Mary Fran Myers Gender and Disaster Award: 2016 nominees sought

Deadline: May 02, 2016

The Gender and Disaster Network and the Natural Hazards Center invite nominations of women and men, or gender and disaster-focused organizations who should be recognized for their efforts to advance gender-sensitive policy, practice, or research in the areas of disaster risk reduction. Established in 2002, the Mary Fran Myers Award recognizes that vulnerability to disasters and mass emergencies is influenced by social, cultural, and economic structures that marginalize women and girls, and may also expose to harm boys and men, and those who do not identify as either female-male gender.

The award was so named to recognize Mary Fran Myers’ sustained efforts as Co-Director of the Natural Hazards Center, Colorado to launch a worldwide network promoting women’s opportunities in disaster-related professions and supporting research on gender issues, disasters, emergency management, and higher education.

The intent of the Mary Fran Myers Gender and Disaster Award is to recognize women and men whose advocacy, research, or management efforts have had a lasting, positive impact on reducing disaster vulnerability. All those whose work has added to the body of knowledge on gender and disasters, is significant for gender-theory or practice, or has furthered opportunities for women to succeed in the field are eligible. Recognizing that women and men rarely act alone, the award is also open to gender and disaster-focused organizations which have made similar contributions.

The Selection Committee is especially interested in soliciting nominations from outside the United States and nominations of both men and women. GDN also invites re-nominations in recognition of the excellence of past nominees who have not yet been recognized. The award carries no travel funds or other material compensation but recipients are honored “virtually” at the annual July Natural Hazards Workshop of the University of Colorado, and featured in the annual GDN poster. Please note that the individual selected will be invited to serve on the Mary Fran Myers Gender & Disaster Award Selection Committee for one year and then encouraged to serve as Chair the second year.

Next Steps

There are three steps to making a nomination. The nomination committee prefers to receive nomination materials in English but may also accept those prepared in other languages depending on the availability of GDN volunteer translators. Please contact GDN first before sending materials in languages other than English. Please note that self-nominations are not accepted. Please also limit nominations to either a single organization, or a single individual.

• Submit your full name and contact information (mailing address, e-mail, telephone number) and that of the nominee.
• Attach a short (3 page, single-spaced maximum) current resume or curriculum vitae of the nominee.
• Write a letter of nomination detailing specifically how this individual’s, or this organization’s work fits the award criteria as described above.
• Optional: a one-page letter of support from one other person or organization may also be submitted.
• Note: If you would like a past nominee to be reconsidered, please let GDN know by email and submit any updated nomination materials you would like the Selection Committee to consider.

Deadline

By May 02, 2016 please submit these materials electronically to the Gender and Disaster Network at: [email protected]. Complete nominations will then be forwarded to the Chair of the 2016 Selection Committee who will facilitate the selection committee’s review process and make the announcement.

Our thanks in advance for passing this notice along so that GDN may recognize people and organizations in varied sectors, regions, networks and contexts whose work on gender equality and disaster risk reduction should be recognized.

Questions?

Please contact Cheney Shreve [email protected] or Maureen Fordham [email protected]

The deadline for nominations is May 02, 2016