This year, the official Civil Society Day will follow a one-day programme, which will allow for greater engagement in multi-stakeholder processes throughout the week as well for leaving room for other civil society-specific meetings and events.
With the aim to encourage dynamic and constructive space for dialogue during the Global Forum for Migration and Development (GFMD), the International Steering Committee (ISC) has decided to set a maximum number of civil society delegates at the 2019 GFMD Civil Society Day to 200. The selection will follow much the same process as in previous years, with one main change – individuals, organisations and networks will all be invited to complete the same application form.
As in previous years, the Civil Society Day will also provide limited space for observers (foundations, international organizations, governments and the media). A separate application form will be made available to them in the coming months.
The selection of participants will follow an adapted 4–step process:
Step 1: All networks, organizations and individuals who wish to participate in the 2019 Civil Society Day should submit a direct application for participation by 26 August. Applications are open to all networks, organizations and sectors of civil society, including diaspora and migrant associations, other human rights, development and faith-based NGOs, trade unions and workers organizations, and representatives from academia, think tanks and the private sector.
Step 2: If, as has been the case since the beginning of the GFMD in 2007, more applications are received than the space that is available, then the ISC will conduct a selection process.
Step 3: All successful applicants and networks will receive a link to on-line registration, which they must complete.
Step 4: Each selected delegate confirms that they will or won’t be participating, and registers appropriately using the on-line registration. A waiting list will be developed to fill cancellation slots.
Funding for participation. Please note that being selected unfortunately does not mean that there will be funding available to support every participant. Each year, only very limited funding is available to support the participation of civil society delegates and this support is generally reserved for participants from low income countries with a proven record of working directly with or for migrants. Selected delegates or networks are encouraged to look for funding opportunities themselves to support their participation.
Important: Before applying, please read the below FAQs carefully.
If you have any further questions, please reach out to us on contact@gfmdcivilsociety.org
FAQs for application process
What do we mean by ‘network’?
For the purpose of this application form, civil society networks are defined as civil society groups and/or organizations that come together voluntarily to pursue shared purposes related to migration and development. These purposes may include exchanging resources, addressing common goals or expressing their identities as community or social group. Networks can be composed of informal social relationships or formal bodies that are legally registered and institutionalized. A group must contain more than three independent members in order to be considered a valid network for this application.
What is the difference between the network types?
This is an open call for thematic networks, as well as national and regional networks to apply to send representatives to the GFMD Civil Society Days. Recognizing that there are overlaps between these, in the form it will be possible to describe your network as more than one type, but no more than two. For example, a network can describe itself as a national network, and a network working on a specific theme, giving details of both its national and thematic work.
Thematic networks can be global, inter-or intra-regional, national or sub-national. There are ten broad groupings of themes to be represented by networks at the GFMD, so please choose the theme that best describes the priorities and activities of your network.
Regional networks can be inter-or intra-regional in nature. Networks with broader representation within their region will be given preference, meaning networks with members active in more countries within that region. In the form, details will be looked for regarding the countries where members are based or where they have activities.
National networks can work on one or a variety of areas related to migration and development. One requirement is that there are three or more members of the network in order for it to apply.
Who can act as a representative of these networks at the GFMD?
Representatives of networks can be either from a secretariat/central organizing body, or from a member organization of the network. While multiple representatives of the network may be invited, please note that the general rule of one representative per organization will apply. Exceptions may be made for those invited to play speaking/moderation roles in the Civil Society Days or Common Space.
How do I know what networks have been selected, and how can I reach out to them, to express interest in representing them?
There is currently an open call for networks to apply to attend the Civil Society Days. This will be followed by a selection process undertaken by the ISC to identify the final networks invited to send representatives. As soon as the final list of networks is prepared, it will be made available on the GFMD Civil Society webpage, and through the GFMD Civil Society Mailing. This list will include the name and contact details of the network co-ordinator, who is responsible for collecting and submitting representatives for the network.