In recognition of the upcoming 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the 2009 observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty focuses on the plight of children and families living in poverty, and the need to fulfil children's rights in partnership with them. The 17 October observance will present an opportunity for children and people working with them to speak out against poverty and hear their actions to implement policies that strengthen them in tackling poverty and exclusion.
World Food Day
Observed on 16 October, the aim of World Food Day is to heighten public awareness on the world food problem and strengthen solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty. World Food Day was proclaimed in 1979 by the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In 1980, the General Assembly endorsed the observance of the Day in consideration of the fact that food is a requisite for human survival and well-being, and a fundamental human necessity.
SABA 2009 Annual General Conference
The Southern African Broadcast Association (SABA) will on 11-14 October 2009 hold their annual general conference in Maseru, Lesotho. This year's theme is 'Embracing Digital Migration'. SABA is a membership organisation representing public service and other broadcasting organisations of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. It was launched in 1993 as a non profit, nongovernmental organisation to promote quality broadcasting by enhancing professionalism and the credibility of public service broadcasting in the countries of the region.
World Water Monitoring Day
World Water Monitoring Day is an international education and outreach programme that builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world by engaging citizens, especially school children, to conduct basic monitoring of their local water bodies. Join the world in celebrating this day on 18 September with an emphasis on the crucial importance of monitoring as part of the water quality assurance.
International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
The International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer has been observed since 1995. The commemoration around the world offers an opportunity to focus attention and action at the global, regional and national levels on the protection of the ozone layer. All states are invited to devote 16 September to the promotion of concrete activities in accordance with the objectives and goals of the Montreal Protocol and its Amendments.
International Day of Democracy
Celebrated on 15 September annually, the International Day of Democracy provides an opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world. Democracy is as much a process as a goal and only with the full participation and support by the international community, the national governing bodies, civil society and individuals, can the ideal of democracy be made into a reality to be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere. The theme of the 2009 International Day of Democracy is 'Democracy and political tolerance'.
The 2009 FANRPAN High Level Regional Policy Dialogue
The Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) will on 1-4 September 2009 hold their Annual Regional Stakeholders Dialogue in Maputo, Mozambique. The theme for this year's dialogue is "True Contribution of Agriculture to Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction in Southern African countries". The Policy Dialogue presents an excellent opportunity for the Southern African region to dialogue on researched case studies from different countries on the theme, based on the various forward and backward linkages between agriculture and other sectors.
At least 14 countries, most of which are from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), have confirmed their presence at the Mozambique International Trade Fair (FACIM) 2009 opening on 31 August 2009. The weeklong event will take place in Maputo under the theme "FACIM, a meeting point for businesspeople." From the SADC region, the participants include South Africa, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Angola, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and other 19 foreign companies. The strong representation of SADC countries, that represents a market of over 200 million inhabitants, is seen as proof of the realisation of the regional integration process. At national level, there are at least 172 Mozambican companies that have already registered to attend the event. The Mozambican President, H E Armando E Guebuza, will inaugurate the fair.
SARCOF-13 Announcement
Southern African Development Community (SADC) through the Drought Monitoring Centre is organizing the Thirteenth Southern Africa Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF-13) in Harare, Zimbabwe, on 26-27 August 2009. SARCOF-13 is a collaborative effort between the Government of Zimbabwe through Meteorological Services Department, SADC, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET), and other partners. SARCOF-13 will immediately follow a seven-day Climate Experts Meeting of SADC national Meteorological/Hydrological Services (NMHSs) for the purposes of developing inputs for the Forum.
17 August is a day commemorated by the Southern African Development Community member states to mark the organisation’s transformation from a coordination conference into a fully fledged development community. The Heads of State and Government will this year celebrate the day during the ordinary summit on the first week of September in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. SADC was established under Article 2 of the SADC treaty by SADC member states to spearhead economic integration of southern Africa.
International Youth Day
12 August is the International Youth Day. Public information activities are organised to support the day as a way to promote better awareness of the World Programme of Action for Youth. Youth action, inclusion, and their full participation are key to developing today’s world for the generations of today and tomorrow and central to a sustainable existence. The United Nations General Assembly on 17 December 1999 in its resolution 54/120, endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth (Lisbon, 8-12 August 1998) that 12 August is declared International Youth Day.
The International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
The International Day of the World’s Indigenous People is celebrated on 9 August every year. In 2004 the United Nations Assembly proclaimed a Second International Decade by resolution 59/174. The goal of this Decade is to further strengthen international cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as culture, education, health, human rights, the environment, and social and economic development.
Many indigenous people live on the fringes of society, in sometimes precarious and impoverished conditions. Their material, environmental and spiritual situations, together with their world-views and intimate relationship with the land and natural resources, are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of globalisation.
World Day for International Justice
World Day for International Justice, also referred to as International Justice Day is celebrated throughout the world as part of an effort to recognize the emerging system of international criminal justice. 17 July was chosen because it is the anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute, the treaty that created the International Criminal Court. Each year, people around the world use this day to host events to promote international criminal justice, especially support for the International Criminal Court.
World Population Day
World Population Day is celebrated annually on 11 July. For 2009, people will be observing the day in different ways under the theme 'A chance to build awareness on the importance of educating girls on a wide range of development issues, including poverty, human rights and gender equality'. World Population Day seeks to raise awareness on global population issues.
International Day of Cooperatives
International Day of Cooperatives is celebrated on the first Saturday of July every year. Its aim is to increase awareness on cooperatives and promote the movement's successes and ideals of international solidarity, economic efficiency, equality, and world peace. The International Day also aims to strengthen and extend partnerships between the international cooperative movement and other actors, including governments at local, national and international levels.
This year's theme focuses on recovery rather than crisis. It aims to highlight the role that cooperatives have in not only promoting economic growth, but also in promoting ethical values which have been severely challenged during the financial and food crisis. It underlines that cooperatives can effectively contribute to the global economic recovery.
Day of the African Child
Day of the African Child is a day recognized throughout the world on June 16th as an opportunity to reflect on progress toward health, education, equality and protection for all the continent’s children. The Day also draws attention to the lives of African children today.
In Soweto, South Africa, thousands of black school children took to the streets in 1976, to protest the inferior quality of their education and to demand their right to be taught in their own language. Hundreds of young boys and girls were shot down with more than a thousand injured.
To honour the memory of those killed and the courage of all those who marched, the Day of the African Child has been celebrated on 16 June every year since 1991, when it was first initiated by the Organization of African Unity.
COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) will on 7-8 June 2009 hold the 13th Heads of State and Government Summit at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. COMESA began in December 1994 when it was formed to replace the former Preferential Trade Area (PTA) which had existed from the earlier days of 1981. It endeavours to achieve sustainable economic and social progress in all member states through increased co-operation and integration in all fields of development, particularly in trade; customs and monetary affairs; transport; communication and information technology; industry and energy; gender; agriculture; environment; and natural resources. With its 19 member states and a population of over 400 million, COMESA forms a major market place for both internal and external trade.
eLearning Africa is the most comprehensive conference on Information and Communications Technology for development, education and training on the Continent. Its mission is to bring people together who are actively engaged in education and in the implementation of learning technologies in schools, universities, corporate training as well as in education in the public sector. Participants are high-level decision-makers such as Ministers of Education, representatives from government agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), development agencies and international organisations, senior executives from businesses, as well as practitioners from all fields of education. eLearning Africa will host a conference entitled “eLearning Africa 2009: 4th International Conference on ICT for Development, Education, and Training” from 27 - 28 May 2009 in Senegal. The conference will be presented in English and French; it includes plenary sessions, smaller presentation and special focus sessions, practical demonstrations and debates on specific topics.
Africa Day, celebrated annually on 25 May, commemorates the founding of the Organization of African Unity, which later came to be known as the African Union (AU) in July 2002. The formation of the Organization of the African Unity gave depth and meaning to the political independence and the socio-economic development of many African countries. The Day acknowledges the progress that Africans have made and also gives us an opportunity to reflect on the common challenges that we face in the global environment. The AU is at the centre of the continent’s renewal process, aimed at making a break with a past that was characterised by political instability, poverty and underdevelopment.
Panel discussion: The transition of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) from advisory to legislative body: Link between citizen's participation and Africa's integration
The Pan-African Parliament, in partnership with the Southern Africa Trust, TrustAfrica and the Mail & Guardian, will host a panel discussion to discuss "the transition of the PAP from advisory to legislative body: Link between citizen's participation and Africa's integration". The panel discussion will be held on 25 May 2009 at the Gallagher Estate in Midrand, South Africa. Key speakers will include Akuna Akere (AU-ECOSSOC), Brian Kagoro (Action Aid) and members of parliament.
Civil society dialogue with the Pan-African Parliament
The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) will, from 18 - 29 May 2009, host its 11th Ordinary Session at the Gallagher Estate in Midrand, South Africa. The Southern Africa Trust and TrustAfrica, in collaboration with the Pan-African Parliament will host a consultative meeting, on 25 May 2009 at the Gallagher Estate, to strengthen the Midrand Civil Society Support Facility. The Support Facility is a platform for civil society to interface with the Pan-African Parliament and other intergovernmental agencies in order to strengthen good governance and economic development. In order for civil society to be able to contribute effectively to development and democracy, they need an enabling environment that ensures that their work can find its way into parliamentary programming and committees.
Key issues for discussion at the dialogue will be:
How can the role of citizen’s participation be enhanced in the PAP and integration agenda?
What challenges and opportunities exist to unlock the potential that citizens have to improve their own conditions?
How can the operating environment for citizen participation be improved into an enabling environment?
How can micro-finance benefit the poor?
The Southern Africa Trust, in partnership with the Association of Microfinance Institutions of Zambia, will be holding a workshop on microfinance at the Protea Hotel in Lusaka, Zambia on 13 - 14 May 2009. The aim of the workshop is to create a platform for integration of micro-finance issues as a focus in the SADC finance and investment protocol and to present the results of a research study commissioned by the Southern Africa Trust on "the nature of the micro-finance sector and its impact on poverty". The workshop will also identify key policy and strategic constraints facing the micro-finance sector in the region as well as recommend policies and strategies which could assist the region in terms of enhancing the contribution of the micro-finance sector to eradicate poverty in an effective and sustainable manner.
Sustainable Development 2009
The Wessex Institute of Technology will, from 13 - 15 May 2009, host the fourth International Conference on Sustainable Development and Planning in Cyprus. The Conference addresses subjects of regional development in an integrated way as well as in accordance with principles of sustainability. It also provides a common forum for all stakeholders specializing in the range of subjects to be included in sustainable development and planning. The conference will be of interest to environmentalists, engineers, ecologists, economists, policy makers, government officials, researchers, academics and architects in the field of sustainability.
The World Creative Youth Forum (WCYF) 2009, a gathering place for all the youth with the objective of mainstreaming sustainable development and encouraging a united effort and involvement towards sustainable development, will take place from 5 -10 May 2009 in the Philippines. The Forum is an inspiration to all the youth who want to change the world for the better. The conference focuses on themes like peace and human rights; climate change; sustainable lifestyle; entrepreneurship; education and technology; and advocacy for sustainable development.
World Press Freedom Day is an opportunity to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom. Celebrated annually on 3 May, the day allows us to evaluate the freedom of the press; to defend the independence of the media and to acknowledge those journalists that lost their lives in the line of duty.
Durban Review Conference
Geneva, Switzerland is set to host the Durban Review Conference from 20 - 24 April 2009. The Conference aims to evaluate the goals set by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in Durban, South Africa, in 2001. The Review Conference will serve as a catalyst to fulfilling the promises of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action through improved actions, initiatives and practical solutions, illuminating the way toward equality for every individual and group in all regions and countries in the world.
Thomas Says Change4ever
Thomas Msengana, change4ever ambassador, is hosting a family fun day to be held on 28 March 2009 at the University of Johannesburg Soweto Campus. The fun day will have lots of entertainment with music from South Africa's popular DJ's and sporting codes like soccer, cricket, basketball and netball.
World Water Day was borne, on 22 March 1992, out of a recommendation by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro. The Day aims to celebrate the resources that we have; share the opportunities and experiences; and provide a platform for advocating for the sustainable management of these resources. The theme for this year’s World Water Day is “Shared Water – Shared Opportunities” and will be concentrating on transboundary waters.
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
On 21 March 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid pass laws. In 1966, this day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The Day calls upon the international community to maximize efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.
International Women's Day
Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women's craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and others.
Capacity Building Technical Assistance Fund Request for Proposals (RFP) for Civil Society Organizations
The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) invites proposals from eligible civil society organizations to help advance the aims of its Capacity Building Technical Assistance Fund (CBTAF).
The purpose of CBTAF is to provide institutional support to civil society organizations that are working to promote good governance in South Africa.
Inaugural Lecture: Building a Continental Coalition to Secure Civil Society
On 12 February 2009, TrustAfrica will host an Inaugural Lecture on Civil Society and Development in Africa Series titled: Building a Continental Coalition to Secure Civil Society. Scheduled to take place at Le Djoloff Hotel in Dakar Senegal, the lecture is in response to the emergence of restrictive laws in Africa directed towards civil society. It will be delivered by Michael Edwards, a renowned scholar and writer on civil society and development issues.
The World Economic Forum, an independent, international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas, will hold its annual meeting from 28 January to 1 February 2009 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. First conceived in 1971, the Forum strives towards a world-class corporate governance system where values are as important a basis as rules. The forum presents an opportunity for leaders from industry, government and civil society to shape the transformation for the benefit of all stakeholders. This year’s annual meeting will be themed “Shaping the Post-Crisis World”.
It will be explored through six programmatic areas:
Promoting Stability in the Financial System and Reviving Global Economic Growth
Ensuring Effective Global, Regional and National Governance for the Long Term
Addressing the Challenges of Sustainability and Development
Shaping the Values and Leadership Principles for a Post-Crisis World
Catalysing the Next Wave of Growth through Innovation, Science and Technology
Understanding the Implications on Industry Business Models
World Social Forum
The World Social Forum will take place from January 27 to February 1, 2009 in Belém ,Brazil. This is an open meeting place for reflective thinking, democratic debate of ideas, formulation of proposals, free exchange of experiences and inter-linking for effective action, by groups and movements of civil society that are opposed to neo- liberalism and to domination of the world by capital and any form of imperialism. They are committed to building a society centred on the human person.
