The Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP)
IFT, 27th July 2006
Conference call notes

GCAP - IFG PADUA 

Together for Equality 

Chair	
Kumi	
Present	
Cecilia, Alison W, Marcio, Alison M, Rasheda, Michelle, Rosa, Vidar, Kristen, Claire, Vince, Ntsiki, Owain	
Apologies	
Thomas, Adelaide, Katsuji, Henri, Christiane
	
Unable To Connect	

NEXT MEETING: THURSDAY 10th AUGUST @ 12 GMT!

Background documents
	
Action/Documents	Person responsible	Agenda item	
Notes meeting 13 July	IFT Support Team 	1	
Proposed Statement on Lebanon	IFT Support Team/Alison Marshall	2	
Draft Proposal for IFT Composition & Working Procedure	IFT sub-group	3	
Note on selecting International Organisations on IFT	IFT Support Team	4	
Promotional Materials	IFT Support Team	5	
Options on Face to Face meeting	IFT Support Team	6	
Note to IFT from Funders Group & Excel sheet Overview of Round 1 	Funders Group	7	

Agenda
	
1) Confirm agenda, chair of the call and minutes of the last call
 
2) Consider the statement on the situation in Lebanon 
•	Decision on whether to base statement on Beirut Platform 
•	Finalize exact wording 
 
3) Report back from sub-group 
•	Finalise IFT composition 
•	Finalise Working procedures 
 
4) Finalise the international organisations representatives
 
5) Promotional materials (attachment to follow)
•	Consider draft list of VIPs to approach about the promotional materials 
 
6) Options paper on face-to-face meeting of national coalitions 
 
7) Funders Update – (attached note from Funders Group previously circulated to IFT)
•	Feedback on note
•	Latest update from Alison W
 
8) Update from e-Communications Task Force
 
9) AOB

NOTES
	
Key issues	Notes	Proposals for action / Decisions	
1)  Confirm Draft Agenda, Chair of the meeting and minutes of the last meeting

	The agenda was confirmed with no further amends/additions.

There were no volunteers to chair the meeting, so Kumi offered to chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.  

Not all the regions were present. It was agreed that the meeting could proceed but that the decisions would not be binding until colleagues from the Africa and Middle East region had had the chance to consider them as there wasn’t anybody on the call from that region.

	

2) Consider the statement on the situation in Lebanon 
- Decision on whether to base statement on Beirut Platform 
- Finalize exact wording 
	
There was general agreement on the proposed statement with the addition of the following amendments. 

-	The list of supporting organizations who want to sign on should appear at the bottom of the statement.
-	There should be mention of inequality in the opening paragraph.

“The Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP), an alliance formed by NGOs, international networks, social movements, trade unions, women's organisations, faith based groups and other civil society actors working at the international, regional and national levels to eradicate poverty and inequality, is most concerned by the current violence in the Middle East.  In March 2006 GCAP met in Beirut and issued a declaration, which highlights the way war increases poverty: 

'Armed conflicts, wars and their consequences destroy livelihoods, undermine democratic processes and human rights -including the right to self-determination- and divert resources that should be directed to development and social equity. Investing in human security best prevents conflicts and builds peace. The protection of people is a universal obligation of all states and international democratic institutions. Growing militarism and rearmament reduces political space and public accountability of states, diverts development financing and ultimately, renders lasting peace elusive and unrealisable. War and conflict disproportionately affect the security, dignity and future of women and children".

Today we urgently restate our call to governments to 'fully support effective peace-building and conflict prevention strategies and ensure that post conflict reconstruction programmes enshrine social and economic justice, poverty eradication and public accountability.'

[GCAP is supported by x insert name of organisation]”

It was agreed that to further reflect on the statement and to allow those not on the call especially colleagues from Middle East and Africa the amended note should be circulated and everyone given 48hours to make further proposals.
	
CIVICUS IFT staff support team to circulate the final statement and encourage further feedback within 48 hours.	
3) Report back from sub-group 
- Finalise IFT composition 
- Finalise Working procedures 
	
The document was agreed upon with only the following additions/comments:

- The language on ‘non-civil society’ actors needs to change as religious organisations are part of civil society .

- There was an addition to the quorum working procedure: “If there is no quorum on the second attempt at rescheduling the meeting (with sufficient notice), the call will go ahead.”  

Regarding the proposal to invite Local Authorities and Parliamentarians to the IFT we agreed to keep in mind the caveat ‘It is felt by some that partnerships with Local Authorities and Parliamentarians should be left to regions and national coalitions to explore.  The proposal is to hold on taking any decisions to engage with [these bodies] at the IFT level until further research and consultation has been carried out. 
	
The IFT to use the new guidelines in their work. 	

4) Finalise the note on international organisations representatives
	
This communication was noted with the request that the number of places (6) be made clear as to avoid any confusion. 	
IFT staff support team to send the note out to the new international organization list
	
5) Promotional materials 
Consider draft list of VIPs to approach about the promotional materials 
	There were no objections to the proposed list of spokespeople/ambassadors. 
 
•	Nelson Mandela
•	Graça Machel 
•	Angelique Kiddo,
•	Salif Keita
•	Youssou N’Dor
•	Zico
•	Samuel Eto
•	Desmond Tutu 
•	Bono
•	Sachin Tendulkar
•	Wangari Mathai

IFT members will have until Monday to send in alternative names.  Where possible members should indicate whether they would be able to help with getting their proposed spokespeople on board.  

The Feminist Task Force will send a note out on their list-serve to request suggestions to ensure there is a gender balance of GCAP spokespeople/ambassadors.   	IFT staff support team to prepare an updated list after further feedback from the IFT members and the mobilization group. 

IFT staff support team to contact this updated list to request supportive statements and to record messages for the campaign.

6) Options paper on face-to-face meeting of national coalitions 
	
After a brief discussion it was agreed that the IFT had to work with the steer coming from Beirut and therefore the IFT staff support team and the AFT were asked to begin developing plans for option 1 – a meeting of national coalitions just before the WSF. 

The funding group will be asked to consider the support for this meeting as part of the Round 2 deliberations. 	
IFT support team and AFT to begin planning national coalition meeting a few days before the WSF.

IFT staff support team to include costings in the Round 2 bid. 	

7) Funders Update 
- Feedback on note
- Latest update from Alison W
	
There was a brief discussion about the funding note. Everyone was encouraged to send their feedback on the issues raised especially in relation to the distinctions between the funders group and the IFT.

Alison W updated everyone about the round 2 applications and that the funders would be meeting shortly to consider this.

The IFT asked Alison W to relay to the funders group the need for urgency in getting back to national coalitions on decisions with the month of mobilisation 7 weeks away. 	
Everyone to feedback to funders group on the issues raised in the note. 

Alison W to relay the IFT message to the funders group	

8) Update from e-Communications Task Force

	
The tender for www.whiteband.org has been awarded to One World South Asia, who are part of the One World Foundation and based in Delhi.  Work on the website has begun and the chair of the e-Comms group - Karina Brisby from Oxfam - will be visiting OWSA shortly to oversee this work.  The website should be updated by mid-August.  

The IFT asked Marcio to relay to the e-Communications group the need to ensure the website is running effectively ASAP so that groups can use it in planning for the month of mobilization which begins in 7 weeks time. 
 	
Marcio to relay the IFT message to the e-communications group	
9) AoB
	
AWEPON have organized a sub-regional workshop for East Africa taking place in Nairobi next week (2-4 Aug) to plan mobilization events in that region.  

The Feminist Task Force have received funding and will be holding a strategic planning meeting in Toronto (alongside the AIDS Conference) on 11th-13th August.  The FTF have filled most regional places but would like to outreach to members of women’s organizations from the South Pacific or Middle East who would like to participate in the meeting.  If you know of anyone that fits this category and would like to attend please forward details to Rosa or Ana on the FTF.

 The Children and Youth Task Force, are planning a strategic meeting and various events in Nairobi at the Youth Employment Summit, which runs from 13th – 16th Sept, coinciding with the launch of the Month of Mobilization.  The CYTF would like to see more children’s organizations involved in the task force, so please forward details of any interested organizations to youth@whiteband.org 

Various networks in the UK are getting together under the banner of GCAP to plan events for the Month of Mobilization.  In order to build some momentum and a sense of solidarity in their planning they have requested more info on how many coalitions are currently active, a list of supporting organizations and a brief outline of what activities are being planned globally. The IFT support team agreed to prepare a summary next week.

A conference call with the IFT Support Team and regional focal points has been organized for Tuesday 1 August, 12pm GMT to discuss issues regarding internal communication; communicating mobilization plans; developing an effective website; and handing new enquiries.
	
IFT staff support team to prepare note summarizing current plans.