International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA)

DATE: June 17, 2020 - 2pm to 4pm CEST; 1pm to 3pm DST; 8am to 10am EDT; 5:30pm to 7:30pm IST

The current challenges and opportunities brought by the COVID-19 pandemic call for a conversation over the transformations we want to see in society, and in the humanitarian, social justice and environmental sectors. We are holding a two hour workshop to explore this conversation with a group of leaders of civil society networks and platforms. This builds on a short discussion document where leaders from a range of different sectors and backgrounds have shared their observations and thoughts, identifying possible directions that civil society organisations may want to go.

We will start with a series of provocations from the authors of the discussion document or from leaders of other platforms. These short insights will highlight the imperatives for change, given the current crisis and where we might be able to build from the COVID-19 pandemic to re-energise the demands of civil society organisations to put people at the heart of the changes we need: to protect the planet from degradation, to ensure that all human beings can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives, that economic, social and technological progress occurs in harmony with nature and fosters peaceful, just and inclusive societies.

We will then have breakout sessions (45 minutes) to explore:

• The new normal: Cementing the value of civil society
• Shifting the power: Getting beyond the rhetorics
• Transforming broken systems
• New internationalism: balancing universality and local focus
• Solidarity and protecting rights
• Keeping an eye on the prize: Climate and the sustainable development goals

These will be 45 minute open discussions in smaller groups.

With confirmed participation of: 

• Tanya Cox – Director – CONCORD Europe 
• Stephanie Draper – Chief Executive – Bond 
• Tasneem Essop – Executive Director – Climate Action Network International 
• Harsh Jaitli – CEO – VANI • Wolfgang Jamann – Executive Director – ICSC 
• Lysa John – CEO – CIVICUS • Hibak Kalfan – Executive Director – NEAR 
• Ignacio Packer – Executive Director – ICVA 
• Sarah Strack – Director – Forus International 
• Sam Wothington – CEO – InterAction

How to join the conversation: 

To receive registration details on joining the webinar please email: futurecso@icvanetwork.org After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.