Call for women’s affairs experts

Deadline: Friday 22 November 2013

The Commonwealth Gender Plan of Action Monitoring Group (CGPMG) was established in 2005 to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Commonwealth Plan of Action for Gender Equality 2005 – 2015. The Group is made up of representatives from National Women's Machineries (NWMs) and members of civil society.

There are currently four civil society representatives on the CGPMG, representing: the Americans, Asia, Pacific and Europe-Africa. In March 2013 representatives on the CGPMG agreed to create 2 additional civil society spaces on the CGPMG to represent Europe and Southern Africa and mirror NWM representation.

Applicants must be employed by, or hold an honorary position in, an established civil society organisation in one of the eligible countries (see below). They will be civil society leaders actively engaged with gender issues, particularly women’s rights, as reflected in the four critical areas of the Commonwealth Plan of Action for Gender Equality 2005-2015.

The Plan of Action (PoA) four priority areas are:

i) Democracy, peace and conflict

ii) Human rights and the law

iii) Poverty eradication and economic empowerment

iv) HIV and AIDS

Eligible Commonwealth Foundation member countries for 2013 – 2015 are:

i) Europe representative: Cyprus, United Kingdom

ii) Southern Africa representative: Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia

Eligibility is based on NWM membership of the CGPMG. One newly recruited representative will be a youth representative (under 30).

Appointment will be for a term of 18 months, expiring in March 2015. Applicants must be available to attend the Annual Meeting of the CGPMG in New York held in late February/early March 2014 and 2015 (agreed expenses will be paid by the Commonwealth Foundation.) Additional travel may be required.

For the full list of criteria and terms of reference, and to apply, please refer to our website: [insert link when ready]

The Commonwealth Foundation is an intergovernmental body working to help civil society organisations promote democracy, development and cultural understanding in Commonwealth countries.

For more information please email Diana Atungire at: d.atungire@commonwealth.int

Applications should reach the Commonwealth Foundation by 18:00 GMT, Friday 22 November 2013