MacArthur Fund for Leadership Development

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MacArthur Fund for Leadership Development

Fellowship: MacArthur Fund for Leadership Development

THE MacArthur FUND FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Gender Equity, Women's Empowerment, Reproductive Health and

Reproductive Rights; 2001 – 2002

THE MacARTHUR FOUNDATION

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 – Human and Community Development

and 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 centre of

population policy and emphasises 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 grantmaking in the area:

a) 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 grantmaking or that

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

proposals that incorporate communications plans.

The India Program invites proposals that focus on:

a) Advocating for changes needed in health, educational, and legal

policies and create the political will needed for their

implementation

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

l Enhancing knowledge of key audiences through innovative

strategies on issues related to maternal mortality and morbidity and

the reproductive and sexual health and rights of young people

l Developing models to improve dialogue between diverse groups,

such as women's groups, health care providers and policy makers

l 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

l Increasing the understanding of the links between adolescent

sexuality and reproductive programs with education and economic

issues

l Improving the quality of reproductive health service delivery and

care, especially emergency obstetric care

l Improving the access to safe abortion, non-terminal and emergency

contraception

l Preventing sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS especially

among young people.

l Increasing men's involvement and responsibility towards women's

health-seeking behaviour and the prevention of maternal mortality and

morbidity and sexual violence

l Building linkages between universal primary health care and

reproductive health

l 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

fellowship are awarded to applicants from any discipline: social

sciences, medicine and health, management, law, education etc.

Preference will be given to individuals who have:

a) A plan to develop professional capacity and knowledge

A strategy to influence and impact policy and public debate

c) Clearly defined and realistic objectives

d) Indicators of progress towards those objectives

SELECTION PROCESS

Fellowships are for full-time work and are awarded for a period of

one to two years for experienced individuals who would like to pursue

goals of professional growth and innovation. The fellowship year is

from August 1 to July 31. Selection of fellows takes place once a

year through a competitive process. The deadline for receipt of

applications is September 15, 2001. Candidates may apply through an

application available from:

The MacArthur Fund for Leadership Development:

MacArthur Foundation

India Habitat Centre.

Zone 5A, First Floor Lodi Road

New Delhi 110 003

Phone : 91 11 4644006 Fax: 91 11 4644007

Renuka Motihar <motihar@...>