Dowload here the provisional agenda of the CSO FfD Forum: CSO FfD Forum – Advanced Programme – Jul 02

1. Scope of the Forum: The programme is now designed to accommodate 600-700 people. At the moment, the Forum received more than 900 registrations with more than 550 non requiring funding assistance. Considering the participants that the ACG will fund and those funded for the Women’s Forum (which will take place on Jul 10), it is expected that the scope of the meeting may reach 600-700 people. This larger scope required a change of venue (now articulated between three hotels) and a rethinking of the programme to ensure the meeting remains productive and engaging;

2. Structure of the programme: Besides the opening and closing segments, the programme is now articulated on 6 parallel tracks (5 parallel CSO-only thematic tracks and 1 roundtable debate track open to non-CSO participants). Each of the 5 thematic track will also organize one of the roundtables within the open programme and would select one particular issue (or set of issues) to focus that session on. An additional roundtable will be organized on “Gender Justice/Equality” even if there is no corresponding separate thematic track. The “open” roundtable track will probably host a larger number of people and will be primarily devoted to all those that have not been deeply involved in the FfD process to-date (a significant chunk of the participants) in order for them to catch-up with the discussion and get ready for the official conference. This means that the CSO Forum will feature in parallel one informative/policy dialogue roundtable series (open to externals) and 5 CSO-closed thematic working tracks;

3. Thematic breakdown: In terms of the thematic breakdown of the tracks, the programme is organized along the Addis Outcome Document Structure and builds on the fact that the CSO FfD Group is already informally organized along similar clusters. However, the programme proposes to combine “trade, debt, systemic issues and technology” into one track as it is expected to attract a fewer number of participants. It remains understood that the issues are different though there is some synchrony in those actually following them. The ACG has now called on a group of facilitators of this track to organize the programme in a manner that would allow people from others tracks interested in one particular section of the discussion to log in at the appropriate time (it might be a sequential schedule);

4. Responsibility for thematic tracks/roundtables: The ACG and the CSO Forum WG have now called on existing cluster groups to advance the planning on both their respective working track and the related open roundtable, as follows: (1) the side-event working groups on tax justice, private finance and follow-up have been called to facilitate the respective thematic tracks; (2) the WWG will plan and facilitate the gender justice roundtable; (3) two new groups are being assembled (based on the regular contributions to the process so far) to facilitate the IPF track and the debt, trade, systemic, and technology one. Once planning the working tracks and roundtable, the “clusters” can also consider invitation of external resources people, if deemed appropriate. More information in each of the tracks will soon be circulated on the GSEG list;

5. CSO Declaration: One critical dimension is the finalization of the CSO Declaration. The Rapid Response Group (for those new to the list, the RRG is the group that facilitated all the past collective analysis and statements) has already initiated a process to facilitate a GSEG-agreed draft prior to the Forum. A draft declaration (based on the past collective responses) will therefore soon be circulated for GSEG review in the coming few days. The GSEG-endorsed draft will therefore be the main input into the CSO Forum. While we expect that the fundamental thrust be retained, it is also necessary to ensure the ownership of the declaration by the Forum. It is therefore expected that feedback and further input will take place within the closed tracks. We have proposed some meetings in parallel with the “flexi time” for the facilitators/rapporteurs of the tracks to come together and ensure a smooth process throughout the meeting, leading to the Closing Plenary where the Declaration will be adopted;

6. Flexi-time: Each working day of the CSO Forum includes one hour of “flexi-time” for self-organized meetings, presentation and networking sessions. Organizations interested in making use of the “flexi-time” should contact the Organizing Team (Yvonne Omwodo yomwodo@sidint.org) to apply for the space. Should request exceed the limited logistical possibilities, a selection will need to be made;

7. Venue and logistics of the CSO Forum: A logistical information note will be made available by Monday, Jul 6. In the meantime, please be informed that the main conference venues is Hotel Desalegn, while some sessions may take in place in surrounding hotels (Hotel Washington and, maybe, Hotel Atlas). Lunches and dinners will take place in Hotel Desalegn, including the opening reception on Jul 10th. All meals are included free-of-charge for all CSO participants. The CSO Forum participants will be scattered through town and will be responsible to reach the CSO Forum venue at the start of each session. However, bus transport to the main hotel areas (i.e. UNECA surrounding hotels, Bole area hotels, etc.) will be provided each evening after dinner;

8. Simultaneous Translation: Looking at the breakdown of participants and considering the shortage of financial resources, the ACG decided to prioritize French translation for the plenary and open roundtable track. The ACG will also commission the translation of the draft Declaration as soon as finalized.