22-27 August 2015,
UN Headquarters
and New York City Venues

The Permanent Missions of Canada, Denmark,
 São Tomé and Príncipe, Suriname, and Ukraine to the United Nations

The UN’s 70th anniversary is a very special time to gather NGOs,
celebrate their efforts and leadersover many years, focus on the post-2015
agendaof the SDGs, and cast an eye to the future with a special highlight on
Youth in NGOs.

We wish to honor the past successes of civil society, recognize present challenges and opportunities, and focus on the future we all want: for increased youth involvement in our NGOs and all UN policy-making going forward.

Plenaries   Workshops   Exhibits  Special Events   Receptions

If you would like to recognize your past, understand
our shared responsibility, and look forward to a new generation in Global NGOs,

 For more information,

please contact info@2015ngoconference.org

2015 NGO Conference
at the United Nations

The United Nation’s 70th anniversary is a very special time to gather NGOs, celebrate their successes and leaders over many years, focus on the post-2015 agenda of the SDGs, and cast an eye to the future with a special highlight on Youth in NGOs.

The cooperation among certain Member States and civil society honors a wish to respect the past successes of civil society, recognize present challenges and opportunities, and focus on the future we all want: increased youth involvement in all our NGOs
 and all UN policy-making going forward.

Organizers and Partners

This special event would not have been possible without the lead endorsement and faithful commitment of several Permanent Missions to the United Nations, to secure rooms, provide security, and grant approvals necessary to hold this wonderful event.

The lead organizers of the event include the Permanent Mission of Canada,
São Tomé and Príncipe, Suriname, and Ukraine, along with several UN agencies.
 All programme development and coordination, as well as hospitality services and external networking events, are planned by Friendship Ambassadors Foundation.

Friendship Ambassadors Foundation, a longstanding NGO at the UN, is also a conference planner and events manager, particularly in regions of the world where cultural strengthening is necessary for peace-building, volunteerism, and development. The Foundation is proud to offer its services to this conference;

FAF is also the producer of the Annual Youth Assembly at the United Nations, the Rhythms of One World International Choir Festival, the Ebola Relief Concert, the Humanicy conferences, and other major events at the UN over the past decade.

 In 2014, FAF produced the successful Rhythms of One World in Geneva, with proceeds flowing to the Kofi Annan Foundation. Considered as one of FAF’s most notable alumni, Mr. Annan was on the first-ever cultural exchange sponsored by Friendship Ambassadors Foundation. Romanian Ambassador to the UN,
 H. E. Ambassador Simona Miculescu and Envoy on Youth Ahmad Alhendawi were also among the tens of thousands who have partaken in FAF programming in their youth.

NGOs affiliated with the UN Department of Public Information (UN DPI) and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) face challenges such as lack of funds, political repression, and ever-widening regional divides and income gaps, around a variety of climate, population rates, and human rights issues throughout the world. Gatherings such as the NGO Conference provides enormous impact on these challenges as it allows cooperation, networking, information gathering, and consensus building between and among these NGOs. Sponsorship and donation, which will be presented before the global NGO stage, will help support delegates from the developing world.

Opportunities

Sponsorship for the 70th Anniversary NGO Conference at the United Nations will allow support for speakers, workshop leaders, and delegation from least developing countries, and will enable presentation of exhibits, workshops, and panels of interest to the sponsors. As sponsors and donors help amplify the voice of civil society and recognize their unique value to the United Nations, NGOs will recognize them, in turn, through this service.

Who takes part

Modeled after the UN Department of Public Information conferences that have taken place sporadically over the past five years, the 70th anniversary NGO conference was derived from the organizers’ institutional knowledge from these and the long 65-year tradition of NGO gatherings at the UN and around the world.

Culturally diverse delegates are anticipated from across the globe this year. With Permanent Missions’ lead endorsement and a stronger NGO program development, thousands of NGO leaders are anticipated to register and partake in the celebration of UN’s 70th anniversary, participate in the discussion regarding the UN’s Post-2015 Development Agenda, and share a special focus on youth leadership in NGOs,
 as a topic of special interest.

Sponsorship and Donations

NGO Sponsors

Support delegates’ travel from least developing countries, special events to select NGOs, and NGO conference administration and insurance.

Corporate Sponsors

UN Global Compact and other visionary corporations are invited to support all aspects of the 70th Anniversary gathering, specifically select delegates travel, underwriting workshops and exhibits, and in-kind support to help identify qualified speakers for specific events.

All donations will assist with delegate travel and will help make the conference a success. All donations and sponsorship are fully tax deductible as allowed by law.

2015 NGO Conference at the UN

On the Occasion of the 70th anniversary of the UN Charter
Honoring the Past, Recognizing the Present, Imagining the Future

A Report and Celebration: Five Continents, 70 Years, Changing the Planet

10:00 AM

UN General Assembly Hall

Musical Interlude

UC Peace Arts Festival Official Choir/Orchestra

United Nations Welcome

Ban Ki-moon (Video, Invited)

Conference Address

Host City Welcome

Member State-Lead Endorsers Presentations

Permanent Mission of Canada

Permanent Mission of Sao Tome and Principe

Permanent Mission of Suriname

Permanent Mission of Ukraine

Keynote Opening Address

Kofi Annan, Former Secretary-General

NGO Recognition Video

Opening Keynote Speakers/Panel

Coming From, Going To: Civil Society and the United Nations

Honoring the Past

UN NGO Stories and Personas

Morning Wrap Up and Conference Overview

Light Lunch for Participants

1:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M.

NGO Led Workshops

Alphabet Conference Rooms • Conference Building Basement

2:15 P.M. – 3:45 P.M.

Roundtable I

Conference Room 1

4:00 - 5:30 P.M.

Moderator

Participants

Josh Tannenbaum

Ravi Karkara

Maruxa Cardama, Executive Coordinator & Co-founder, Communitas

Evening Activities

Opening Night Reception, DDR, UN HQ, 7:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.

Each person highlighted on opening day will be provided special honors at

the Opening Night Reception

Wednesday, 26 August, 2015 – Present

NGO Internal Consultation: A Breakfast Sharing

8:00 A.M. – 9:30 A.M. - UN Cafeteria

Member State-Lead Endorsers Presentations

Permanent Mission of Denmark

Permanent Mission of Ecuador

Permanent Mission of Korea

Keynote Address

UN’s Relationship with Civil Society

Roundtable II

Conference Room 1

10:15 AM – 11:45 A.M.

Moderator

Participants

Report with Q&A

Review by the Substantive Committees from the Open Working Groups

Or

Or

Ravi Karkara

Special Closing Event/Presentation/Video with comments

Civil Society’s Role in the Success of the SDGs

Q&A

Lunch Break

Workshops

Alphabet Rooms in UN 1:15 A.M. – 2:45 P.M.

Roundtable III

Conference Room 1

4:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.

Moderator

Participants

Special Focus

Interactive roundtable on issues affecting implementation of SDGs among

small islands and states

Conference Room?

Time

Speakers

Second Day’s Closing Address

Evening Activities

Conference Hotel

NGO CONFERENCE AT THE UN

NGO CONFERENCE AT THE UN

Thursday, 27 August, 2015 – Future

Musical Interlude

9:30 A.M. – 11:30 A.M.

Youth Arts Musicians from UC Peace Arts Festival

Conference Address

Mogens Lykketoft of Denmark

Roundtable IV

Conference Room?

Time

Moderator

Participants

Jan Krushell

Afternoon Address

12 Noon

Lunch Break

Workshops 2:15 P.M.

Closing Plenary Session

3:30 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.

Conference Room 1

SPECIAL UN GUEST

Adoption of Conference Declaration

Closing Keynotes

Youth

Older NGO Leader and Youth Activist

Closing Remarks

Special Guest

Musical Interlude

UC Peace Arts Festival Choir/Orchestra

Evening Activity

5:15 PM board buses for WEST SIDE

Hudson River Dinner Cruise at 7PM (Sharp!)

WORKSHOP Suggestions

• Making the Past 15 Years Sustainable

• Honoring the Past as a Development Tool for NGOs

• Archiving and Capturing the Past Using 21st Century Devices

• Building Institutional Knowledge over Decades in the Field

• Informal NGO Declaration Writing Session, Part 1

• Capacity Building Workshop on How to Lobby

• Regional Meetings to Prepare for SDGs and Post-2015 Agenda

• Helping the Helpers: Prep for Full Session Roundtable

• Informal NGO Declaration Writing Session, Part 2

• Building Youth Leaders in Legacy NGOs

• Intergenerational Workshop

• Youth-Led Development: Tomorrow’s Powerhouse NGOs

• Informal NGO Declaration Session, Parts 3

• How to Organize NGOs for Success (Samira)

• Engaging with Youth (Jan Krushell)

• Social Media for NGOs (Open JC & World We Want)

• Multiculturalism; Interculturalism; Tolerance

NGO CONFERENCE AT THE UN

Sponsorship Packages

By becoming a sponsor to the 2015 NGO Conference at the United Nations, you invest in a long-term, sustainable footprint for your company with the international NGO/civil society community. Friendship Ambassadors Foundation
is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Donations are deductible to the full extent of law.

For more information, please contact
info@2015ngoconference.org