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Secretary-General Finalizes Selection of Third Round Projects Assessment and Quality Con- Proposals Are Not on the Final Short List

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Secretary-General Finalizes Selection of Third Round Projects Assessment and Quality Con- Proposals Are Not on the Final Short List An innovation at the heart of the United Nations UNDEF Update – No. 3, 2009 INSIDE UNDEF Secretary-General finalizes selection of Third Round projects assessment and quality con- proposals are not on the final short list. trol processes are rigorous, We encourage future applicants to read the results cannot be claimed the lessons learned published in UNDEF to be scientifically beyond Update 2, and, with that as a guide, to error. No doubt many excel- begin already now to think through their lent project pro- forthcoming posals have not With more than 2,100 proposal. To been selected. But get an idea of UNDEF can as- applications this time, what UNDEF sure the Board it was a particularly require, you that those pro- may also wish posed projects difficult task to to look at proj- that made it ect applica- through to the short list are narrow down the tion guidelines of excellent quality.” proposals to the final from previ- applied in ous funding the Third Successful applicants have short list of around rounds. Subject Round. been advised by email, and are to the views of now required to prepare project 70 projects the Advisory With more documentation and to cooperate Board, the next than 2,100 with continuing due diligence require- round of funding should begin in No- a p p l i c a - ments. Once the process is complete, vember 2009, through the on-line UN- tions this UNDEF will publish the list of grantees. DEF application database. The UN Secretary-General has accepted time, it was a particularly difficult task It is not UNDEF practice to advise un- the recommendations of the United Na- to narrow down the proposals to the final successful applicants of the results, or to Analysis of project selection, page 6 tions Democracy Fund Advisory Board short list of around 70 projects. As UN- enter into a dialogue on individual and approved the list of projects for DEF Executive Head Roland Rich told applications. If applicants have not the Third Round of Funding. UNDEF the Advisory Board, “UNDEF cannot received an email from UNDEF to IN THIS ISSUE warmly congratulates all the successful guarantee that only the best applications the contact points provided in the ap- INSIDE UNDEF applicants, and thanks all those who made it onto the short list. Although the plication, they can assume that their Third round selections final ...................1 US Secretary supports UNDEF ..............1 Democratize the Day of Democracy ......2 Obama UNDEF represents SG at Lisbon ............2 Administration Practitioner Profile ...............................2 NEWS FROM THE FIELD reaffirms US Engaging youth in Yemen......................3 Training lawyers in Iraq ........................3 support for Fund Empowering Lebanese youth ................3 La société civile en Afrique de l’Ouest ...4 UNDEF Executive Head Roland Rich met with Dr. Esther Brimmer, United Backing ACE electoral knowledge ..........4 States Assistant Secretary of State for Women’s participatioin in El Salvador .. ....4 International Organizations, in Wash- Teachers for democracy in Bosnia .........4 ington, D.C on 10 July 2009. Dr. Brim- mer, who was nominated by President WORTH READING Obama in March and confirmed in Banking on the demand side ................5 April, reaffirmed the strong support of National dialogue in El Salvador ............5 the United States -- UNDEF’s largest India takes democracy global ...............5 contributor and one of its founders -- for the work of the Fund. Democracy and the rule of law ..............5 The United Nations Democracy Fund Ph: +1 212 963 8675 E-mail: democra- 1 United Nations Plaza, Room DC1-1300 Fax: +1 212 963 1486 [email protected] New York, NY 10017, USA Website: http://www.un.org/democracyfund/ UNDEF Update 1 UNDEF Update – No. 3, 2009 INSIDE UNDEF Remember to democratize the International Day of Democracy The second International Day of Democracy (IDD) will be held on 15 Septem- ber. In our previous issue, UNDEF urged civil soci- UNDEF represents UN Secretary-General ety organizations to join the party and organize their at Community of Democracies IDD own activities on this aus- Portugal hosted the Fifth Ministerial Confer- ing towards the same goal, with the United 15 September picious day, ence of the Community of Democracies in Nations foremost among them... the United complement- Lisbon on 11-12 July. Founded in 2000, The Nations has adopted democracy as an end in ing official celebrations. CD is an intergovernmental organization of itself as well as a means to achieve peace, UNDEF wants to showcase democratic countries that is committed to development and respect for human rights.” your activities, so we ask strengthening democratic values around the The final declaration of the Conference com- you to write a brief story world, with a focus on engaging civil society mitted its membership to: about your observance, take actors in the process. some interesting photos, and “Strive for democratic governance glob- The Portuguese Foreign Minister, Sr. Luis email all of it to us at democ- ally to promote and protect human rights and Amado, welcomed many ministerial col- [email protected] soon after fundamental freedoms for all; to advance leagues as well as a special guest, Dr. Mad- your event takes place We democratisation and to involve citizens in a eleine Albright, who as US Secretary of State will display them on a spe- transparent political process; to support the in 2000 was instrumental in launching the cial page on our website. rule of law, gender equality, human security, CD. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was freedom of expression and access to informa- unable to attend and was represented by Mr. tion, access to basic public services, effective Roland Rich, Executive Head of the UN De- and accountable state institutions, sustainable mocracy Fund, who delivered a message on economic growth and social cohesion.” the Secretary-General’s behalf. Lithuania has now taken over the presidency The Secretary-General’s message said that of the CD, and Mongolia was announced as while democracy is widely seen as a uni- the next president. versal value, much work remains to be done to turn it into a universal reality. “This is Ministerial meetings of the Community of the momentous goal that the Community of Democracies are unusual in that civil soci- Democracies has set for itself,” the message ety representatives participate along with said. “The Community of Democracies is not government officials in various sessions and alone in these efforts. Many others are work- workshops. Ms. Sanam Anderlini, who serves on bridge the divide between the work of society groups are to promoting and Practitioner the UNDEF Advisory Board for 2009 women in conflict areas and policy- sustaining democratic values and sys- profile in an individual capacity, brings to it makers at the international level. tems,” Ms. Anderlini said on joining unrivalled experience in the work to the Advisory Board. “The Fund sup- strengthen the voice of women and to Currently a Research Affiliate of the ports a wide variety of projects, and has MIT Center for International Studies, sought to ensure that gender sensitivity Ms. Anderlini was a leader of the effort -- full and fair representation of wom- to build cooperative strategies bring- en’s voices and perspectives alongside ing together civil society, Governments men’s -- is a key component across the and the UN in support of the landmark spectrum of projects.” Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. As Direc- Iranian by birth and a UK citizen, tor of the Women Waging Peace Policy Ms. Anderlini is the author of Women Commission, she led research on wom- Building Peace: What They Do, Why en’s contributions to peace processes in It Matters, a cross-regional analysis 12 countries, with a particular focus on of how gender sensitivity in program- negotiations, post-conflict governance, ming can be a catalytic component in transitional justice and disarmament, the complex task of building sustain- demobilization and reintegration. able peace, with concrete examples “From the beginning, UNDEF has of how to draw on women’s untapped recognized how vital women’s civil potential. UNDEF Update 2 UNDEF Update – No. 3, 2009 NEWS FROM THE FIELD Raising civic awareness among Yemeni youth Building the capacity their level of participa- tion and volunteerism. of Iraq’s lawyers Participants were given the opportunity to pri- oritize common issues, design strategies on how to approach policy makers and engage with them in a collab- orative and constructive partnership, and de- velop action plans. The project also addressed gender, with almost 50 per cent of participants In Yemen, where the youth make service. Workshops were conducted being young women. up the majority of the population, around the country, including in mar- an UNDEF-backed project by the ginalized areas such as the Al Almal Participants demonstrated a high In Iraq, UNDEF funds a project orga- International Foundation for Elec- community in the city of Ta’izz, to level of engagement and maturity, nized by the International Legal Assis- toral Systems recently completed its improve young people’s understand- reinforcing both the relevance of the tance Consortium to build the capacity work to raise civic awareness among ing of their civil and political rights; project and the readiness of Yemeni of a diverse and representative group of young people through active par- raise their level of tolerance and re- youth to contribute to the democrati- Iraqi
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