STRENGTHENING CIVIL SOCIETY PARTICIPATION IN THE SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS AND THE OAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

---

TECHNICAL PROFILE

The Office for the Summit Process, with the support of the United States Agency for International Development, will implement the Strengthening Civil Society Participation in the Summit of the Americas and the OAS General Assembly. The goal of this project is to act as catalyst to sustain and enhance this participation throughout the Hemisphere in the XXXV General Assembly and the Fourth Summit of the Americas, Ministerial and other high-level meetings, to respond to critical issues in the Inter-American agenda. The timeline of the project is September 2004 – February 2006.

This Project is broken down into the following areas:

1. Support for the XXXV OAS General Assembly

2. Support for the IV Summit of the Americas

3. Support for Ministerial and Summit-related Meetings

4. Maintaining and Further Developing the CSO Website

5. Complementary Support to the Inter-American Civil Society Partnership Initiative: Civil Society Forums and Seminars Series

1. Support for the XXXV OAS General Assembly

The project will finance the Civil Society Hemispheric Forum, to be held in the United States in March of 2005. The objective will be to agree on the recommendations to be presented to the OAS Permanent Council and to the Special Commission of the Organization (CISC) in relation with the preparation for the XXXV General Assembly of the OAS. This forum will foster the participation of CSO and networks from all geographic areas.

Likewise, the project will finance the General Assembly Dialogue, the dialogue between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, the Heads of Member State delegations and civil society representatives to be held during the XXXV Regular Session of the OAS General Assembly, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, United States, in June, 2005. This dialogue will focus on the topic proposed by the government of the United States as the host country of the General Assembly. The aforementioned dialogue will last at least two (2) hours and will be held at the site of the OAS General Assembly. The purpose of this dialogue is to receive the recommendations of the Civil Society Hemispheric Forum, exchange experiences and points of views, review policies and receive recommendations for consideration by the Heads of the Delegations and the Secretary General, during their discussions at the XXXV General Assembly. Additionally, civil society will have the opportunity to discuss the challenges in preparing the Fourth Summit of the Americas.

2. Support for the IV Summit of the Americas

The project will be used to fund and finance the Civil Society Regional Forum in Preparation of the Fourth Summit of Americas, the regional forum prior to the Summit of the Americas in Mar de Plata, Argentina in November 2005. The Regional Preparatory Forum intends to enlist NGOs support and suggestions for the Fourth Summit of the Americas “Creating Jobs to Confront Poverty and Strengthen Democratic Governance.”

This initiative will be used to support the dialogue with civil society during the Fourth Summit of the Americas. The Dialogue provides a space for the exchange of views among civil society organizations and Ministers of Foreign Affairs with the purpose of contributing to the implementation of policies that would improve the quality of life in the region. It will also be an opportunity to exchange views and provide information and suggestions to the National Summit Coordinators on mechanisms to strengthen civil society participation in the Summits of the Americas process.

3. Support for Ministerial and Summit-related Meetings

The Office for the Summit Process will continue to facilitate and provide preparatory and technical support to civil society for their participation in Ministerial and Summit-related Meetings so that they can take a more active role early in the Summit Process. Funds will be used to sponsor representatives of civil society organizations to participate in Ministerial and Summit-related Meetings in order to offer them an opportunity to contribute to policy making initiatives and improve their understanding of key issues to be discussed at the XXXV General Assembly and the IV Summit of the Americas.

4. Maintaining and Further Developing the CSO Website

This project will contribute to improving the civil society website. The website is the primary medium for disseminating information to and facilitating CSOs and other interested parties involvement. It acts as the historical archive of events and documents and is the central location for accessing current and up to date information on future activities.

5. Complementary Support to the Inter-American Civil Society Partnership Initiative: Civil Society Forums and Seminars Series

With the support of the Open Society Institute, the Summits of the Americas Secretariat has established the Inter-American Civil Society Partnership Initiative, directed to enhance civil society participation throughout the Hemisphere in the initiatives set forth by the OAS General Assembly and by the Heads of State and Government in the Summit Process, Ministerial and other High-level meetings, and to respond to critical issues in the inter-American agenda. This project will be used to organize special sub-regional forums for civil society organizations and create space where they can debate agenda themes and build their capacity and cooperate with the Summits of the Americas Secretariat in preparation for forthcoming Ministerial Meetings, the XXXV OAS General Assembly, and the Fourth Summit of the Americas.