Donor Round-Table Meeting organised by the UNDP

03 May 2002

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), together with the European Union (EU), today hosted a donor round-table discussion to raise funds for the Civil Society Secretariat to prepare for the Global Forum. The unequivocal and solid support the UNDP and EU have demonstrated for the Process – especially their involvement in our fund-raising efforts - is a ground-breaking development that further bolsters our confidence that the Global Forum will be run successfully.

The round-table will be attended by twelve Foreign Missions (embassies) and the following six donor agencies:

1. European Union (EU)
2. Ford Foundation
3. The Friedrich Naumann Foundation
4. National Development Agency (NDA)
5. Swiss Development Corporation
6. Irish Aid.

The Secretariat has a projected overall budget of R200 million to run the Global Forum - which takes place from 19 August to 4 September 2002 as part of the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD). Of this amount, we expect R120 million to come from local and international donor agencies. The joint UNDP-EU round-table is expected to secure commitments to provide at least 60% of our projected budget.

Report on Progress

1. The CS Secretariat has secured funding from the Ford Foundation for an amount of R6 million. The donation will come in two trunches. The money will fund the following process:
   1. The South Africa Process: convening of national and provincial consultative meetings, security and the development of SA civil society’s position on the New Economic Plan for Africa’s Development (NEPAD);
   2. The SADC Process: the convening of preparatory meetings; and
   3. The Africa Process: the convening of Africa-wide meetings and consultative conferences. The aim will be to ensure the development and preparation of a common African Position on crucial issues.
2. In March 2002, the CS Secretariat secured funding from the National Development Agency (NDA). The NDA funds have been critical in ensuring the smooth running of the Secretariat and the preparations so far.
3. The CS Secretariat is currently involved in negotiations with Diakonia (a funding organisation) to secure more funding for the whole preparatory process. The negotiations are at an advanced stage and we hope to announce positive results in this regard before the end of May 2002.
4. We are engaged in negotiations with the South African government to secure a commitment from them to fund certain crucial areas. We have already written a letter to the government specifying the areas we would like them to finance, which include the following:
   1. The venue (Nasrec)
   2. Policing and related security areas
   3. Medical facilities.
5. The rest part of our funding will come from corporate sponsors. In line with our strategy, we are currently engaging several corporate sponsors with the view to securing more funding. Corporate sponsorship funds will come in the form of advertising rights as well as direct cash injections into the Process. We are expecting this type of funding to constitute a large percentage of the final figure we have budgeted for.
6. Our relationship with the Johannesburg World Summit Company (JOWSCO) has been formalized. We are currently implementing aspects of the provisional agreement we have negotiated with them. As part of the agreement, JOWSCO will assume certain logistical functions of the hosting of the Global forum. We expect them to be involved in, inter alia, transport and accommodation areas.
7. The Secretariat has launched a website to facilitate the dissemination of information as well as expedite the registration process. The site provides for easy on-line registration of delegates. (To view the site, please visit: worldsummit.org.za)
8. We are currently consolidating South Africa’s civil society. In the next few weeks activity will be feverish as we host consultative forums at national and provincial levels throughout the country. We will soon be hosting a National Women’s Consultative Workshop as part of making sure that the agenda for women is consolidated and its place ensure in the final agenda for the Global Forum.

Zakes Hlatshwayo

CEO: CS Secretariat

For more information, contact:

Muzi Khumalo

Media & Communications

WSSD CS SECRETARIAT

Tel: +27 11 403 4119

Cell: +27 72 255 9071