The conference aims at encouraging cooperation among philanthropic organisations worldwide to respond in a knowledge focused way to global challenges, in particular that of climate change and to promote partnerships between philanthropic organisations, governments, the EU, the United Nations, and other key stakeholders to address global challenges.
Special emphasis will be laid on the role of foundations in advancing research, innovation and human capacity-building for knowledge-based responses to global challenges and on identification and development appropriate mechanisms of philanthropic funding for activities in this field.

The conference is organised by:

• European Foundation Centre (EFC)
• Austrian Science and Research Liaison Office (ASO) Ljubljana / Centre for Social Innovation, Vienna
• Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology of the Republic of Slovenia - Service for International Co-operation and European Affairs

We would like to draw your attention especially also to the opportunities for active participation in the conference in the framework of the “Know-how Exchange / Exhibition Space” feature of our conference and the opportunity for contributions and interactive work in “Parallel Workshops on Partnership Development”.

For about 10 participants from Western Balkan countries (STI policy makers and/or representatives of major research organisations and knowledge focused NGOs active in the field of Climate Change) there are available grants covering costs of travel (up to 400 €) and costs of accommodation.

For further information please contact the conference secretariat at
office@glocha.info or Tel.: +386 5684 168.

Background

Global challenges, in particular climate change, require new, committed, and global problem solving alliances. In light of the unprecedented magnitude of the challenges humanity is facing today, innovative and strong approaches are needed - partnership-oriented approaches from public authorities, international organisations, business, civil society, the scientific community and last but not least, philanthropists.

As we live in 21st century in global information and knowledge societies, knowledge generation, dissemination and utilization has to be placed at the centre of global concerted action in climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Philanthropists worldwide have a unique role to play in this arena. First of all, they have the ability to complement the work of public authorities and international organisations. Their vision is neither limited by short-term electoral nor business considerations.

Philanthropists have the freedom to think outside the box. This freedom can lead to optimised results, as it offers advantages of speed and scope to implement more effective responses to global challenges.

Philanthropists have the necessary means to finance programmes, which are consensually identified as appropriate responses to global challenges.
Philanthropists can contribute to the building of human capacity worldwide to disseminate knowledge about behaviour that is appropriate to safeguard our common global future.

The US and EU are the origin of most international philanthropic giving worldwide, but there are players in other regions of the world that are beginning to step up. For these new actors, global issues such as climate change, mitigation, and adaptation, as well as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) etc. are high on the agenda.

With this international conference, we hope to identify areas in which philanthropists, together with the above-mentioned stakeholders and all concerned citizens, can work together to safeguard our world.

General Objectives

• Encourage cooperation among philanthropic organisations worldwide to respond to global challenges, in particular that of climate change.
• Promote partnership between philanthropic organisations, governments, the EU, the United Nations, and other key stakeholders to address global challenges.
• Highlight the role of foundations in advancing research, innovation and human capacity-building for knowledge-based responses to global challenges and identify and develop appropriate mechanisms of philanthropic funding for activities in this field. The European Forum on Philanthropy and Research Funding will be a central point of departure for discussion.
• Identify practices and approaches and trigger innovative and partnership-oriented actions with new actors.

For further information:

www.glocha.info
Global Philanthropists - Partners for a Knowledge based Response to Climate
Change
Conference Secretariat
Dunajska 104
SI-1000 Ljubljana
Slovenia
Tel.: +386 5684 168
Fax: +386 5684 169
URL: www.glocha.info
Email: office@glocha.info