A report UNDP issued in Burkina Faso recently calls for ethical conduct by politicians, adequate resources, audits and other preventative measures, and separation of institutional powers to stem corruption. Entitled "Corruption and Human Development," the report calls the fight against corruption crucial to strengthening government integrity and transparency in the west African country, one of the world's poorest.

Thom Chiumia and Chikumbutso Mtumodzi, two journalists who are also politicians, halted printing of the privately owned "The Dispatch" newspaper on 29 January, and seized the printed copy and plates. Chiumia is president of the New Dawn for Africa (NDA) political party and Mtumodzi is the NDA's secretary-general. The NDA supports the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) party and is widely believed to be funded by UDF supporters.

“Post-Conflict Transition in Africa: The State and Civil Society” The Institute offers the selected qualified scholars employment for initially three (extendable to a maximum of six) years with adequate remuneration in a stimulating working environment. Interested scholars are requested to visit our web site for further details (www.nai.uu.se). The deadline for applications is 30 April 2004.

Schools in northern Ivory Coast have reopened for the first time since civil war erupted there two years ago. But fears remain that the schools will be hindered by a lack of teachers, many of whom fled when the fighting began.

The value of news and public affairs took front and centre stage at the Internews Local Voices Radio Station Managers workshop that ended in Abuja on February 14. Amidst back-slapping and camaraderie of meeting old and new friends, radio station managers committed to actively strive for more depth in their coverage of news and public affairs. "We are returning to base imbued with ideas on programming and how to do better audience-focused communication in relation to HIV/AIDS", said the Manage...read more

The conference will focus on the crucial role of theatre in contemporary Africa as a vehicle for political debate, development and cultural identity. It will be hosted by the Leeds University Centre for African Studies (LUCAS).

Education has become a global challenge. For instance, Europe, the United States, Japan and even the emerging nations of Asia have all come together in support of Education For All. Education is the big issue of today, says Laya Sawadogo, Burkina Faso’s Minister of Secondary and Higher Education and Scientific Research in an interview published on the Unesco website.
"I’d like to cite you some figures to give you an idea of the situation in Burkina Faso: 42 per cent of our children ar...read more

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) started on Friday a two-year effort to rid primary school children of parasites in four provinces in the Central African Republic, WFP representative David Bulman told IRIN. The schools are in the provinces of Ombella Mpoko, Lobaye, Kemo and Nana Grebizi. The three-classroom Gbaloko Primary School, 16 km outside the capital, Bangui, is the first to benefit from the programme, which will provide the anti-parasitic drugs Mebendazole and Praziquantel to the stud...read more

The job purpose is to lead Oxfam GB's work in Mozambique by working with the Regional Management Centre (RMC) and other organisations to bring about change through Oxfam's programme and influence.

The "Organization Guinéenne des Droits de l'Homme (OGDH)" in Collaboration with the Coalition for the ICC is organizing in Conakry, Guinea on 2 - 4 March 2004, a workshop on the implementation of the Rome Statute for the International Criminal Court. Placed under the High patronage of the Guinean Minister for Justice with the participation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this seminar will gather about 60 participants; officials of several Ministries (Justice, Foreign Affaires, interior ,...read more

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