Open call for Youth Delegates to participate in online conferences or training (2020 – 2021)
Deadline to Apply: Applications on a rolling basis until March 31, 2021
ICN is seeking youth delegates interested in participating in online events, conferences, or training of their choosing until March 31, 2021. The cost of participation (conference fees) and a $250 honorarium will be provided to youth participants.
What is the Inter-Council Network
The Inter-Council Network (ICN) is a coalition of the eight Provincial and Regional Councils for International Cooperation. These independent member-based Councils are committed to global socialjustice and social change and represent more than 350 diverse civil society organizations (CSOs) from across Canada. The ICN provides a national forum in which the Councils collaborate for improved effectiveness and identify common priorities for collective action. Rooted in communities across
Canada, we are leaders in public engagement at a local and regional level and are recognized for bringing regional knowledge and priorities to the national level.
The Councils work with diverse national, regional, and local organizations from the ground up. Each Council’s membership spans from cultural community civil society organizations to highly recognizable international organizations. The ICN itself partners with national networks and organizations to ensure public engagement activities reach communities from coast to coast to coast, and that our voice reflects the interests and values of our members.
Why an Online Conference?
2020 has marked a pivotal and challenging year for global development, given the widespread impact of COVID-19. 2020 also marks five years since the international community adopted the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Agenda, and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs), is a comprehensive and ambitious blueprint of action for all countries recognizing that eradicating global poverty is our greatest challenge, and there can be no sustainable development as long as it persists.
Many opportunities to engage in addressing society’s most challenging issues this past year have either been cancelled or moved online due to travel restrictions. Taking action on Sustainable Development Goals, climate change, and social justice has never been so important, yet the global pandemic has changed the ways in which we can currently engage. We have seen dramatic impacts on global food security, gender equality, and human rights throughout 2020.
In the past, the ICN has sent a delegation of youth to an international conference to engage and contribute to these issues. Given the global pandemic, the ICN has shifted its program this year to enable youth to participate from a distance. This program enables youth to embark on a national or international learning experience right from their own home. Youth may apply for funding to attend an online conference or training, of their choosing, related to global social justice and/or the Sustainable Development Goals.
A $250 honorarium will also be provided to successful applicants following the completion of a postconference public engagement activity. The conference must take place before March 31, 2021. (Conferences taking place after March 31, 2021 will be considered on a case-by-case basis.) (Note: Already participated in an online conference in 2020? No problem, with proof of participation, funding can be applied for retroactively.)
Eligibility
Youth delegates will ideally:
● Have demonstrated experience and knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals, gender
equality and/or the global development issues related to the conference or training of their
choosing;
● Be between the ages of 18 and 35 at the time of the conference;
● Be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident or hold a valid study or work permit in Canada.
Expectations and Commitments
Selected youth delegates are expected to a) participate fully during the conference or training; b) share their learning experience of the conference or training via social media; c) plan and deliver a post conference public engagement activity in collaboration with the ICN, such as writing a blog or sharing what they learned at an event or presentation; and d) provide a receipt to show proof of conference fees paid – to receive reimbursement and honorarium.
Conference Options
Youth may apply for funding to attend any of the following online opportunities OR identify another online conference or training of their choosing taking place before March 31, 2021. Some options include:
• Spur Change Conference: Human Dignity: March 9-11, 2021 (simultaneous interpretation
available in English, French, and possibly Spanish).
• Commission on the Status of Women 65th Session (UN Women): March 15-26, 2021 (multiple
languages available).
• People Around the World 2021 Conference: Global to local for the goals: Harnessing the power
of collaboration to re-emerge stronger and together: Feb. 2-3, 2021 (English).
• World Social Forum: January 28-31, 2021 (activities available in English, French, Spanish, and
Portuguese).
• Climate Adaptation Summit: January 25-26, 2021 (English).
• WUSC International Forum: February 7-March 6, 2021 (activities in English and French)
• The SDG Global Festival of Action: March 25-26, 2021
Don’t see your conference or training listed here? No problem. Please identify a conference or
training of your choosing and apply! Already participated in an online conference in 2020? No problem, with proof of participation, apply for funding retroactively!
Why Youth Engagement is Important
Youth play an integral role in the international community’s effort of achieving sustainable development and gender equality. With about 1.8 billion young people worldwide between the ages of 10 and 24, actively engaging youth in decision-making processes enables cross-generational collaboration to truly implement Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17 - inclusive partnerships that collectively seek solutions that benefit our society, the planet, and its inhabitants.
Strengthening cross-generational collaboration entails providing mentorship and education of youth, as well as valuing young people’s opinions and creative solutions. More importantly, by further promoting youth participation and engagement, we are creating a momentum of fostering stewardship and sustainable development values amongst the future designers, politicians, engineers, and architects of the world. Investing in the next generation of young leaders will yield positive results - long term and short term - that contribute to the global integration of the SDGs and more robust climate and social justice actions.
To Apply
If you are motivated to participate in an online conference or training, please submit your application to the ICN National Program Manager: sherry@acic-caci.org by March 31, 2021. Please use the subject line: ICN Youth Delegation [Participant Name].
Please submit your résumé and a brief letter of motivation containing the following:
● What perspective or lived experience do you hope to contribute to the conference or training?
● How does participation in this conference or training align with your personal and professional
goals?
● What do you hope to gain from attending the conference or training and how will you bring
back what you learn to your community (ie: an idea for a public engagement activity to share
your experience – blog, presentation, etc.)?
● Describe your previous and/or current experiences related to the SDGs, gender equality, and/or
other conference themes you wish to engage in.
● Submit a budget for the opportunity. Outline the dates, participation fees, and any other
expenses that may be incurred.
As an equity seeking network, the ICN encourages applications from individuals that represent the full diversity of communities in Canada, including complexities of intersecting identities such as ability, class, gender, race and sexual orientation.