The Partners Forum will focus on:

a) Sharing good practices, both local and international, on womens empowerment and leadership in business and enterprise;

b) Women leadership for enterprises in developing countries and opportunities from developed nations; and

c) Building South-to-South solidarity.

Sessions will include presentations, debates and direct interaction with Ministers and women leaders from enterprise.

PLACE AND TIMEBRAC Centre for Development Management, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh

15-17 June 2013 (opening ceremony: 9.00-10.30am, 15 June)

10TH WOMENS AFFAIRS MINISTERIAL MEETING PARTNERS FORUM (10WPF)

Womens Leadership for EnterpriseJune 15-17, 2013

Participants are also able to attend the official Opening Ceremony of the 10th Commonwealth Womens Affairs Ministerial Meeting, 17 June (afternoon).

GET INVOLVEDParticipants will include representatives from civil society, youth groups, business and the private/corporate sector, academia, researchers, donor agencies and government.

REGISTRATION Advance registration is essential. Participants can register online at www.brac.net/10wpf or can mail their interest in participation by emailing suman.islam@brac.net attaching a brief CV.

Registration fees: International & Regional participants GBP 120.00 Bangladeshi participants BDT 2,500.00

Every three years, Commonwealth Ministers responsible for womens affairs meet to discuss progress and challenges relating to gender equality in the Commonwealth. This year Ministers will be hosted by the Government of Bangladesh under the theme Womens Leadership for Enterprise.

Held in the wings of the 10th Womens Affairs Ministerial Meeting (10WAMM), the Partners Forum provides an opportunity for civil society, academics, donor agencies and other womens affairs experts to meet, share and learn from each other; to discuss critical issues and barriers to delivering womens empowerment and gender equality; and to engage with Ministers and Senior Officials in order to contribute to Commonwealth and global agenda-setting processes.

The Partners Forum is organised by the Commonwealth Foundation in partnership with BRAC, in collaboration with the Government of Bangladesh and the Commonwealth Secretariat. Representatives of key national and regional organisations have also provided formal input into the planning of the Forum.

Website: http://www.thecommonwealth.org/

ACCOMMODATIONIt is strongly recommended that participants stay at the Partners Forum venue. Reasonable rates are available.

EXHIBITIONThe Partners Forum venue will host an exhibition showcasing the excellence of women entrepreneurs through their products and services. Forum participants will have an opportunity to interact with local women entrepreneurs including members from Bangladesh Womens Chambers of Commerce, SME Foundation, Aarong and Ministry of Women & Childrens Affairs.

BRACSpreading solutions born in Bangladesh to 10 other countries around the world BRAC is a global leader to alleviate poverty by empowering the poor, and helping them to bring about positive changes in their lives by creating opportunity for the worlds poor. It works with a holistic development approach geared toward inclusion, using tools like microfinance, education, healthcare, legal services, community empowerment, gender justice and more. BRAC now touches the lives of an estimated 126 million people, with staff and BRAC-trained entrepreneurs numbering in the hundreds of thousands, a global movement bringing change to 11 countries in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. www.brac.net/

COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATIONThe Commonwealth Foundation is a development organisation with an international remit and reach, uniquely situated at the interface between government and civil society. We develop the capacity of civil society to act together and learn from each other to engage with the institutions that shape peoples lives. We strive for more effective, responsive and accountable governance with civil society participation, which contributes to improved development outcomes. www.commonwealthfoundation.com/

FORUM DESIGN COMMITTEEOrganisations across the globe are contributing to the designing of the 10WPF. These organisations are working both at the national and international level.

For further information please contact Suman Ahsanul Islam

Programme Head, Gender Justice and Diversity, BRAC Phone: +880 2 9881265 (Ext 3926), Cell: +880 1819 240 657

Email: suman.islam@brac.net, Website: www.brac.net

Women Empowerment Literacy and Development Organisation (WELDO), Pakistan

Caribbean Policy Development Centre, Barbados

Women in Law and Development in Africa (WilDAF)

Naripokkho, Bangladesh

Steps Towards Development, Bangladesh

Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BWCCI)

Ministry of Women & Children Affairs, Government of Bangladesh