Opportunity for WHO and Geneva academics to join forces

The Geneva International Academic Network (GIAN) supports 1–2 year interdisciplinary research and training programmes aimed at promoting peace and justice. The five main subject areas designated are: sustainable development; social equity; globalization and international commerce; intercultural relations and dialogue; and humanitarian law and human rights. The foundation is designed to pursue its goals by catalysing "action-oriented synergies" among academic institutions and international organizations in Geneva. Nongovernmental organizations and the private sector can also be involved. Funding provided by the GIAN ranges from SFr 35 000 to 500 000 (US$ 20 000–300 000). The GIAN applies the principle of co-financing and each team must demonstrate its ability to provide a substantial contribution to the project, either in the form of funds provided by another donor or as a contribution in-kind. Following its first call for projects in the spring of 2001, eight projects were retained, and the GIAN began to finance their activities in late 2001. The deadline for the submission of detailed project proposals for the 2002 round of funding is 2 April 2002.

Among the projects retained for funding last year is "Understanding the impacts of small arms on global health". The Violence Prevention department of WHO is working with researchers in the Graduate Institute of International Studies and the University of Geneva's Institute of Legal Medicine to collect and analyse information on this subject.

Conditions and procedures for participation can be found at GIAN's web site: www.ruig-gian.org.