The African Malaria Vaccine Testing Network is inviting applications from African scientists in the employment of African institutions / Ministries of Health to participate in the above workshops. Applicants must at least be middle to senior level investigators, key members of ethics (or scientific) review committees, study monitors, members of data safety monitoring boards, sponsors of research involving human subjects, members of regulatory bodies or editors of biomedical journals. Details must be submitted by 31 July 2001.

Welcome to a post-mortem of and a critical look at Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) in Africa together with a proposed new recipe to make them better, avoiding their (sometimes now judged clumsy) pitfalls. Overall, I see the Report as an apology for market-based reforms, because the authors truly believe them to be the best option. In doing the latter, the Report tacitly calls on Western donors and on the private foreign investors to rethink their strategies and to support countries that adopt WB-sponsored macroeconomic policies. Without having any qualms about the brilliance of this Report, the first monumental problem I have with it is that it represents a typical cold economists’ account and analysis of an indeed complex matter. The warm analysis of the social consequences and costs of these reforms is nowhere to be seen!!