“A Platform for Development: Countdown to 2015”
International Conference Centre in Geneva (CICG)
Geneva, 28 - 30 June 2007
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The Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CONGO) in cooperation with the UN Millennium Campaign has the great pleasure to invite you to the Civil Society Development Forum 2007 - “A Platform for Development: Countdown to 2015” that will take place 28-30 June 2007 at the International Conference Centre (CICG) in Geneva, Switzerland.
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Preceding and interacting with the High-level Segment of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Forum is to highlight (i) the crucial role of the internationally agreed development goals (IADGs)/Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the pursuit of a results-oriented global development strategy and (ii) the need for an assessment of the development community’s efforts and achievements, so far, in meeting these goals.
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In addition to the Forum’s focus on the IADGs/MDGs, participants will need to define their positions on the recently adopted guiding themes of ECOSOC’s Substantive Session in 2007: “Strengthening efforts at all levels to promote pro-poor sustained economic growth, including through equitable macroeconomic policies” and for ECOSOC’s annual ministerial review (AMR): “Strengthening efforts to eradicate poverty and hunger, including through the global partnership for development”.
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The Forum is to bring together actors of the global civil society to “think future” and to work on issues related to the wider development agenda. Its output and conclusions are to be instrumental for the work of the strengthened ECOSOC, especially for its Annual Ministerial Review and the Development Cooperation Forum. CSOs/NGOs and their partners will have a special opportunity to contribute to the implementation of innovative policies to achieve the IADGs and the MDGs.
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Civil society will lead and manage the Forum. It will thus be able to articulate itself in many ways – through plenary sessions, clusters and workshops, side events and exhibitions, media opportunities, cultural and community-oriented activities and virtual sessions. These diverse opportunities should permit the harnessing of the participants’ collective intelligence and creativity to find solutions for tackling extreme poverty.
