The Asia-Pacific CSO Forum will be held on 24-25 November 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand, and serves as a preparatory civil society (CS) meeting in advance of the midterm review (MTR) of the 2013 Asia Pacific Ministerial Declaration on Population and Development. The intergovernmental MTR is being organized by UNFPA APRO and ESCAP on 26-28 November 2018 at UN ESCAP, and aims to review the implementation of the Programme of Action, the key actions for the further implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the recommendations of the 2013 Asia Pacific Ministerial Declaration on Population and Development.

The CSO Forum is open to CS representatives from throughout Asia and the Pacific. Organizations that work on the following issues are particularly encouraged to apply: SRHR, Gender Equality, HIV, Human Rights, Migration, Aging, Youth, Climate Change, or Conflict.

Please make your applications as strong as possible, as there will be more applicants than there is space for.

A limited number of full and partial scholarships are available. Full scholarships include airfare, accommodation and modest daily subsistence allowance (DSA) will be available for a limited number of organizations according to criteria listed above. Partial scholarships includes support for accommodation and DSA only (for participants that can support their own airfare). If you need funding to attend, please ensure that you indicate this in your application.

The early deadline for scholarship applications is October 15, 2018. The deadline for self-funded applications is October 22, 2018.

Please also indicate on the application form if you are going to attend the MTR as a CS representative on a national delegation.

Due to the limitations of space, only one person per organization is encouraged to apply. No more than 2 persons will be considered for participation from the same organization.

Note that participation in the CSO Forum (or Youth Forum) is required for those that would like to attend the Midterm Review, but acceptance to the CSO Forum does not imply acceptance to the Midterm Review. Please also note that the CSO Forum is open to CS representatives that do not wish to attend the MTR.

Applications will be reviewed by a regional CSO Steering Committee in consultation with the ESCAP, prioritizing those who best fit the target group and to ensure balance in geographic and thematic representation, scope of mandate, and level of experience with ESCAP processes amongst other criteria. Notification on the status of the applications will be sent by October 31, 2018.

Apply here!