOWALE
»»Gbenga ADESINA
»»Taiwo ADESOBA
»»Femi IROKO
»»Tolulope ESOARA
»»Olagoke OLOWU

Host: Joel ADENIYI & Ayodele AWI

DATE: Saturday, 23rd August 2014
TIME: 10:30am NNT (New Nigeria Time)
VENUE: Property Plaza, Behind Captain Cook, Alagbaka, Akure, Ondo State.

FREE ENTRY but registration for seat reservation is compulsory.

Click Here to Register

Hotline: 08059898235, 08039243070

 

Call for entries for Commonwealth Youth Worker Awards 2014

Recognising the exceptional contribution of youth workers throughout the Commonwealth

Nominations are open for the Commonwealth Youth Worker Awards 2014, which recognise the excellence of youth workers and their enduring positive impact on young people and local communities.

First launched by the Commonwealth Youth Programme in 2013, the awards scheme is aimed at recognising and celebrating outstanding youth workers from across the 53 countries of the Commonwealth and overseas territories. Awards will be presented during Youth Work Week in November 2014.

Katherine Ellis, Youth Affairs Director for the Commonwealth Secretariat, stated: “Youth workers make an enormous contribution to national development, engaging, developing and empowering young adults and older adolescents. They inspire and motivate these young people, building their skills and confidence to succeed.

“The Commonwealth Youth Worker Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of those at the cutting edge of youth work. The international recognition that flows from these awards allows the winners to act as champions for their profession and inspire many others who work with young people.”

Entries close on 30 August 2014, after which a total of 16 finalists will be shortlisted from four Commonwealth regions: Africa and Europe, Asia, Americas and Caribbean, and Pacific. A winner will be selected from each region, and invited to a presentation at the House of Commons, London, United Kingdom, during Youth Work Week in early November 2014.

During the presentation, one of the regional winners will be declared Commonwealth Youth Worker of the Year 2014. Entries will be scrutinised by a panel of judges including representatives of the Commonwealth Youth Programme and young people.

Youth Work Week, organised by the Commonwealth Youth Programme in partnership with the UK’s National Youth Agency, celebrates the contribution and achievements of youth work, youth workers, and youth organisations throughout the Commonwealth.

The international theme for Youth Work Week 2014 is ‘Youth Empowerment though Soft Skills’. Soft skills are the competences which enable people to interact effectively and think creatively, such as: team-work, self-confidence and resilience.

Nominations process

Nominate a youth worker by completing the official form, available as a download on this webpage. Completed forms should be emailed to l.robinson@commonwealth.int by 30 August 2014.

Nominations will be assessed according to:

• Impact on young people’s lives – evidence of how the youth worker has made an impact on the lives of young people
• Impact of youth work skills – evidence to show that it was their use of youth work skills that made the difference in the work with young people
• Impact on the wider community – the impact the youth worker’s intervention had on the community and families
• Challenges in delivery – how the applicant overcame challenges in delivering their work with young people.

 

 

5 Strategies For Overcoming Interview Nerves

Your stomach begins to churn, your palms sweat profusely, your mouth goes dry, and your voice begin to shake… and that’s when you’re just thinking about your forthcoming job interview. We all get nervous for job interviews, as nobody likes being in the hot seat, being assessed on what they say, and how they react to different questions.

1. Be prepared 

Make the interview work for you by carrying out the necessary research and preparation. Being well-prepared for the questions the interviewer is likely to ask means you can walk into the interview room with your head held high rather than nervously looking at your feet wishing the ground would swallow you up.

2. Be fresh and focused 

It might be easier said than done, but getting a good night’s sleep the night before the interview will ensure you are fresh and ready for the ‘big day.’ Refraining from drinking alcohol the night before, having a bath, and going to bed early with a good book will help banish nerves and ensure your mind and body are fresh and focused for the interview.

3. Leave plenty of time to reach the interview destination 

Being in a mile tailback of traffic, five miles from your destination and ten minutes until the interview is due to start will not do your pre-interview nerves any favours whatsoever. On the contrary, any nerves you have now about the job interview will be intensified by the prospect of being late.

4. Take deep, long breaths 

Before the job interview, work on controlling your breathing. Place one hand on your stomach and take a deep breath in. Hold your breath for several seconds before breathing out. When you feel nerves creeping over you, practice this deep breathing routine in intervals of ten.

5. Think positively 

Instead of grimacing in uncomfortableness every time you think of the interview, imagine a positive scenario in which you are completely in control. Picture yourself answering the questions confidently and impressing the interviewer with your calm and positive persona. Imagine shaking the interviewer’s hand, knowing you will hear from the company shortly with positive news.

And lastly, smile. Smile on the day of the interview and keep smiling until you leave the interview room. Smiling releases endorphins which help convince your brain you are happy, content, and ready to tackle anything the interview might throw at you. 

 

African Women Nominees needed [25Aug-17Sep] – FULLY FUNDED Course | Ag entrepreneurship in Africa + Women empowerment

As the Africa Union continues to celebrate 2014 Year of Agriculture and Food Security: Celebrating 10 years of CAADP, the Africa Union Commission’s Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (AUC-DREA), led by Commissioner H.E. Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, is developing an Agribusiness and Gender Program.  Inclusiveness and mutual accountability are key dimensions of the CAADP 2015-2025 framework which is a component of the AUC Strategic Plan 2014/17, developed under the leadership of Chairperson of the AU Commission H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. The AUC-DREA Agribusiness and Gender Program in collaboration with the Office of AUC Chairperson, asks for your assistance in ensuring broad based linkages with African women in agribusiness, in all dimensions of the agri-based value-chain — be it farm production, storage equipment manufacturing, technology (ICTs), food processing — shelling, drying, manufacturing, logistics, self-help groups/farmer associations, rural savings and credit cooperative organizations, energy generation, trading — with neighboring countries, inter-regionally or off-continent, leasing, farming input franchising, commodity exchanges, agricultural commodity warehouse management, seeds, tractor services,irrigation equipment sales, science and innovation.  We especially ask for assistance in identifying women in business of agriculture and related industries, i.e. agribusiness women who are entrepreneurs or already with business operations.  On an on-going basis, I welcome your sending names and contact details of African women in agribusiness in Africa.  When your engagement is combined with the persons you direct to AUC-DREA’s Agribusiness and Gender Program, together we will move forward on transforming Africa to be the resilient, economic engine for current and future generations in Africa and beyond. URGENT/PRIORITY NEED [if at all possible, please send today or tomorrow…because of need for visa application process.] We are urgently asking for nominations of African Women in Agribusiness for a fully funded* Entrepreneurship Training Program offered by the government of Israel.  The program is offered to a total of 100 women — 25 women, for 4 sessions — over the August 2014 through December 2015 period. The initial program [25 August – 17 September, 2014] will be offered in French.  We urgently ask for nominations from French speaking Africa, especially the following countries (in alphabetical order): 1. Burkina Faso 2. Burundi 3. Central African Republic 4. Chad 5. Democratic Republic of the Congo 6. Mali 7. Mauritania 8. Niger 9. Rwanda 10. Senegal *Air travel (economy class), Tuition, Accommodation, Meals for the 3-week training. In addition to the topics listed in the TRAINING PROGRAMME description below, a detailed description of the programme IN FRENCH, is attached. ===================================================================== TRAINING PROGRAMME – Description The training will last for three weeks and will be held at two training centers in Israel –the Golda Meir Mount Carmel International Training Centre and CINADCO – Training Center for International Agricultural Development Cooperation. The training will focus on the following practical training areas: I. Entrepreneurial Training – Business Laboratories – How to start, scale up and manage small and medium green business enterprises II. Marketing strategies for small and medium businesses in rural areas III. Women in business networking IV. Support systems in Israel and best practices in promoting innovative entrepreneurship V. Diagnostic tools for supply and value-chain analysis of agri-industries VI.  Agriculture and rural development VII. New trends in modern agriculture (technological advancements, nutritional concerns, soil/water/energy management) VIII. Planning and implementation of gender sensitive agricultural projects IX. Women’s entrepreneurship in agriculture X. Branding and marketing agricultural produce XI. Best practices in developing learning national systems =============================== # # #  =================================

 

CALL FOR PAPERS: African Economic Conference 2014

The ninth edition of the African Economic Conference (AEC 2014) will be held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire from 1-3 November on the theme, “Knowledge and Innovation for Africa’s Transformation”.

This year’s conference will offer a unique avenue for researchers, policymakers and development practitioners from Africa, and elsewhere, to debate Africa’s soft infrastructure needs and their catalytic impact on speed and scope of economic transformation and inclusive growth. In the light of Africa’s search for economic transformation and its current skills and technology deficit in the face of knowledge-intensive and innovation-driven global competition, Africa needs to urgently devise strategies to capitalize on its youth bulge to drive technological innovation, skills development and the search for new sources of comparative advantage.

The conference will reflect on the critical barriers to be overcome and seek to capture the lessons to be learnt from various experiences on the continent to guide the development of appropriate policy responses and investment frameworks (public and private). In addition, critical regional dimensions will be examined.

AEC is an annual conference targeted at researchers. It is organized jointly by the African Development Bank, the Economic Commission for Africa and the United Nations Development Program.

Objectives:

The key objectives of the African Economic Conference series are to:

–     promote knowledge management as an important driver of policy dialogue, good policy planning and implementation;

–     foster dialogue that promotes the exchange of ideas and innovative thinking among researchers, development practitioners and African policymakers;

–     encourage and enhance research on economic and policy issues related to the development of African economies;

–     provide an opportunity for young African researchers, Africans in the Diaspora, regional and sub-regional organizations to disseminate their research findings as well as share information with African policymakers on the work they do in the region

–     AEC 2014 will explore Africa’s existing skills, technology and innovation capacities against the needs required to realise Africa’s transformation agenda and debate practical policies and strategies that can rapidly eliminate existing deficits and grow capacities across all sectors of the economy. The Conference will comprise a number of plenary and break-out sessions that will feature presentations and discussions by prominent academics, policy makers, business actors and opinion leaders, as well as representatives from development partner organisations.

Call for Papers: Click here for the Call for Papers

Past African Economic Conference: http://www.uneca.org/aec2013

 

Call for Applications: 2014 Future Leaders Summit

“​Women, War, and Peace: The Impact of UNSC Resolution 1325” panel at the 2012 Young Atlanticist Summit in Chicago. Left to right: Young Atlanticist Benedetta Berti; Melanne Verveer, Ambassador at Large for Global Women’s Issues, US Department of State; and Farkhunda Zahra Naderi, Member of Parliament, Afghanistan; PHOTO: Ana Miyares​

The Atlantic Council is now accepting applications for the second round of its 2014 Future Leaders Summit recruitment. Exceptional leaders between 25 and 35 years of age from select NATO member and partner countries are encouraged to apply. We are currently recruiting from the United Kingdom and from countries not already represented in the 2014 Emerging Leaders Working Group. For a full list of eligible countries, please download the linked application document below. The deadline for applications is July 22, 2014.

In 2014, the United Kingdom will become the center of the political world as it hosts the NATO Summit. Heads of state and government, top diplomats, military commanders, and other international leaders will convene to make decisions that will affect the global economy and geopolitical landscape. The British government and NATO have invited the Atlantic Council to host a high-profile future leaders event alongside the official summit.

Organized in partnership with the Atlantic Treaty Association and Atlantic Council of the United Kingdom, the 2014 Future Leaders Summit will be the primary public diplomacy event of the NATO Summit and serve to connect emerging leaders from North America, Europe, and other regions with one another, the Alliance’s current leaders, and a network of likeminded peers. Summit delegates will have unique access to programming inside the Celtic Manor estate, the official NATO Summit site, and opportunities to engage directly with senior Alliance leaders in attendance.

Call for Applications

Deadline: July 22, 2014 (11:59pm UTC)

This is the second round of applications for delegates to the summit, following the March 2014 call for fifteen delegates to participate in the NATO Emerging Leaders Working Group who will also attend the summit. In this round we are only selecting delegates for NATO member countries not already represented in the 2014 Working Group (please download the application document to see the complete list), along with a small number of new host country delegates from the United Kingdom. In addition, the Council believes it is important to include delegates from NATO partner nations and will review applications from exceptional NATO partner country candidates for a limited number of partner nation spots (please download the application to see the list of eligible partner nation countries).

Call_for_Applications_-_2014_Future_Leaders_Summit

Call for Applications: 2014 Future Leaders Summit

 

The Afrika Kommt! 2014-2016 program is launched! Apply by the 7th of September, 2014

The Afrika Kommt! 2014-2016 program is launched!

This is an Initiative of 19 German industries and leading businesses for Future Leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa. They have committed themselves to a common cause and launched the initiative to laid the foundation stone for sustainable economic cooperation with Africa.

The programme not only trains young, future managers from Sub-Saharan Africa on-site with German companies, but is also directed at forming stable cooperative partnerships for the future. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, GIZ, has been commissioned by the companies to organise and implement the programme.

If you are interested, please note that the deadline for applications is 07 September 2014. Read more and apply to the #AfrikaKommt! program at www.afrika-kommt.de Also check the application guidelines attached.