The Panos Global AIDS Programme invites print journalists from Eastern Africa, Western Africa, the Caribbean, and South Asia to participate in a small grants programme. The grants aim to raise debate at a country level on the progress made by their countries in the attainment of the goals of the Declaration of Commitment agreed upon during the United Nations General Assembly Special Sessions (UNGASS) on HIV/AIDS held in June 2001.

Each selected journalist will be awarded a stipend of US$1,000 and an additional US$500 for accessing sources. They will also be provided potential contacts and sources of material.US$500 will be provided to the selected journalist at the start of the grants programme; another US$200 will be given during the week of the UNGASS+5 session in New York and the final US$300 will be provided to the journalists in July 2006.The US$500 to cover transport and other expenses involved in investigating material for the features will be provided at the start of the grant.

Each of the published feature articles will also be uploaded onto a special section of the Panos Global AIDS Programme website for wider circulation. The journalists will work closely with the Panos Institute during the period of the grants programme.

Panos will select one journalist each from at least five countries in each region. The selected journalist should be at a senior level with proven ability to write investigative and analytical stories that can bring about policy debate in the country. The journalist should be able to publish the articles in the newspaper for which they work.

Each journalist will be expected to produce three in-depth 1000-word articles in the period April to July 2006. The features should include perspectives of a number of stakeholders including people living with HIV/AIDS. It should raise the most pertinent issues surrounding the HIV/AIDS response in the country e.g. leadership, financing, stigma and discrimination, rights of people living with HIV/AIDS, access to treatment and care, and civil society participation.


The first features, to be published in the period April to early May 2006 should include, but not be limited to, at least one of the following:

• How the country is faring in relation to UNGASS commitments.
• Hindrances to the success of the national response to HIV/AIDS.
• Issues the country intends to present at the UNGASS+5 session in New York in May/June.
• The UNGASS monitoring process in the country, especially the level of involvement of civil society.

The second feature will be produced in the period during or immediately following the UNGASS+5 meeting in New York during May/June 2006. The feature should focus on the following:

• Implications for the country of the discussions in New York on HIV/AIDS responses at national level.
• An analysis of presentations by the country delegations.
• Civil society perspectives on the UNGASS+5 discussions and outcomes.

The third feature will be published in the period June to July 2006 to focus on the following:

• Any new issues at country level that will have arisen following the UNGASS+5 session in New York.
• Any remarks, discussions and perspectives by civil society in the country on UNGASS+5 - especially those that will have participated in New York as part of national delegations.

To apply, send your CV and samples of related published work to: