World Urban Forum 10, Abu Dhabi, 6-13 February 2020.

December 6, 2019 10:40 am Published by Geoff Rostant

World Blind Union calls upon all IDA Members to nominate Delegates to the World Urban Forum 10, Abu Dhabi, 6-13 February 2020.

The World Blind Union (WBU) is happy to invite all IDA member organisations to nominate experts and qualified individuals from their membership/DPO networks to form part of the DPO delegation initiated and led by WBU to the Tenth Session of the World Urban Forum in Abu Dhabi, throughout 6-13^th of February 2020.

The World Urban Forum is the largest global forum on urban development and is organised under the auspice of the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat). It’s tenth session will have the theme:: Creating Cities of Opportunities: Connecting Culture and Innovation and their website can be found by clicking HERE. The Forum is engaging national and local governments, academia, private sector, and civil society interested in urban development. This event will take place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and the Delegation is expected to attend throughout 6-13^th of February, inclusive of a prepatory on-site training on disability inclusion in the New Urban Agenda.

Our Objectives

Following WBU:s global program on Accessible Smart Cities and Sustainable Urban Development, WBU seeks to create a larger space for DPO engagement across all disability constituency groups and accelerate awareness and advocacy around inclusion and accessibility in the implementation of the New Urban Agenda for Sustainable Urban Development. The objectives are to accelerate DPO leadership[1] in mainstream urban development forums and policy from a cross-disability focus, along strengthening the commitment to specifically Article 9 of the CRPDin the progressive realisation of Accessibility in relation to the New Urban Agenda.

Activities at the World Urban Forum 10

The Forum is comprised of high-level sessions, thematic dialogues, training events, side events, networking events and exhibitions. WBU plans to host one side event and one training event, and will co-organise several events hosted by partners. WBU strives to have persons with disabilities from diverse constituency groups to actively participate in our events, partner events and high-level sessions.

Accessibility

Nominated candidates will be requested to indicate accessibility requirements and formally request for reasonable accommodation; for instance personal support persons, assistants, service animals, visual guides, sign-language interpreters and easy-read documents. The host organisation has informed that the venue will be wheelchair accessible, but that CART and on-site international sign-language interpretation will be limited. WBU is actively working to ensure the host takes full responsibility to improve accessibility for meaningful participation of all groups.

How to nominate a delegate?

WBU calls on all IDA member organisations/DPO networks to nominate candidates. In case of self-nominations the candidate shall indicate membership affiliation and endorsement from their IDA member. The number of official delegates are limited to 6. Nominations shall be submitted to WBU:s Program Officer Hannes.lagrelius@wbu.ngo no later than November 22.

Nominations shall include a letter outlining in what ways the nominated candidate matches some or all of the below selection criteria. Please indicate accessibility requirements and reasonable accommodation. Attach CV of the nominated candidate.

Selection criteria for candidates

Interested candidates shall be nominated and supported by any IDA affiliated member organisation. Priority will be given to candidates who have undergone the BRIDGE CRPD-SDG trainings and to those who can evidence use and understanding of the CRPD and how it can be applied to the New Urban Agenda.

The following selection criteria will apply:

Nominations shall be submitted by IDA members/DPO networks, or endorsed by such in case of self-nominations.
Ability to take part in our prepatory training in Abu Dhabi on February 6-7, and the Forum 8-13th, 2020. Travel dates might be different.
Demonstrated knowledge on the CRPD and 2030 Agenda, giving priority to BRIDGE Alumni.
Demonstrated working experience on CRPD-SDGs (local, national, regional and global will be weighted)
Demonstrated experience and interest in accessibility and Universal Design, preferably with cross-disability focus.
Demonstrated knowledge on and experience in working with advocacy, policy and development programming in urban development and around New Urban Agenda
Intersectionality (gender, age, disability, geographic representation)
Experience of active participation and speaking in global and regional forums; both disability-specific and mainstream.
Commitment to share new skills and knowledge from Forum with their respective constituency and IDA member organisation.
Commitment to be active members in the Partner Constituent Group of Persons with Disabilities within the General Assembly of Partners coalition related to UN-Habitat, co-led by WBU.

Cost coverage

WBU, with support from CBM, will cover all costs related to flights, hotels, visas, meals, accessibility and reasonable accommodation should such be requested. No personal contributions will be covered.

Questions and Deadline

All questions and nominations shall be submitted to WBU’s Program Officer and WUF10 Coordinator Mr. Hannes.lagrelius@wbu.ngo no later than November 22.

[1] WBU is co-chairing the Persons with Disabilities PCG in the General Assembly of Partners coalition in UN-Habitat and is active within the Global Network for Disability-Inclusive and Accessible Urban Development, to which WBU seek to foster increased and broader DPO engagement and leadership.