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FAQ: Participation

  1. How can I apply?
    Applications are closed by 1. June

  2. How can I suggest a topic for a breakout session?
    The forum is divided into five (5) program tracks. To suggest a topic for a breakout session, applicants were encouraged to suggest up to three (3) topics in line with these tracks . The Forum tracks will concentrate on different aspects of SRHR issues and will examine progress made since ICPD, current priorities and emerging issues. Each track will explore robust and innovative programming, advocacy and communications strategies; forward looking solutions to advance SRHR; as well as the needs and experiences of key groups, including young people and women, especially from the Global South

  3. Who selects the participants? Keynote speakers?
    A Participant Selection Working Group was created by the Forum’s Steering Group to review applications. The Selection Working Group consists of NGO representatives, including young people, from sub-saharan Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, North America, and Europe.

    Keynote speakers have been identified through a nomination process within the Forum’s Steering Group. Keynote speakers are well known advocates and practitioners whose works are well received and recognized both by their peers and the international community.

  4. How will participants be selected?
    A rigorous selection process is being used to ensure diversity and equitable regional representation. Measures are being taken to ensure that this process is transparent and objective. For example, an external consultant will remove all personal and organizational information from initial applications to make them anonymous.  They will also be assigned a code that identifies their region, country and age group.  The anonymous applications which fill all of the selection criteria will then be analyzed for content and relevance to the ICPD agenda and the objectives of the forum.

  5. Who belongs to the Global South?
    Global South countries refer to countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Arab states, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The specific countries included in these regions are list below and are based on UNFPA’s regional categorization.

    Sub-Saharan Africa: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia , Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

    Arab States: Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, Yemen

    Asia and the Pacific: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kiribati,  Lao People’s Democratic  Republic, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Niue, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, Viet Nam

    Latin America and the Caribbean: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada,  Guatemala, Guyana, Haití, Honduras, México, Montserrat, Nicaragua, Netherlands Antilles,  Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, Suriname, St. Christopher and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands Uruguay, Venezuela

    Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

  6. Who is coming from the North?
    Global North countries refer to the following specific countries, based on UNFPA’s regional categorization.

    Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America.

  7. When will selected participants be notified of their participation?
    Selected applicants will be notified via email by the end of June in order to provide ample time for travel preparations (visa, transportation and accommodation). Instructions concerning logistics and other matters will be shared at that time. It is important that applicants confirm their participation by 6th of July.

  8. How is Global Partners in Action ensuring diverse regional representation?
    The Forum aims to have participants from as many countries as possible. Therefore, efforts will be made to try to have at least one participant per country at the Forum. Multiple spaces will be allocated to countries with exceptionally large populations. Global Partners in Action is deeply committed to ensuring adequate regional representation. In recognition of the vital role that Regional Networks play in implementing and monitoring the ICPD Programme of Action, a commitment has been made to have at least 30 Regional Networks participate at the Forum.

  9. How many participants will attend?
    Global Partners in Action is able to invite 400 NGO participants to the Forum, 225 of which will come from the Global South and will be fully funded, if they have not indicated that they are self-funding. The forum steering group aims to ensure diverse representation from as many countries, regions and NGO's working in different fields of health and development as possible. Youth participation is also a priority and a commitment has been made to have at least 25% of participants under the age of 30. In recognition of the vital role that Regional Networks play in implementing and monitoring the ICPD Programme of Action, a commitment has been made to have at least 30 Regional Networks participate at the Forum.

  10. What is the cost?
    There is no registration fee for the Forum. All participants from the Global South (approximately 225) who have not indicated that they are self-funded will receive full funding, including airfare, visa costs and a per diem which will cover accommodation.

  11. Who will be funded?
    All participants from the Global South (approximately 225) will receive full funding, including airfare, visa costs and a per diem which will cover accommodation as far as possible. Keynote speakers will also be funded to attend. There are 100 spots for Northern NGOs, who will in general be self-funded. There will be no registration fee.

  12. How can I participate without being selected?
    Next to diverse podcasting during the forum there will be audio recording almost live of all plenary sessions taking place during the forum and posted on the website. Also the outcomes (Berlin Call to Action and NGO Actionplan) will be published on the website. In advance of the Forum you can get involved within the regional and national discussions. Please see next point.