Deadline: 31-Jul-23
Applications are now open for the Archipelagic and Island States Youth Conference under the theme “Bridging the Waves for the Ocean Future We Want”.
Youth should be a part of the solution and increase their involvement to achieve tangible results from their ocean advocacy and actions. In addition to that, it is crucial that youth in archipelagic and island states play a significant role in fostering economic and social development in their respective regions and recognise the ocean’s potential as a source of economic development and livelihood.
Furthermore, youth in archipelagic and islands serve as cultural ambassadors of the ocean, preserving and celebrating their distinct heritage and maritime traditions. By combining traditional knowledge with contemporary techniques, they build a bridge between the past and the future, preserving their cultural identity while embracing new technologies and practices. Archipelagic and island youths are redefining the narrative of ocean development through their collective efforts, nurturing a more sustainable and prosperous future for their communities and the planet as a whole.
Therefore, the AIS Youth Conference is organised in an effort to mobilise young people in archipelagic and island states who are interested in marine plastic debris, good maritime governance, a blue economy, and climate change. It examines innovative solutions, climate adaptation initiatives led by youth, and community empowerment in island environments. This would also demonstrate AIS Forum’s strategic engagement with youths in AIS countries to demonstrate intergenerational equity, dialogue and solidarity.
The AIS Youth Conference will be hosted as one of the flagship events as the sideline of the AIS Forum’s 1st High-Level Meeting, which will be held on 11th October 2023. As the ultimate goal, this AIS Youth Conference is committed to producing the AIS Youth Declaration as one of its primary deliverables, which will be the AIS Forum’s defining youth-led and youth-centred document.
Grand Theme: “AIS Youth: Bridging the Waves for the Ocean Future We Want“
Conference Objectives
- To engage with youths from AIS Forum participating countries to achieve:
- Capacity building for AIS youths in cultivating their ownership and belonging to AIS Forum initiatives and advancing concrete youth-driven activities in AIS countries to their local community.
- Promoting AIS youth participation through discussions’ deliverables that are crafted, negotiated, and adopted by AIS youths on ocean-climate issues.
- Advancing AIS Forum regional awareness initiative that involves youths as the seed of impacts in AIS countries after being empowered by the conference activities.
- Empowering AIS youth to develop their critical thinking, public speaking, problem-solving, research, and seeding the next generation that will create the ocean they want.
- To promote youth leadership on maritime and ocean development issues during the 1st High-Level Meeting (HLM).
Thematic Areas
- Prior relevant activism experiences related to one or more AIS Forum core thematic areas:
- climate change;
- blue economy;
- marine pollution; and
- ocean governance are preferred.
Benefits for Delegates
- All youth delegates selected to participate in the conference will receive the following benefits from the organizing committee to support and facilitate their participation:
- Roundtrip economy class flights fully covered by the host from the nearest international airport in their country from/to Bali, Indonesia.
- Shared room hotel accommodation (same sex) covered by the host with check in on 6th October 2023 and check out on 9thOctober 2023.
- Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner) and Coffee Breaks for all delegates.
- Airport transfer from Bali International Airport from/to Hotel Venue.
- Domestic transportation only for the sessions within the conference agenda.
- Letter of Acceptance (LoA).
- Visa Endorsement Letter (should it is required).
- Full Conference Agenda and Site Visit.
- Certificate of Participation signed by the Government of Indonesia and UNDP.
Responsibilities of Delegates
- Delegates must be responsible for the following:
- Domestic transportation is required to travel from/to their residence to the available international airport in their country.
- Personal expenses outside of the host’s facilitation (Mobile SIM Card, laundry, room service, local transport outside of conference agenda, etc).
- Prepare their own laptop, notes, clothes, and personal medication for the conference.
- Hotel or lodging during their transit should it is needed.
- Visa application costs for applicants which country must obtain a visa before entering Indonesia.
Additional Provisions
- Delegates are designated to arrive a day before the conference and leave a day after the conference, organizing committee cannot accommodate flight changes outside of the designated arrival and departure dates due to the bureaucratic arrangements.
- Should a hotel accommodation be needed during their transit considering the available of the next connecting flights during their voyage from/ to Bali, Indonesia, the organizing committee may cover the cost with the best available economic option.
- Delegates selected to the conference must ensure their 100% availability and commitment to the full agenda of the conference including their availability to travel at the planned travel dates from/ to their own country from/to Bali, Indonesia.
- All delegates must respect and no racism, xenophobic, sexual, and verbal abuse is tolerated. Any failure to comply will result in the delegates disqualification.
- Delegates who are selected but failed to commit to the pre-conference activities will be disqualified to attend the in-person conference in Bali, Indonesia, their replacement will be considered from the available pool of applicants.
- Delegates who fail to confirm the acceptance offer will be regarded as their rejection to the offer and their replacement will be considered from the available pool of applicants
Expected Outcome
- AIS Youth Declaration
- AIS Youth Declaration will be standing as the key landmark document that will outline vision, action, and recommendations of youths coming from AIS participating countries attending the forum. This declaration will become the main reference of AIS youth programs that are going to be carried out by the Secretariat and its ambassadors. This declaration will reflect the hope and vision of youth as well for the ocean, expectations for AIS Forum activities, and a way forward for AIS youth in advancing their actions in promoting sustainable ocean development in their local communities.
- During the AIS Youth Interface with AIS Forum Senior Officials/Ministers, the youths are expected to present and introduce their declaration and receive feedback/ perspectives from AIS Forum Senior Officials/Ministers. This declaration will also stand as an avenue for youth to perform high level engagement in promoting their action for the ocean and their ownership as youths of archipelagic and island countries.
- The outcome, will as follows reflect:
- AIS Forum successfully takes AIS youth meaningful participation narrative into a concrete level.
- AIS Forum increased the awareness of the Youth Delegates after attending the conference and hoping to develop youth ownership to future AIS Forum activities.
- Strategic awareness and increased engagement of the public to AIS Forum is increasing because of the encouraged active amplification of the youth declaration implemented by delegates in each of their countries.
- AIS Forum will take reference from the Youth Declaration in envisaging future programs that involve youth in AIS Forum participating countries.
Target Youth Participants
- 30 Youth Delegates nationals of AIS Forum participating countries aged 20 – 30 years old curated through a selection process.
Youth Delegates Recruitment
- For the AIS Youth Conference 2023, the recruitment for delegates is open to the public and will also be circulated to AIS countries through relevant partners.
Eligibility Criteria
- Open or full-time students (Undergraduate/Master) and young professionals.
- Nationals of AIS countries https://www.aisforum.org/ais-countries aged 20 to 30 years old.
- Committed to actively participating in pre-conference, main conference, and postconference activities.
- Able to attend the forum and travel to Bali, Indonesia (fully funded travel by AIS Forum).
- Proficient in English (speaking, reading and writing) as the working language.
- Preferably youth with volunteer experience relevant to AIS core thematic areas.
- Willingness to contribute to ocean sustainability and engage in AIS Forum activities.
- Prior publications related to AIS Forum or its thematic work area is a plus.
- Follow Instagram of AIS Forum as the mandatory requirement.
Selection Process
- 30 youths from AIS Participating countries will be selected for the conference.
- The AIS Forum will prioritize the geographical balance of youth delegates, and the AIS Forum Secretariat encourages eligible youths residing in AIS-participating countries in the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans to apply.
- AIS Forum Secretariat will review all submissions and selected applications will be announced to their personal email.
Details
- Time and Place of Conference
- AIS Youth Conference will convene in Bali, Indonesia from 6 to 8 October 2023. The event will be conducted fully in-person and following the local Bali time zone (UTC+8/ Central Indonesian Time).
For more information, visit AIS.