Asia-Pacific Civil Society Forum on Sustainable Development 2017

Start Date: 
Sunday, March 26, 2017 - 09:00
End Date: 
Wednesday, March 29, 2017 - 16:52
Location: 

Bangkok, Thailand

Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing Asia-Pacific

CALL FOR CIVIL SOCIETY PARTICIPATION

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is convening the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) 2017 in Bangkok on 29 - 31 March, 2017.

This is the fourth year of the APFSD. Each year, it is organized as an inclusive inter-governmental forum in line with UN resolutions. Civil society organisations (CSOs) are invited to contribute to the regional development agenda and make recommendations.

Since its inaugural session in 2014, the APFSD has brought governments, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders together in preparing for the High-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF). This year, the HLPF will be organized from 10 to 19 July 2017 at United Nations Headquarters, New York, to be held under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council.

The hard work by CSOs in this region has boosted the quality of dialogue at the APFSD, the HLPF and other global forums and strengthened civil society organizations on the 2030 Agenda across the globe.

CSOs are invited to apply to engage in these processes through the following events:

The Asia-Pacific Civil Society Forum on Sustainable Development: 26 – 28 March 2017 in Bangkok
The Asia-Pacific Civil Society Forum on Sustainable Development will be organized by civil society (the secretariat represented by the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development as a coordinator of the Asia-Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism (AP-RCEM)), in collaboration with the ESCAP and the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) as a preparatory meeting for the APFSD.

The Asia-Pacific Civil Society Forum on Sustainable Development 2017 will be a forum for civil society organisations to work together and consolidate their position and recommendations for a regional sustainable development agenda. Asia-Pacific CSOs from different sectors and countries will explore common ground and actions, develop common messages and coordinate strategies for more effective participation in the national, regional and global intergovernmental processes on sustainable development. The CSO Forum invites applications from nationally registered civil society organizations to work with others to:

  1. Inform and build capacity of civil society participants on sustainable development at the national, regional and global levels, and on the opportunities and modalities for engaging these processes;
  2. Discuss the structure and content of the APFSD with its theme “Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing Asia and Pacific” and the 3rd session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-3) with its theme “Pollution Free Planet”, formulate joint positions, as well as strategize interventions at the APFSD;
  3. Share and exchange views on critical issues faced by the various constituencies and discuss alignments and areas of partnership/cooperation;
  4. Reflect on the work of Asia Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism in 2015-2017; and
  5. Agree on joint actions and follow up to civil society positions adopted.

Those seeking to attend the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development must attend this preparatory forum (unless they are already part of their official national delegations).

The Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD 2017): 29 – 31 March 2017 at Bangkok

This year, the APFSD will address the theme “Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing Asia-Pacific” and on the cluster of SDGs to be reviewed at the HLPF - in accordance with General Assembly resolution 70/299:

Goal 1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Goal 2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
Goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Goal 5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Goal 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
Goal 14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
Goal 17. Partnership for the goals (Means of implementation)

The APFSD agenda will address

(1) Regional perspectives on the implementation, follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including in depth review of the theme and cluster of goals; and

(2) Strengthening implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the Asia-Pacific, including the consideration of a draft regional road map for implementing the 2030 Agenda in Asia and the Pacific.

Other events will precede the APFSD, and will be announced separately.

Target group

We welcome applications to the Asia-Pacific Civil Society Forum on Sustainable Development and the APFSD from those who are based in Asia and the Pacific and from civil society organizations working on the 2030 Agenda and SDGs, and especially those who are also:

  • Engaged in the 2030 Agenda and SDGs-related processes or working on SDG’s linkages with pollution and health issues at the national, regional and/or global level;
  • Members of grassroots constituencies, and/or working directly with grassroots constituencies; or
  • Working in countries that signed up for Voluntary National Review at the HLPF 2017 (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Nepal, Malaysia, Maldives, and Thailand).

Those interested in attending the APFSD should also

  • Be accredited with the United Nations system (consultative or similar status with the UN including ECOSOC, CSD Roster, UNFCCC, FAO, UN Environment and UNDP or other UN-related organizations) – unless they are part of their national delegations.
  • Have in-depth expertise and experience related to the theme of the APFSD 2017 and on the cluster of SDGs (one or more of the goals); and
  • Be prepared to actively participate in preparing statements and other contributions to the meeting, coordinating with other CSOs.

Other key points:

    • It should be noted that participation in the Asia-Pacific Civil Society Forum on Sustainable Development is required for those seeking to attend the APFSD - but the CSO forum is open to those who do not attend the APFSD.
    • Normally, there are many more applications than there is space for, so you are encouraged to make your application as strong as possible.
    • Organizations without formal accreditation with the United Nations could be accepted provided that they can indicate in the application form the name of an organization with ECOSOC accreditation that would be willing to support its application (proof to be provided prior to confirmation of participation).
    • Funding which includes airfare, accommodation and modest daily subsistence allowance (DSA) will be available for a limited number of organizations through ESCAP’s collaborating partners. If needing funding to attend, please ensure that you indicate this in your application.
    • No more than 2 persons may be considered and accepted from the same organization, due to a high volume of applications. Applicants are encouraged to coordinate within the organization to identify at maximum 2 best applicants to represent organizational positions prior to submitting applications.
    • Side events and exhibitions (as part of “Pavilion of Partnership for Sustainable Development”) may be organized by organizations that are successful in participating in the APFSD, depending on relevance and availability of space– if interested, please express your interest and coordinate with the Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism. (Contact information is given at the end of this document.)

How to apply

Submit the application form online (click here) by latest 19 February 2017 (12 midnight Thailand time, UTC+07:00). Application forms will be reviewed by ESCAP in consultation with the Asia Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism, prioritizing those who best fit the target group described, and to ensure balance in geographic and thematic representation, scope of mandate, gender, and the level of experience with the regional process of sustainable development among other factors. Notification on the status of the applications will be sent by 6 March 2017.

For more information

Contact
APWLD/AP-RCEM - Ms. Wardarina (rina@apwld.org)
ESCAP - Ms. Aqira Bhatchayutmaytri (escap-apfsd@un.org)
UNEP - Ms. Young Ran Hur (youngran.hur@unep.org)
For side events and exhibition
– Ms. Wardarina (rina@apwld.org), Ms. Marjorie Pamintuan (mpamintuan@aprnet.org), and Ms. Ranja Sengupta (ranja.sengupta1@gmail.com)

Country: