An invitation to get involved...

CAN International, CIVICUS, GCAP, IFP invited CSOs to get Involved: Global Civil Society Platform on Sustainable Development: https://www.loomio.org/g/uJd5wTXQ/global-civil-society-platform-on-sustainable-development

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Hope you are having a good start to 2016! The New Year ushers in the implementation phase of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris climate commitments.

Many of us worked hard to organise and mobilise around the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement but in many ways the hard work starts now. Civil society needs to be ready to play our part – as pioneers, as advocates, as implementers, as campaigners, as watchdogs – over the coming years to ensure the promises made in 2015 are achieved.

Over the past year we have engaged in a series of meetings on how civil society should organise and mobilise around the sustainable development agenda over the coming years. Thanks to the work of many, especially members of a Transitional Steering Group, the building blocks of a strong and inclusive global platform <https://www.loomio.org/g/uJd5wTXQ/global-civil-society-platform-on-sustainable-development>  have been established to support and connect civil society's activities on sustainable development at all levels (local, national, regional and global). The platform will enable and mobilise people to understand, engage, learn from each other and challenge decision-makers to be accountable for their sustainable development commitments. The core activities of the global platform include:

• Implementation: Civil society is already convening at the national and regional level- join us to share your story;
• Monitoring & Accountability: Civil society has begun to collect social, environmental and economic data to hold governments accountable for their 2015 commitments- join us to access tools and knowledge;
• Policy Coordination: There are hundreds of commitments- join us to ensure they are compatible at all levels of governance; and
• Public Mobilisation: While major agreements have been made, many people's needs are not being addressed- join us to ensure all voices are heard. 

This platform is open to all members of civil society and is currently being facilitated by four global networks – CAN International, CIVICUS , GCAP, and IFP, over the coming months. You can read our Action Plan and engage with us on this specific timetable of activities.

To get involved in this platform we encourage you to join the online discussion or if you have an interest in shaping the core direction of the platform, sign up for one of the working groups. These working groups are open to everyone and will be used to make inclusive decisions about the development of the platform. The groups are as follows:

• Outreach and Communication (webinar meeting on 25 January: http://goo.gl/forms/9ZeidDVNL5)
• Resourcing and Projects (webinar meeting on 27 January: http://goo.gl/forms/kQ3MrBSRmt)
• Governance and Membership (webinar meeting on 4 February: http://goo.gl/forms/N2GyWujyEl) 

We look forward to working with you in the weeks and months ahead,

CAN International, CIVICUS, GCAP, IFP 

For any enquiries, please email CSOSDGs@gmail.com