CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS

4^th Annual Peer-to-Peer Learning Workshop

The Mediterranean Host Municipalities Learning Network

“Private Sector Engagement in Host Communities”
April 5-9, 2020 – Amman, Jordan

Annual Workshop Description & Objectives

In the context of the Mediterranean Host Municipalities Learning Network (HMLN), the CMI is organizing the 4^th Annual Peer-to-Peer Learning Workshop of the HMLN to take place in Amman, Jordan, on April 5-9, 2020. This event will build on three years of work among local governments in providing a better local economic environment for refugees and vulnerable hosts. Drawing upon HMLN members’ learning requests, it will focus on fostering private sector-driven solutions to provide a better local economic environment in municipalities dealing with forced displacement.

The event will specifically aim to:

1. Deepen the knowledge and build capacities of local and central government authorities on private sector engagement in a forced displacement context, including through networking with private sector actors and donors and showcasing successful solutions and good practices;
2. Inform international stakeholders on host local authorities’ needs, for enhancing their engagement and operations in unlocking the role of the private sector for refugees;
3. Take stock of the progress of the HMLN over the years and identify main priorities and action plan for HMLN members;
4. Increase national and cross-country collaborations among host local governments, and between host local governments and private sector actors, including international collaboration across world regions.

The event will be composed of 5 days of training sessions, panel discussions, technical presentations and field visits. Its training format will target about 100 central and local government representatives from Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine and Turkey. The event will also target a number of actors from the private sector and donor organizations working with private sector actors and host communities, for a mutual and beneficial exchange of experiences on displacement issues and solutions.

Participants will be selected through this “Call for Participation”, based on eligibility and selection criteria listed below.

The CMI and its partners will cover the costs of travel, accommodation, meals, and field trip for the selected participants.

Who is Eligible?

• Elected representatives, staff (temporary or long term) and close collaborators, working for Local Governments and involved with Local Economic Development, outreach to the private sector, and/or services in link with migrants and forcibly displaced.
• Local Governments include: Municipalities, Union / Federation of Municipalities, Regional authorities, Governorates. Representatives of Central Government authorities (Ministries, national cabinets, etc.) are not eligible to participate in this Call,  and will be selected through different channels.
• Eligible countries: Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, Turkey
• A maximum application of 2 representatives per Local Government can be accepted. The organizers reserve themselves the right to decline a second application per local government, based on capacity limits.

Selection Process

Eligible applicants will be selected by the CMI team. In order to fulfill the objectives of the annual event, participants will be selected on the basis of their active participation in the HLMN, the relevance of their municipal context to forced displacement issues, and their direct involvement, need for, and interest in private sector engagement.

Selection Criteria

• Active involvement in the Host Municipalities Learning Network: assessed through participation in at least two recent activities (workshops, webinars, compendium of experiences), active participation on virtual discussions (Facebook page, C4D), exchanges and collaboration pursued within the Network (e.g. Twinning work, core members).
• Relevance of the local context of the participating authority to i) the refugee or forced displacement issue and ii) interest in and/or promotion of private sector engagement.
• Commitment to actively attend the event and its training sessions, and to initiate or pursue collaborations with peers, development partners or experts: the participant must demonstrate rational and motivation for pursing exchanges beyond this event and build on his/her existing knowledge to develop local solutions and policies and share approaches with other actors. It is expected that follow-up activities will last at least 6 to 12 months.
• Capacity for actionable knowledge: the participant must be in a position that allows her/him to contribute to the development of local solutions and policies in his/her local authority for the common welfare of hosts and refugees.
• Ability to communicate in the main language of the Network:  participants must be able to understand and actively discuss in Arabic and/or English. Interpretation and translation in other languages will not be provided.

Validation of Selection

Applicants meeting the above criteria will be pre-selected to participate in the annual event and invited to complete an informative survey focused on private sector engagement in their local authority. Completion of the survey is mandatory and will be the last step validating the selection of pre-selected applicants. Surveys must be completed in full as incomplete surveys will compromise the participation to the workshop.

Timeline

How to Apply

Applications will be submitted through an online form in either English or Arabic. 

Only completed applications will be taken into consideration. Should you be experiencing difficulties in filling out the online form in English or Arabic, please get in touch with us at refugees@cmimarseille.org.

Legal Aspects

The above call for participants rules are binding throughout the entire duration of the Call for Participation for the above mentioned workshop. Applying in the call indicates that participants accept these rules and regulations and agree to abide by them.