Call for Applications to the CSOs Intercontinental Forum
28 – 30 June 2017 Tunis, Tunisia
Joint Africa – European Union Partnership Strategy (JAES)

Background

In an ever changing world, one thing is sure: Africa and Europe will remain each other’s closet neighbours. Africa has been pursuing its political and economic integration at the continental level. From the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) years ago and even more so since the creation of the African Union (AU), Africa has built continental institutions and established ambitious policies and initiatives in many key areas that both important for the development of the of the continent and of direct interest of the EU. In this context, developing the relationship between the two partners has become a priority for both sides.

The Africa- EU is based on shared values and aims at promoting common interests and achieving shared strategic objectives. It strives to bring Africa and Europe closer together through the strengthening of economic cooperation and the promotion of sustainable development, climate change with both continents living side by side in peace, security, democracy, prosperity, solidarity and human dignity.

Objectives

The expected results of the intercontinental forum are:
- promote common understanding,
- long term vision (follow up),
- Identify the viewpoints of both continents by engaging both Africans and Europeans.
The June 2017 Forum

The forum is a key activity towards promoting effective and relevant civil society participation in JAES and strengthening CSO contribution to the policy making process. This will be an opportunity for civil society organization from both continents to:
• build on the outcome of the intercontinental forum of October 2013;
• reflect on the progress of the 2014 -2017 JAES roadmap and civil society participation;
• discuss future priorities in the light of external challenges and opportunities at global and regional levels;
• identify the added value of the JAES and the role of EU and Africa in the context of the themes of the summit;
• make specific recommendations to deliver to governments ahead of the Africa- EU Summit including for future participation of civil society and
• Strengthening civil society in both continents as well as the role of JAES CSO Joint Steering Committee (JSC) and the partnership between the two steering groups.

Participation

The following criteria will form the basis of the participant selection process:
i. Proven interest in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, governance and political leadership, human development and migration, growth and jobs and climate change
• Developed projects related to those topics
• Participated in projects related to those topics
• Conducted formal research on those topics
• Participated in conferences, workshops and forums on those topics
• Organisation/citizens /residence of an African
Applications must be completed and submitted by midnight of Sunday, 30 April 2017. Notifications of admission to the forum will be sent during the last week of June 2017. The organizers will cover all travel and accommodation costs associated with the forum.

Privacy Statement
Data collected for the purpose of the forum organisation will NOT be published on any support nor shared with any third party. The forum report with the participants list will NOT be shared among participants nor distributed to any third party organisation.
i. I understand the privacy statement.
Personal Security Concerns
In case you have specific and important security concerns, please let us know in order to take all relevant measures (incl. use of an email address of your choice or use of an alias instead of personal data for all organisational aspects of the forum, such as access badges, with the sole exception of personal travel arrangements). Please confirm your situation here:
i. No, I do not have any major security concern.
ii. Yes, I have major security concerns, but I still want to participate. Please, specify in "Other" the secured email address you would like us to use for the organisation of your participation.
iii. Other: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Image Disclaimer
Photographers will take pictures of the forum which will be downloadable from the African Union and European Commissions website, free of charge and copyright. We therefore need to collect consent of prospective participants in that regard. Do you unambiguously authorize the two Commissions to make free use of documents portraying your image, with a view to their conservation and distribution for any publicity that both Commissions deems appropriate, without any limitation in space or time?
i. Yes
ii. No

My personal information
Family name (as in passport): ____________________________
First name (as in passport): ____________________________
Other name : ____________________________
Title: ____________________________
Date of Birth: ____________________________
Gender: ____________________________
Passport number: ____________________________
Passport date of expiry: ____________________________
Organisation: ____________________________
Organisation address: ____________________________
City / Country: ____________________________
E-mail Address *: ____________________________
Phone / Mobile *: ____________________________
Nationality: ____________________________
Profession: ____________________________
Do you need a VISA to go to Tunisia? YES/NO: ____________________________
City of departure, country: ____________________________

Working language
Please note that translation in English and French will be provided in the Plenary Room. Please select the language(s) you will use:
i. English
ii. French

Have you completed any work on conflict prevention, peacebuilding; governance and political leadership; human development and migration, growth and jobs and climate change or participated in any conference and/or workshop? ……………………………………………………
If you YES, provide the following

Title of project/research/conference: ……………………………………………
Brief description of project (100 words max): ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Upload document that demonstrates your work and its relevance (e.g. report, research outcome, article, etc.)
Provide a name of a person who can serve as a reference for the period of your involvement in the project
Full Name……………………………………………………
Title……………………………………………………………
Institution……………………………………………………
Email……………………………………………………………
Phone number……………………………………………………

There will be 5 thematic working group sessions during the forum, 3 on the 28th and 2 on the 29th. Please select the working groups you wish to attend on both days. Kindly indicate 2 working groups per day that you wish to join in order of priority. Please note that, once your application has be submitted, you won’t be able to change your choice.

28th June
❏ Conflict prevention, peacebuilding and refugees;

❏ Democratic governance and civic participation;

❏ Human development;

29th June
❏ Decent work, universal social protection and sustainable socio-economic development;

❏ Sustainable future for our planet.

NOTE: Migration and Youth will be discussed as a cross cutting topic in all of the groups above.

Please write here below a short biography (100 words):
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Please explain how your previous experience could contribute to debate in the working groups you have selected: (200 word)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Please explain what motivates you to participate to the JAES CSO Forum (200 words)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Do you have any specific accessibility needs? *
○ No
○ Yes (please, specify in "Other")
○ Other: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
If you have any questions, please kindly address them to the Directorate of Citizens and Diaspora Organization (CIDO) at the African Union Commission: cido@africa-union.org