The IREX Small Grants Fund supports civil society organisations, education professionals, media, and journalists in the Middle East and North Africa. Grants will be awarded to individuals and institutions to promote the engagement of civil society in public life, the professionalism and independence of the media, and the professional development of education, media, and civil society professionals.

Stand Up For Africa (SUFA) is a UK-based African-led organisation dedicated to work towards the eradication of poverty and suffering in Africa. SUFA’s current area of focus is in the Child Slave Trade (a desperate measure, born out of poverty) in various parts of Africa. The Charity was set up in August 2003. Please find out more about SUFA at www.standupforafrica.org.uk.

International Literacy Day is celebrated each year on 8 September. The aim: to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies. The theme of this year's celebration is Literacy and Gender. Today almost one in every seven people is illiterate, and out of a total of 860 million illiterate adults more than 500 million are women. Visit Unesco's website for more information.

Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Olu Adeniji has said that due to the current trend in the implementation of poverty and employment programmes, Africa may not achieve the 2015 Millennium Development Goal to eradicate poverty, fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic and reduce illiteracy. When looking at the current level of development in relation to socio-economic plans, the disparity between developed countries and underdeveloped countries is likely to experience a further increase.