Call for submissions: decentralization, local development and women’s empowerment

The project “Innovative practices of decentralization, local development and women’s empowerment” is being implemented by UNOPS’ Universitas Programme in collaboration with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada, Unifem’s MyDEL Programme, UN Habitat’s Gender Division and the Huairou Commission.

The project intends to support the systematization (in the form of case studies, short videos, manuals, teaching units or other forms) of innovative experiences of local development that have empowered women and advanced women’s rights and their transformative agency, from which lessons for future actions and policies can be derived.The editorial board will give priority to experiences and key practices from the South that have not yet been systematized and documented and that can contribute to knowledge creation and to developing tools for those practically engaged in local development in different contexts.15 such experiences will receive a research grant of 2,000 USD each intended to support the systematization process. Those experiences that are not selected for research grants, but which Universitas Forum would be pleased to publish will also be indicated.Universitas Forum will publish two special thematic issues as part of this project: 1. Decentralization, local governance and women’s rights; 2. Local development and women’s empowerment.

Submission details: Individuals, organizations and community groups that wish to submit their experience should complete the attached template and email it as a word document to Roberta Pellizzoli (robertap@unops.org) by December 1, 2010, including their personal data and CV (or, in case of organizations and community groups, a short description of their work).

For full details go to http://universitasforum.org