The Access Initiative
First Global Meeting of Partners

Preliminary Summary of Activities

April 25-27, 2006

Bangkok , Thailand

The Access Initiative is the largest network in the world dedicated to ensuring that citizens have the right and ability to influence decisions about the natural resources that sustain their communities.

The first ever global meeting of The Access Initiative (TAI) was held on April 25 to 27, 2006 in Bangkok , Thailand . Co-hosted by the Thailand Environment Institute (TAI Core Team member) and the World Resources Institute (TAI Secretariat), the three day event served as a landmark in TAI's history as a network. It marked the end of founding achievements and the beginning of a mature and effective movement.

The meeting brought together some 80 TAI partners and supporters from over 40 countries to share success stories, solve common problems, address network-related issues, and find new ways to create change on the ground. The agenda included presentations by partners and breakout sessions designed to allow for discussion among participants. During one afternoon, government and international organization representatives from the region were invited to further discuss the mandate of Principle 10. This special session included the announcement of the Government of Indonesia's intent to join the Partnership for Principle 10, a partnership of NGOs, governments and international organizations working together to improve implementation of Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration.

The meeting was funded by the European Union and the Ford Foundation. The contents of the meeting were the sole responsibility of The Access Initiative and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of either of the two donors.

Some highlights of the first TAI Global Meeting:

•  Over 40 countries represented by nearly 80 civil society participants

•  40 participants professionally interviewed and taped in order to gather TAI success stories and to be used in future promotional and advocacy-oriented TAI work

•  TAI regional groups discuss strategies and workplans for TAI work in Africa, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Pacific

•  The Access Initiative Assessment Toolkit (Version 2.0) officially launched on April 26, 2006

•  Participants trained on the new Access Initiative Assessment Toolkit

•  Indonesia Government announces intention to join the Partnership for Principle 10

•  TAI network governance discussed and input sought from the network

•  New sectors and issues explored in the context of TAI included poverty, water and local voices for the global agenda

•  Strategies shared regarding TAI assessments and implementing change on the ground through group discussions

Participants at the Global Meeting

• List of participants
• List of participants from the special meeting on Principle 10

Presentations Given at the TAI Global Meeting

April 25

• Africa101
• Iamex101
• Objectives and ground rules
• Somrudee101
• TAI101
• TAI101--Europe

April 26

• Governance of Somrudee
• Newto TAI Intro

April 27

• Africa: status, progress & strategies
• Europe Presentation
• Europe Presentation
• TAI--Asia

Special Meeting on Principle 10

• deSilva Newfarmer
• Euan Wallace
• Hoetomo
• Kobayashi
• Nakorn Serirak

Pre-Meeting Information

Dates: April 25-27, 2006

Host: Thailand Environment Institute, TAI Core Team member

Location:

The Ambassador Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand (http://www.amtel.co.th/bangkok/)

Details:

TAI will hold its first ever Global Meeting, with the hopes of convening TAI partners from around the world to discuss issues related to the implementation of Principle 10. TAI partners as well as interested civil society organizations are invited to attend and contribute to this exciting event. Proposed agenda items include discussions of regional and national-level success stories, bringing about change on the ground as a result of assessments, capacity building, and regional strategies. The TAI Version 2.0 assessment methodology will also be introduced, accompanied by a short training of the basic functionality of the site.

Agenda:

Click here to see the draft agenda, updated March 31, 2006

Travel Logistics:

• Please contact Natthanij Soonsawad (natthanij@tei.or.th) at the Thailand Environment Institute and David Turnbull (dturnbull@wri.org) at the World Resources Institute for details.
  
• Click here for important information regarding travel logistics
  
• Pre-registration Form--for all approved participants, to be completed and returned to Natthanij Soonsawad at the Thailand Environment Institute (natthanij@tei.or.th) by March 31, 2006.

Funding:

ALL AVAILABLE TRAVEL FUNDING HAS BEEN ALLOCATED
Please contact the Secretariat at access@wri.org for details if you have not received word.

TAI would like to acknowledge the European Commission and the Ford Foundation for providing the financial support needed to make this meeting possible.