Roundtable 4 has two sessions. The first session aims at building alliances and concentrates specifically on the engagement of the private sector with other civil society actors and seeks to forge a common agenda on issues related to migration and development. The session aims to identify where the private sector and broader civil society share both common interests and a mutual willingness to advocate for policy change. A planned interface session with governments would then allow roundtable participants to engage policymakers on this common agenda. In addition, private sector and civil society actors could aim to define non-policy related goals that they could seek to advance together.

The second session concentrates on the Future of the Civil Society Days and has a two-fold objective. First, it is intended to prompt a conversation among civil society on whether the CSD is succeeding in advancing its core mission. More specifically it aims to discuss whether: the CSD articulate clearly and effectively for policymakers the concerns of civil society on issues related to migration and development; create greater understanding among civil society organizations (CSOs) themselves of migration and development issues, and how these issues are viewed by policymakers; and finally, foster cooperation among CSOs in ways that allow civil society to be more effective in influencing policy, and in implementing programs on the ground. Second, this session intends to review key aspects of how the Civil Society Days are structured and organized, and propose potential ways to improve its organizational foundations and its operating modalities.

Papers

4.1—Building Alliances: Business engaging with other Civil Society actors

A Policy Framework on International Migration: a Trade Union and Civil Society
Perspective on Building Alliances with Business, ILO

Forging a framework of common interest and action among cross-sector stakeholders, Barbara Span, Western Union

Building alliances and a common agenda between the private sector and civil society, Doris Magsaysay Ho, Chief Executive Officer, Magsaysay Maritime Corporation

 Defining a Business Framework for International Migration Policy, Chad Bolick & Nicolette Van Exel, Business for Social Responsibility (BSR)

4.2—The Future of the Forum

The Future of the Civil Society Days of the Global Forum: Considerations & Ideas for Moving Forward

Comments submitted by:

John Slocum - MacArthur Foundation

Gregory Maniatis - Special Advisor to Peter Sutherland, the UN Special Representative for International Migration & Development

Ruby Gropas - Democritus University of Thrace & CSD Athens 2009 Organizing Committee

 

To read the background paper for the Roundtable 4, please click here.

Index of Papers for RT 4

Papers written both by private sector and other civil society stakeholders will form the initial basis of the roundtable discussion.

For more information read the full version of the concept note.