HIV/AIDS program grants made by U.S.-based foundations totaled $618 billion in 2008, an 11 percent increase from the previous year, according to a new report by Funders Concerned About AIDS, the Chronicle of Philanthropy reports. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation accounted for the majority of the grants, and when it was "excluded, foundation giving [for HIV/AIDS] actually declined 3 percent compared to 2007." According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, "the coalition is urging foundations to step up their support for HIV/AIDS vaccine research, prevention, and other projects, saying the economic downturn threatens to erode recent gains in fighting the pandemic" (Wilhelm, 11/17).

SciDev.Net Examines Report On Water In Africa

SciDev.Net examines the findings of a U.N. Environment Program (UNEP) report - released last week during the 2nd Africa Water Week - that highlights the threats to Africa's freshwater resources, including climate change…