Hello everyone,
 
As promised, we had some discussions = around funding=20 for Prepcom 3 and the selection committee comprises the five regional = focal=20 points from the bureau. This means that the Asia Pacific caucus does = have a=20 say over who gets funding and who doesn't. To help us in this = decision-making=20 and to ensure fair and open processes, I'm putting forward the criteria = that was=20 proposed under the Civil Society Facility Fund document. The text=20 reads:
 
Fellowships for participation in the = Summit=20 process
A number of fellowships will be made = available to=20 civil society entities, to ensure travel and accommodation. As mentioned = in=20 Section 3 above, priority will be given to participants coming from LDCs = (less=20 developing countries) or representing other groups (least developed = countries,=20 developing countries, countries in transition, disabled persons, youth, = women,=20 older people, indigenous people, displaced persons, refugees,=20 etc.).
 
Selection criteria:
  1. accreditation
  2. diversity of stakeholders (families)=20 representation
  3. diversity of views on the = themes/issues of the=20 Summit
  4. individuals, who have personally and = actively been=20 involved in a WSIS consultation process related to WSIS = activities
  5. balancing the needs of displaced = persons and=20 refugee groups
  6. gender equity and equality
  7. balanced gender, geographical/country=20 representation
  8. balanced rural-urban representation, = with an=20 emphasis for rural and urban poor groups
  9. bottom-up relevance/grassroots=20 links
In addition, we are also adding the = criteria of=20 persons or groups who are planning to do work and/or hold events at the = Summit=20 itself. And we could expand this to include doing work at national level = and=20 ensuring/facilitating wider participation. The Civil Society Facility = Fund is=20 aiming to provide funds for distance participation, showcasing of = projects and=20 networking, awareness-raising and advocacy at naitonal, regional and = global=20 levels. Please read the document again if you've forgotten the four = areas of=20 priority for funding. You can find this on the www.geneva2003.org">http://www.geneva2003.org">www.geneva2003.org = website.
 
 
Currently (this list is not updated), = the names=20 which are on record for fellowships from the Asia Pacific = are:
 
BANGLADESH
Mansur Rahman, Bangladesh, Action on = Disability and=20 Development (People with Disabilities family)
Reza Salim, Bangladesh, Bangladesh = Friendship=20 Education Society
Dulal Biswas, Bangladesh, National = Federation of=20 Youth Organisations in Bangladesh (Youth family)
Mohammad Ahsan, Bangladesh, Taking IT = Global (Youth=20 family)
Ahmed Swapan Mahmud, Bangladesh, Voices for Interactive Choice and=20 Empowerment
 
CHINA
Peng Yang, China, Taking IT Global = (Youth=20 family)
 
INDIA
Vivek Agrawal, India, Centre for = Development=20 Communication
Arunachalam Prabaharan, India, Public=20 Action
Ambruta Unkule, India, Taking IT Global = (Youth=20 family)
Aditi Uptat, India, Taking IT Global = (Youth=20 family)
Varun Puri, India, Taking IT Global = (Youth=20 family)
Sonali Unkule, India, Taking IT Global = (Youth=20 family)
Uday Rosario, India, Taking IT Global = (Youth=20 family)
Kartik Nagarkatti, India, Taking IT = Global (Youth=20 family)
 
MALAYSIA
Varsha Kantilal Ajmera, Malaysia, World = Youth=20 Foundation (NGO family)
 
NEPAL
Kesh Bahadur Pariyar, Nepal, Literary = Academy for=20 Dalip of Nepal
 
PAKISTAN
Kausar Parveen, Pakistan, Peace = Worldwide (Academia=20 and Education family)
 
PHILIPPINES
Robert Sagun, Philippines, Taking IT = Global (Youth=20 family; nominated by Youth focal point)
Chat Garcia Ramilo, Philippines, APC = (Gender=20 family)
Susanna George, Philippines, Isis = International=20 Manila (Gender family)
 
SRI LANKA
Dilanthe Withanage, Sri Lanka, = Worldview=20 International Foundation (NGO family)
 
THAILAND
Sunit Shrestha, Thailand, Taking IT = Global (Youth=20 family, nominated by Youth focal point)
 
 
 
IMPORTANT: Organisations named are = those who have=20 accreditation to the WSIS process. These applicants could also be = representing=20 other organisations besides those accredited.
 
 
As you can see from the above, many are = still not=20 listed as having applied for fellowships. This includes Al Alegre and = myself who=20 have actually already applied. In any case, I hope to get an updated = list from=20 the secretariat soon. But in the meantime, what I=20 need now from everyone is cooperation and input on the=20 following:
  1. for those who are still keen to = register yourself=20 for fellowship. New deadline is 1st August but please register = immediately=20 rather than leave this for later. Visit: http://www.geneva2003.org/wsis/documents/fellowship_form_civil_so= ciety_prep3.doc">http://www.geneva2003.org/wsis/documents/fellowship_form_civil_s= ociety_prep3.doc
  2. your name, country, accredited = organisation and=20 family if you have applied but your name's not listed = above
  3. specific nominations of people or = groups whom you=20 know who should be applying but for some reason haven't. We do want to = give=20 some priority to the Pacific. Please take note that there is already a = family/focal point looking after interests for Middle East and = West Asia=20 so we do not need to include the Western Asia region.
  4. additional criteria if you feel that = the criteria=20 listed in the Civil Society Facility Fund document is inadequate or = needs=20 expansion
  5. a selection committe comprising of = Asia Pacific=20 caucus members who can ensure balance of thematic/issue representation = as=20 well. For this, I would suggest at least for youth, to include Nick = Moraitis=20 if we are to follow this path. For gender, we could have someone from = the=20 Gender Caucus or the NGO Strategies Working Group. Others? We will = also=20 probably need to consult other focal points within the bureau on = indigenous=20 peoples, NGOs, disabilities, etc.
Limitations due to funding
I would suggest having a shortlist of = nominees of=20 15 names, in order of priority or ranking for at least the last five as = funds=20 may be insufficient. This listing should be balanced and as I've said = before=20 include a couple of representations at least from the Pacific who are = keen to=20 either conduct events at the Summit or at national level.
 
 
These are my suggestions, updates etc. = Feel free to=20 comment and input. We need to make decisions I believe latest by 15th=20 August.
 
I have copied this e-mail to the Civil = Society=20 Bureau list to ensure transparency of decisions and = processes.
 
 
Warm regards,
 
Angela