Draft Programme
18 March 2004 (p.m)
ECOSOC High-Level Segment Preparatory Meeting: NGO/Civil Society Forum
ECOSOC Chamber

"Resources Mobilization and Enabling Environment for Poverty Eradication in the Context of the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010"

Programme

NGO/Civil Society Forum

Thursday 18 March 2004
ECOSOC Chamber

Sponsored by the NGO Section of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs in cooperation with the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the UN, the World Federation of United Nations Associations and the LDC Watch

Aim of the Forum

The aim of the Forum is to provide an opportunity for NGOs and other civil society actors to participate in the preparations for the Ministerial Meeting of ECOSOC, which will be held in New York from 28 to 30 June 2004. This meeting is known as the High Level Segment of ECOSOC.

The focus of this meeting is on poverty eradication in the Least Developed Countries, with a special emphasis on resource mobilization and creating an enabling environment. The role of NGOs at all levels - local, national, regional and global - is crucial for effective and sustainable development to occur.

It is hoped that NGOs participating in the Forum will produce a Declaration demonstrating the indispensable role of NGOs, and their ideas and recommendations for action to eradicate poverty in the LDCs.

Programme

LDC Watch will moderate the dialogue.

Ambassador Marjatta Rasi, President of ECOSOC, will open the Forum and be at the closing session to receive the final document. Senior representatives from the Secretariat will address the Forum at the opening session, notably Mr. Anwarul Karim Chowdhury, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative (OHRLLS), Mr. Patrizio Civili, Assistant Secretary General, DESA, Mr. Sarbuland Khan, Director, OESC and Hanifa Mezoui, Chief of NGO Section, DESA.

WFUNA Deputy Secretary-General, Pera Wells, will present the Report on the results of the NGO Survey on civil society's activities for poverty reduction in LDCs that the NGO Section of DESA undertook in cooperation with WFUNA and CONGO.

The NGO Section will report - from the Survey - the success stories that NGOs would like to share with other NGOs to enhance exchange of innovative experiences and best practices among the NGO community and promote partnership initiatives and projects for poverty reduction in LDCs

CONGO President, Renate Bloem, will present a preliminary outline of a draft statement for the Forum discussions to be fed into the negotiations on the Ministerial Declaration.

The Forum will be conducted as a round-table dialogue. Participants are expected to come prepared to contribute their ideas and proposals, and to share their thoughts on the contributions of others. Interpretation will be available.

Also please don't miss the important NGO Panel on 18 March 2004 from 1:15 to 2:45 pm to support the General Voluntary Trust Fund for the UN-NGO-Informal Regional Network (UN-NGO-IRENE) to become operational and help you implement your outstanding projects and initiatives for the people in most need in the world.

Panel on NGO Fund Development

Facilitator: Najet Karaborni, Senior Advisor, Project Coordinator
UN-NGO-IRENE

Developing and enhancing the General Voluntary Trust Fund for UN-NGO IRENE with NGOs, IGOs, Foundations, Governments, Local Authorities and Donor Community

Thursday 18 March

NGO Panel: 1:15 pm - 2: 45 pm
NGO Forum: 3:00pm - 6:00 pm

ECOSOC Chamber