World Social Forum 2007.

Preparations are underway for the World Social Forum (WSF), which will take place in Nairobi 20-25 January 2007. At least 100,000 people from all over the globe are expected to arrive in the capital for the six-day event, which is organised each year as a counterpoint to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Talks on issues such as education, social assistance, discrimination, art and culture, participation of the public in development initiatives and human, economic, social, cultural and environmental rights will be held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in the city centre, with nearby sites such as Uhuru and Central parks and the University of Nairobi hosting parallel events.

The meeting is being organised and sponsored by local and international non-governmental organisations and foundations with technical support from the Kenyan government. It is expected to bring in billions of shillings worth of foreign revenue in airport taxes and accommodation, transport and food purchases among other things.

The first WSF was held in Porto Allegre, Brazil, in 2001; since then a further three meetings have been held in the Brazilian coastal city and one in Mumbai, India. This year the forum was held in three different locations: Caracas (Venezuela), Bamako (Mali) and Karachi (Pakistan).