Association of African Universities -

On the Advocacy Front
In mid-December we sent out a call for comments on the Global Food Security Act legislation sponsored by Senators Lugar and Casey. We collected your remarks and forwarded them on to Lugar's staff on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. We were informed that the comments will be taken under consideration. The legislation is due to be reintroduced in the Senate soon. We will inform you through this list-serve when the bill is introduced and, if appropriate, may solicit your active support of the legislation.

Initiative Strategic Planning
Over the past two months, the Initiative has been engaged in a review of what we have learned from our array of consultations here and in Africa. During this strategic planning phase, we are working with partners to determine how to best move forward. We look forward to sharing the results of this strategic planning in an upcoming update.

Initiative Planning Grants
Applications for the Planning Grants Program being administered by Higher Education for Development must be received by February 2. Readers are referred to the Request for Applications (RFA) for more information. Please contact the program officer, Teshome Alemneh, at (202) 243-7684 for questions regarding the RFA.

Opportunity to participate in USAID's virtual discussion
USAID's Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) has launched a major exercise to review and update its Education Strategy and is seeking input from stakeholders. According to USAID, the new strategy will address trends, issues, and opportunities in three subsectors - basic education, higher education, and workforce development, as well as the linkages among these sub-sectors.

USAID is seeking the expertise and experience of stakeholders in a series of virtual discussions scheduled to take place from January 26 to February 13. The discussions will focus on a series of research papers which address the context for education, lessons learned in providing assistance, and salient issues impacting progress in the sector. The results of the online deliberations will serve as the groundwork for developing the various pieces of the education strategy.

To register for this discussion, please go to www.glp.net. The discussion is open to all interested stakeholders. The Initiative will be participating in this discussion and we urge all of you to participate in shaping this important strategy document for USAID.

For any questions, contact Sarah Auten at sauten@jbsinternational.com.