CIVICUS will convene its fifth biennial World Assembly in Gaborone, Botswana from 21-25 March 2004. The World Assembly is a primary venue for civil society and other stakeholders to exchange information about their achievements and challenges. Hundreds of citizen groups and CIVICUS members will explore options to enhance citizen engagement in decision-making at all levels of governance, as well as examine issues of social and economic justice in a globalised world. Through learning exchanges and plenary sessions, participants will look at ways to strengthen the governance and legitimacy of civil society organisations and defend the rights of civic association. There will be four main themes: (1) fuelling civic energy; (2) livelihood insecurity: innovative solutions seeking to open doors; (3) democratising power: civic engagement in decision-making; and (4) keeping the peace or fanning the flames. Cross-cutting themes include HIV/AIDS; gender equity and equality; young people; capacity-building; and socially marginalised groups. To read the World Assembly call for proposals, or for more information about the World Assembly, go to http://www.civicus.org or email David Kalete, Director of Programmes, [email protected]. The deadline for proposals is 30 September 2003.

This paper investigates the national and community level interventions that offer promise for increasing primary education access for children who have been orphaned or made vulnerable in areas heavily affected by AIDS in the eastern and southern Africa region. Some of the lessons learnt are that: Initiatives should target all vulnerable children in AIDS-affected areas and should create affordable schooling opportunities; non-formal education should be prioritised in addition to formal education and that initiatives should be developed with community participation and cater to community needs.