THIRD GLOBAL LINKING & LEARNING PROGRAMME ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS,
1-10 December 2004, Alcochete, Portugal

PROJECT PARTNERS
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum Asia), International
Human Rights Internship Program, International Network for Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net), Dignity International

WITH SUPPORT FROM
NOVIB, Oxfam Netherlands & the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland

INTRODUCTION
Eradicating poverty is one of the biggest human development challenges of
today. However global poverty cannot be eradicated by isolated projects
alone. It can only be achieved through the adoption and implementation of
consistent policies rooted in human rights, at the national, regional and
international levels.

Human rights provide a framework to tackle the root causes of poverty.
Increasing awareness of human rights can strengthen and invigorate efforts
for social change, as people learn what obligations and commitments their
governments have made to ensure the realization of human dignity for all.

The Linking & Learning Programme, organised for the third year, aims to
equip selected participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to
integrate human rights in their daily work. The programme is aimed at
activists from social and economic justice movements and at those working
directly with persons living in poverty.

The programme is implemented by Dignity International, in partnership with
the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia), the
International Human Rights Internship Program,) and the International
Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net).

AIM OF THE PROGRAMME
The overall goal of this programme is to strengthen the knowledge and skills
of those working to empower people living in extreme poverty through the
adoption of a human rights framework and thereby contribute to build the
capacity of grassroots movements to better promote and defend basic ESC
rights.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME
§ Provide organisations and grassroots activists from social and
economic justice movements with knowledge and a better understanding of ESC
rights and equip them with the skills necessary to become active in
promoting and defending ESC rights;

§ Engage in a process of enriching the meaning and content of ESC
rights as the grassroots participants collectively bring their on the ground
realities to the human rights dialogue;

§ Provide a space for the exchange of experiences and ideas in the
area of ESC rights and facilitate, where necessary, collaborative action
across regions through appropriate follow-up after the learning programme.

PROFILE OF PARTICIPANTS
The programme will bring together twenty "catalysts" from the different
world regions. These persons will be in a position to spread knowledge and
skills they have acquired from the programme and to introduce/implement what
they have acquired within their own organisations or community. These
participants will be drawn from development organisations, and groups
fighting for social and economic justice. Priority will be given to women
and those coming directly from the grassroots organisations.

Concerning the participants and their profile - they should:
· play an active role within an organisation, movement or community,
and plan to continue this work in the near future;
· be in a position to act as multipliers or trainers within their
organisation of service;
· work directly with or be from the communities experiencing poverty
and social exclusion;
· have already some qualification or experience in terms of training
and project work;
· be committed to attend the full duration of the course;
· have their application supported by their organisation/community or
group and only one application per organisation will be considered;
· be able to present the context of their work, their way of tackling
problems, the challenges they meet and identify;
· be able to work and communicate in English.

Applicants from previous years who were not able to participate may resubmit
their applications.

FINANCIAL & PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Participation Fee - The organisers will charge a subsidized participation
fee of 200 Euros. This participation fee will cover course materials, lunch
and coffee breaks.

Travel Expenses - All selected participants are requested to cover their own
travel, board, lodging and other incidental expenses. A limited number of
scholarships will be available for selected candidates with no alternative
financial means to participate.

Scholarships - Please note that no one will be excluded for financial
reasons and that limited scholarships will be available for those with no
alternative financial means to participate.

Types of scholarships:
Category A: Fee waiver (to waive the participation fee of 200 Euros)
Category B: Partial Scholarship - Fee waiver + board & lodging
Category C: Full scholarship - Fee waiver + board & lodging & 80% of the
cheapest available economy class ticket

HOW TO APPLY ?
Please complete the attached application form. The application form can also
be accessed at http://dignity.3pontos.net/doc/2004applicationform.doc
Applications should be sent to Dignity International with a valid signature
and stamp from the sending organisation, community or group.

For further details of the Call for Applications, please see
http://dignity.3pontos.net/doc/2004callforapplicationfinal.doc

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
Application forms should be sent to Dignity International no later than 15
AUGUST 2004, by email to: applications@dignityinternational.org by Fax: +
351 21 08 78 400 or by ordinary mail Dignity International, Vivenda Metta,
Avenida do Canto do Pinheiro, P-2890-154 Alcochete, PORTUGAL