Secretariat and coordination

Introduction

The Secretariat of the World Civil Society Forum was provided by Mandat International and its Welcome Centre for Non-Governmental Organizations and Delegations. Mandat International launched the proposal to hold a World Civil Society Forum at the time of the Millennium Forum in New York, in May 2000. After a consultation process, it organized the Preparatory Meeting in July 2001 that led to the first World Civil Society Forum in July 2002. The preparatory work involved over 40 long-term volunteers and interns, as well as several part-time employees. The secretariat took care of the following main tasks:

• Overall coordination
• Organizing preparatory meetings, including meetings with the steering committee
• Supporting the working group coordinators
• Coordinating the programme and organizing most of the Forum’s sessions.
• Managing the registration process and communication with the participants
• Organizing information and communication
• Providing support and funding for participants
• Coordinating the Website development and the online agenda
• Organizing the logistics at the International Conference Centre of Geneva (ICCG)
• Organizing the cultural and social activities

Mandat International managed fundraising for the whole Forum, including the preparatory process and report.

Mandat International was founded in 1995 as a non-profit association with three aims:

• To support the participation of non-governmental representatives to international conferences
• To strengthen international cooperation between the various fields of activity
• To develop a network of organizations and specialists

The Welcome Centre for Non-Governmental Organizations and Delegations

In 1997, an old mansion in Bellevue was renovated by volunteers, in order to open the Welcome Centre for Non-Governmental Organizations and Delegations.

The Welcome Centre provides:

• Budget accommodation: 16.- to 28.- Swiss francs (~10 to 18 US$) per night, including breakfast, priced according to the country of residence
• Work infrastructure: meeting rooms, computers, Internet access, fax, etc.
• Support services to inform and help delegates
• Documentation centre gathering the main useful documents: conventions, documents of reference, reports, specialised reviews, UN database, etc.
• Training sessions and meetings

On-line information services

Mandat International has developed several information services on the internet for delegations and their organisations:

• The Delegate’s Guide gathering practical information for delegates during their stay in Geneva and when attending international conferences www.mandint.org
• The agenda of international conferences www.agenda-international.org
• The Information platform where NGOs can share information and look for partners. www.ngo-info.org

The site also provides over 800 useful links encompassing the international organizations and the various domains of activity of the international arena.

Other activities

Mandat International provides support for the organization of international conferences. We also work on specific projects to facilitate the work of NGOs at an international level, such as a human rights search engine and a guide for NGOs on obtaining accreditation.

Staff and volunteers

Mandat International relies, to a large extent, on the work of volunteers who contribute to the various activities of our organization. We thank all of those who have supported us and contributed to our activities.

Contact details

Mandat International
Welcome Centre for Non-Governmental Organizations and Delegations
31, chemin William Rappard
CH-1293 Bellevue - Switzerland
Main telephone line: +41 22 959 88 55
Forum’s telephone line: +41 22 919 05 21
Main fax: +41 22 959 88 51
Forum’s fax: +41 22 919 05 30
E-Mail: info@mandint.org
Website: www.mandint.org