Second Intercultural Innovation Award Capacity Building Workshop
2017-02-12 - 2017-02-16 | Gurgaon, India
Summary:
The ten recipients of the Intercultural Innovation Award at the 7th UNAOC Global Forum will take part in their second capacity building workshop, to be held at various locations in Delhi and Gurgaon, India. The workshop will be focused on leadership, organizational development and sustainability, in addition to monitoring and evaluation.
Date:
12 February to 16 February
Location:
Gurgaon, India

Vacancy Notice: Research Assistant Intern
2017-02-16 - 2017-03-01
Research Assistant Intern
Job category:
Communications

Vacancy code:
VA/2017/B5004/11786

Department/office:
ECR, DGC, Development Group Cluster

Duty station:
New York, United States of America

Contract type:
Intern

Contract level:
Intern

Duration:
6 months (starting 1 April 2017)

Application period:
16-Feb-2017 to 01-Mar-2017

Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement.
Click here to learn more

11th Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean
2017-02-23 - 2017-02-24 | Alfândega Congress Centre (Porto, Portugal), Alfândega Congress Centre, Porto, Portugal
Organized by the Assembly of the Republic of Portugal
23 and 24 February 2017 | Alfândega Congress Centre – Porto
On Thursday, 23 February, Ms. Nihal Saad, Chief of Cabinet and Spokesperson for the High Representative, will deliver remarks on behalf of H.E. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, High Representative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilization (UNAOC).

International Conference for "Freedom and Citizenship: Diversity and Integration"
2017-02-28 - 2017-03-01 | Cairo, Egypt, Cairo, Egypt
UNAOC Chief of Cabinet, Ms. Nihal Saad, will be participating in the international conference organized by Al Azhar sponsored by the Grand Sheikh of Al Azhar and Pope Francis entitled “Al Azhar and the Muslim Elders Council: Freedom and Citizenship”, from Feb 28 – March 1st, 2017 in Cairo, Egypt.
About the conference:
Under the patronage of His Excellency Abdel Fatah El-Sissi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the capital Cairo hosts the International Conference on “Freedom and Citizenship: Diversity and Integration” next Tuesday. The conference is co-hosted by Al-Azhar and the Muslim Council of Elders and will be attended by delegations from over 50 countries with important Arab and international media coverage.
For more information, click here.
Download (PDF, 784KB)

“Seeking Refuge: Faith-Based Approaches to Forced Migration”
2017-03-04 | Princeton University, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, United States
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations will be participating in the conference, “Seeking Refuge: Faith-Based Approaches to Forced Migration” at Princeton University on 4 March 2017. The conference is part of the “Poverty and Peacemaking” series hosted by Princeton’s Office of Religious Life and the Community of Sant’Egidio.
For more information, please click here.

Celebrating The United Nations International Day of Happiness
2017-03-20 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Halifax) | UN Headquarters, Conference Room 8, United Nations Headquarters, New York, NY, United States

Preventative Diplomacy: A Soft Power Tool (Closed Event. By Invitation Only.)
2017-03-20 15:00 - 16:30 (America/Halifax) | Conference Room 9, UNHQ, New York, NY, United States
UNAOC is hosting a round-table discussion entitled: “Preventive Diplomacy: A Soft Power Tool” which will consist of an opening statement by the UNAOC High Representative, an address by Dr. Cahill and short presentations by invited speakers. The speakers will be followed by a moderated Q & A session.
The main objective of this event is to draw attention to the importance of moving swiftly to support the Secretary-General’s commitment to the concept and practice of conflict prevention.
Closed Event. By Invitation Only.
Watch live through the web stream

Download (PDF, 599KB)

20th Eurasian Economic Summit: “Humanity at Crossroads”
2017-04-04 - 2017-04-06 | WOW Istanbul Hotels & Convention Center, Turkey, Istanbul, Turkey
Download (PDF, 393KB)

1st International Conference on Peace In Diversity: The Integrative Approach to Intercultural and Civilizational Affairs
2017-04-06 - 2017-04-07 | Agadir, Morocco, Agadir, Morocco
Office of the International Relations and Cooperation & School/Faculty of Business Management of the International University of Agadir (Universiapolis), the Kingdom of Morocco; Federation of the Universities of the Islamic Word (FUIW), ISESCO; United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and Ma’din Academy, Kerala, India are co-organizing the 1st International Conference on “Peace in Diversity: The Integrative Approach to Inter-Cultural And Civilizational Affairs” and launching “Ibn Batuta International Center for Inter-cultural and Civilizational Studies” on 6-7 April 2017 in collaboration with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia, Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali, Brunei, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) and A Common World Among Youth (ACWAY), UK and the conference will take place at the main campus of the International University of Agadir (Universiapolis) in Agadir, Morocco. (Download the concept paper here.)
Download (PDF, 442KB)

UNAOC Group of Friends Meeting
2017-04-19 15:00 - 17:30 (America/Halifax) | UN Headquarters, Conference Room 2, United Nations Headquarters, New York, NY, United States
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) will be holding its next Group of Friends Meeting (Ambassadorial level) on 19 April 2017, from 3:00 to 5:30 pm, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Conference Room 2.
Download the Agenda Download the Programme
Download (PDF, 516KB)

Download (PDF, 517KB)

4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue: “Advancing Intercultural Dialogue: New Avenues for Human Security, Peace and Sustainable Development”
2017-05-04 - 2017-05-06 | Baku, Azerbaijan
The 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue will focus primarily on the role of faith, religions, migration, human security, sport, education, art, sustainable development, violent extremism, business in building trust and cooperation among cultures and civilizations. The Forum will provide a platform to discuss the way forward to build societies based on genuine respect for everyone’s rights including freedom of belief, equal opportunities, and good governance as well as an inclusive framework of tolerance and respect for diversity. It will enable and encourage people, countries and organizations around the globe to take concrete actions to support diversity, dialogue and mutual understanding among nations by raising awareness on the importance of intercultural dialogue worldwide.
Click here to learn more

Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation
2017-05-14 - 2017-05-15 | Beijing, China, Beijing, China

17th Doha Forum
2017-05-14 - 2017-05-15 | Doha, Qatar, Doha, Qatar
Doha Forum has proved its international presence throughout its previous sixteen conferences since its inception. It regularly discusses political, economic, regional and international issues. The Forum has become one of the most important international forums which brings together the largest number of experts, academics, politicians, decision-makers, specialists, businessmen and civil society organizations from around the world, to discuss ways to achieve stability, regional and global prosperity, and how to address the challenges hindering stability in the world. The Theme of this seventeenth session of the Doha Forum is entitled: “Development, Stability and Refugee Crisis”.
Download (PDF, 474KB)

Deadline: 2017 UNAOC Fellowship Call for Applications
2017-05-21 23:30 - 23:59 (America/Halifax)
Apply by Sunday, May 21st 2017, 11:59pm EST
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is pleased to launch the call for applications for the 2017 edition of its Fellowship Program. The Call is open to participants between 25 to 35 years old, from the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and North America, with a strong interest in intercultural exchanges. The theme of the Fellowship 2017 being “The role of civil society and the media in combatting hatred and fostering inclusion”, candidates must also be able to present professional achievements in these fields. (Read more)
Click here to apply

Workshop: Muslim Humanitarian and Development Organizations in and around Conflict Zones: Barriers to and Opportunities for engagement
2017-05-22 - 2017-05-23 | UN Headquarters, Conference Room 9, United Nations, New York, NY, 10017, United States
The workshop is co-organized by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations – as Lead for the UN Interagency Task Force on Religion and Development – in partnership with the European Commission, the British Council and the, the Georgia State University. It will be held on 22-23 May 2017 at the UN Headquarters, Conference Room 9.

A Closed-Door Dialogue and Focus Group
This year, in partnership with the British Council and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations -‐ as Lead for the UN Interagency Task Force on Religion and Development -‐ the Civic Approaches to Conflict in the Muslim World Initiative at Georgia State University will convene leaders in the humanitarian and development sectors. The discussion will consider ways that the Muslim development and aid sector can be more robustly engaged to address the shared challenges facing the international community. In doing so we also aim to build trust and share knowledge between non-government, faith-based actors working with American, European and Middle Eastern policymakers.
Under the auspices of the Civic Approaches framework, we have explored the ways in which civil society organizations and networks in Muslim societies have mitigated, prevented, or helped stabilized various forms of conflict and violence. Our focus groups and case studies have investigated topics such as the Syrian refugee crisis, Islamic sectarian violence, and radicalization. Our recently published report, Civic Approaches to Confronting Violent Extremism, is a good representation of the kind of sector- wide research we produce.
The meeting in NYC is a continuation of smaller focus groups conducted last year in Istanbul, Washington D.C., and Brussels. We believe that your experience with the issues we are exploring, especially in your role with the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Engaging Faith-Based Organizations for Development, will add tremendous depth to the discussion and the final report to be published in August 2017.

Concept Note
Download (PDF, 224KB)

World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
2017-05-22 15:00 - 18:00 (America/Halifax) | United Nations Headquarters, Conference Room 4, United Nations Headquarters, New York, NY, 10, United States
The Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the United Nations and the Permanent Mission of Ethiopia to the United Nations, in partnership with The Give Them a Hand Foundation, the International Association of Applied Psychology and the United African Congress
cordially invite you to attend a conference held in observance of

World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
Monday, 22 May 2017, 3:00PM-6:00PM
United Nation Headquarters, New York City, Conference Room 4

This event is an opportunity to deepen the understanding of the value of cultural diversity and to advance the goals of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. Also, this year being the International Year of Sustainable Tourism, both observances intersect, in the conference theme, “Local Culture as a Driver for Economic Growth.” Programme for the Cultural Diversity Conference “Local Culture as a Driver for Economic Growth”.

Download (PDF, 999KB)

International Conference on Victims of Ethnic and Religious Violence in the Middle East
2017-05-24 | Madrid, Spain
International Conference on Victims of Ethnic and Religious Violence in the Middle East
Madrid, Spain | 24 May 2017
Organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain

Deadline: Intercultural Innovation Award Call for Applications
2017-05-31 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Halifax)
Apply by Wednesday, 31 May 2017, 5:00 p.m. EST
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and BMW Group are pleased to announce the fifth edition of the Intercultural Innovation Award. Grassroots initiatives that encourage intercultural understanding through innovative methods, with the aim of alleviating identity-based conflicts around the world, are encouraged to apply online. The Intercultural Innovation Award is a partnership between UNAOC and the BMW Group that aims to select and support the most innovative grassroots projects which encourage intercultural dialogue and cooperation around the world. (Read more)
Click here to apply

Lisbon Forum 2017: Interconnecting People
2017-06-01 - 2017-06-02 | Ismaili Centre, Lisbon, Ismaili Centre, Lisbon, Portugal
Managing migration, avoiding populism, building inclusive societies and reinforcing North-South dialogue
1-2 June 2017, Ismaili Centre, Lisbon

Concept NoteProgramme
Concept Note
Download (PDF, 317KB)

Programme
Download (PDF, 360KB)

Deadline: PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival 2017 Call for Video Entries
2017-06-04
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and the International Organization for Migration invite youth (aged up to 25) from around the world to submit short, original and creative videos, of five minutes maximum in length, focusing on the PLURAL+ theme of migration, diversity and social inclusion. PLURAL+ encourages youth to address key challenges and opportunities related to social inclusion and cohesion, migrant integration, respect for identity, diversity, human rights and xenophobia, both at local and global levels through video production. Read our press release for more information. PLURAL+ 2016 award winning videos can be found here.
Deadline for submission is 4 June 2017. Early submissions are encouraged.
Submit your video through the online entry form and view instructions on the PLURAL+ website.

Deadline Extended: Intercultural Innovation Award Call for Applications
2017-06-05 17:00 (America/Halifax)
Apply by Monday, 5 June 2017, 5:00 p.m. EST
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and BMW Group are pleased to announce the fifth edition of the Intercultural Innovation Award. Grassroots initiatives that encourage intercultural understanding through innovative methods, with the aim of alleviating identity-based conflicts around the world, are encouraged to apply online. The Intercultural Innovation Award is a partnership between UNAOC and the BMW Group that aims to select and support the most innovative grassroots projects which encourage intercultural dialogue and cooperation around the world. (Read more)
Click here to apply

A Celebration of Diversity at The Princeton Club of New York
2017-06-09 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Halifax) | The Princeton Club of New York, New York, United States
Download (PDF, 803KB)

10th GFMD Summit: "Towards a Global Social Contract on Migration and Development”
2017-06-28 - 2017-06-30 | Berlin, Germany, Berlin, Germany
As an official observer of the Global Forum for Migration and Development (GFMD), UNAOC will participate in the 10th GFMD Summit – “Towards a Global Social Contract on Migration and Development”, co-chaired by Germany and Morocco and held in Berlin, Germany on 28-30 June 2017.

10th GFMD Summit - UNAOC Side Event: "Fostering Migrant Integration Through Innovative Civil Society Actions"
2017-06-29 10:50 - 11:50 (Europe/Berlin) | German Federal Foreign Office (Berlin, Germany), Berlin, Germany
As part of its work toward a more peaceful, more socially inclusive world, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) has researched and explored how different actors in society can work together to find concrete solutions towards a better integration of newcomers – refugees, asylum-seekers, and migrants pursuing family reunification, education or employment – within our modern societies.
Throughout its various programs and initiatives, UNAOC has brought together journalists, media experts, academics, civil society organizations, youth and young leaders, policy makers, representatives of governments and international organizations, educators, migrants, as well as the business community, including tech companies, to come up with global recommendations to help integrate immigrants and refugees into more welcoming societies.
This endeavor stems from the understanding that regional and domestic civil society initiatives are among the most creative and innovative when it comes to creating conditions that are conducive to the integration of newcomers. Civil society initiatives are often designed by communities that are directly impacted and affected by the arrivals of new groups.
In this context, civil society organizations can help promote non-discrimination, provide training, foster trust and engage communities. They can also act as trusted reporters providing valuable information on incidents and delivering effective strategies and campaigns, as they often have experience in developing methods, definitions, and indicators related to migration.
As part of its side event at the 10th GFMD Summit Meeting, and on the margins of Roundtable 3.2, “Strengthening Cooperation – Enabling Civil Society Contributions in Migrant Integration,” UNAOC will showcase the work of various civil society organizations that have received its Intercultural Innovation Award, a joint initiative between UNAOC and BMW Group that aims to select and support innovative grassroots projects which encourage intercultural dialogue and cooperation around the world, making vital contribution to prosperity and peace.
Format:
Presentations by civil organizations representatives and/or beneficiaries will take the format of a TED talk: each presentation will be concise (7-10 minutes maximum) with a focus on lessons learned and recommendations. Each speaker will present standing and will be encouraged to use visual elements (video, photos, etc.) to keep the audience engaged.
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About the Side EventSide Event FlyerSpeakersDownload (PDF, 174KB)

4th Istanbul Conference on Mediation: "Surge in Diplomacy, Action in Mediation"
2017-06-30 | Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul, Turkey
The UNAOC High Representative will take part in the 4th Istanbul Mediation Conference: “Surge in Diplomacy, Action in Mediation”, 30 June 2017 in Istanbul, Turkey.
Download (PDF, 313KB)

Panel Discussion: The Role of Religious Leaders in Peacebuilding in the Middle East
2017-07-18 15:00 - 18:00 (America/Halifax) | UNHQ Conference Room 3, United Nations Headquarters, New York, 10017, United States
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is organizing a panel discussion on “The Role of Religious Leaders in Peacebuilding in the Middle East”. The event will take place on 18 July 2017 at the United Nations headquarters, New York. The opening session will feature the United Nations Secretary-General, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Spain, the High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and three religious leaders representing the three monotheistic religions of the Holy Land – Muslim, Jewish and Christian.
The panel discussion will serve as a follow-up to the November 2016 Summit of Religious Leaders for Peace in the Middle East, held in Alicante, Spain – an initiative facilitated by the Spanish Government and co-sponsored by UNAOC.
The stability of the Middle East region is crucial to the peace and stability of the world. The fifty long years of the Arab-Israeli conflict have fueled cycles of violence and retribution. Moreover, the prolonged conflict has been misappropriated and exploited by extremist groups and elements.
In this context, religious leaders in the Holy Land play a key role in peacebuilding through promoting peaceful co-existence and tolerance as well as providing a counter-narrative to violent extremism.
Religious ideologies continue to carry great weight with a vast majority of people throughout the Middle East. For some, this may pose a challenge for peace and stability. But it may also provide an opportunity for a solution. As such, public discourse within and between Jewish and Muslim religious leaders who promote the culture of peace inherent in these religions, maybe a way forward to ease the political tension in the Holy land.
With such influence within their respective communities, religious leaders play a role in building trust and mutual understanding. They summon their communities to live in peace side by side in the Holy Land.
This initiative is based on the assumption that true peace between Israelis and Palestinians is possible when mutual trust exists between them. The goal of the initiative is to prepare the hearts and minds for true peace in the Middle East by involving religious leadership from both sides who voice a common message of peaceful coexistence as an essential element for building and sustaining peace. Read moreHide text
PROGRAMMECONCEPT NOTEALICANTE DECLARATIONDownload (PDF, 517KB)

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Deadline for Applications: Political Analyst and Public Information Officer
2017-08-08
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations is looking for a Political Analyst and Public Information Officer for its New York office.
Deadline is 8 August 2017. Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Click here to learn more about this vacancy.

38th Meeting for Friendship Amongst Peoples
2017-08-20 - 2017-08-26 | Rimini Fiera, Italy
The UNAOC High Representative will represent the United Nations Secretary-General at the 38th Meeting for Friendship Amongst Peoples, which will take place in Rimini Fiera, Italy, on 20-26 August.

Deadline for Applications: Young Peacebuilders in MENA 2017
2017-08-31
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is pleased to launch the Call for Applications for the Young Peacebuilders in Middle East and North Africa programme. The Call is open to participants between 18 to 25 years old, from the region, with a strong interest in growing their ability to act as agents of peace in their community, region and beyond.
Read more about Young Peacebuilders in MENA

Deadline for Applications: Communications and Programme Intern
2017-08-31
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations is looking for a Communications and Programme Intern for its New York office.
Deadline is 31 August 2017. Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Click here to learn more about this vacancy.
Apply for this vacancy now
