The Seventeenth Annual IAWG Meeting is scheduled for 8 November – 10 November 2017 and will be held at the Divani Caravel Hotel in Athens, Greece.  There is no registration fee, however participants are responsible for covering the costs of their own travel and accommodations.

Please register here by 31 October 2017.

All participants are highly encouraged to take the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) Module before the IAWG meeting. The MISP for reproductive health is a coordinated set of priority activities to be implemented at the onset of every emergency, and the module aims to increase humanitarian actors’ knowledge of the priority reproductive health services. The module takes approximately 4 hours to complete, and scoring 80% or higher on the post-test will enable you to become certified in the MISP module. Please note that this module was updated in 2011, so if you completed the module earlier you should plan to revisit it prior to the meeting.

The IAWG Annual Meeting will be held at the Divani Caravel

Divani Caravel

Vassileos Alexandrou 2

Athens, Greece 16121

info@divanicaravel.gr

Phone: +30 210 720 7000

Fax : +30 210 723 6683

All participants are responsible for arranging their own travel and accommodations for the 2017 Annual Meeting. There are no fixed special rates for rooms during the given dates; however, the earlier you book your accommodations the better the rate will be.

Alternatively, there are several hotels within a short walking distance from the Divani Caravel conference facilities:

1. Delice Hotel Apartments

Vasileos Alexandrou 3

Athens, Greece 11528

info@delice.gr

Phone: +30 210 723 8311

Fax: +30 210 723 8314

350 meters, 5-minute walk from conference site.

2. Best Western Ilisia Hotel

25 Michalakopoulou Street

Athens, Greece 11528

ilisia@ath.forthnet.gr

Phone: +30 210 724 4052

Fax: +30 210 724 1847

450 meters, 6-minute walk from conference site.

3. Hilton Athens

46 Vassilissis Sofias Avenue

Athens Greece 11528

Reservation.athens@hilton.com

Phone: +30 210 728 1000

Fax: +30 210 728 1111

500 meters, 7-minute walk from conference site.

Athens International Airport is located 33.8 km (21 miles) East of Athens.  The airport offers a taxi service, which operates 24 hours per day.  All prices are fixed and should be listed near taxi operation offices and curbside.  Taxis can be hailed at the airport and are recognizable by their yellow color. The commute from the airport to Athens/ Divani Caravel Hotel should take approximately 25-30 minutes. Most taxis do not accept credit cards; cash is the preferred method of payment.

In general, taxis and the metro, bus and trolleys are the main modes of transportation in Athens. Uber and Lyft are also commonly used within the city limits. To use the Athens metro, a map of the stations, arrivals and departures can be found here.

Travelers may rent a car at the Athens International Airport.  An AVIS reservation may also be made online or by phone at + 1-800-230-4898.

Most companies will request a valid driver’s license obtained at least one year in advance of the rental.  Highway signs are mostly in English and Greek, and there are clearly marked routes to main tourist destinations.  Drivers must carry their driver’s license and a copy of their passport and visa page. It should be noted that driving in Athens can be extremely chaotic and dangerous, and is not recommended.

All visitors must have a passport valid for at least 6 months following their departure date from Greece.

Many nationalities are visa exempt.

Please verify your visa exemption with your local embassy/consulate prior to travel.

The nationalities listed below are visa exempt. If your country is not on the list below please contact your local embassy/consulate to receive proper instructions.

If you require a visa invitation letter, please send as soon as possible an email to Alison Greer (alisong@wrcommission.org) with the header “Support Letter Request” with the following information/documentation:

1)Scanned copy of your passport
2)Information about your travel plans (dates of travel, etc.)

* Note: there may be a small processing fee for onsite visas for some countries upon entry, ranging from 5-20 USD.

Greece does not require health vaccinations upon entry. However, it is recommended that you visit the CDC website Health Information for Travelers to Greece page for further health-related information before you travel.

The CDC offers a list of suggested vaccinations and medical travel supplies.

For additional information about safety and security, please visit the U.S. Department of States website.

The currency of Greece is the European Euro. There are banknotes for 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500.

The following are exchange rates as of 11 August 2017:

1 Euro = .85 US Dollar 1 US Dollar = 1.18 Euro

1 Euro = 0.91 British Pound. 1 British Pound = 1.10 Euro

For up-to-date conversion rates, please visit www.oanda.com.

There is an ATM and exchange desk available at the airport, but they may have higher exchange and withdrawal rates than may be found in Athens. Money and travelers checks can be exchanged in banks (which usually have the best rates), official exchange booths, and some hotels. Please make arrangements with your bank about your travel plans to avoid fraud alerts.

Credit cards, most commonly American Express, are usually accepted in hotels, and other establishments catering to the tourism industry. However, if eating at a cafe or shopping at a small store or in the market, it is best to have cash on hand. It is customary to tip 5-10% at nice dining establishments (which some may already include in the bill). It is not customary to tip taxis.

For this and more information on the best places to exchange currency in Athens, please visit here.

The international dialing code is +30. To make a phone call to/in Athens, dial your exit country code, 30, area code (2-4 digit code), and the number you wish to reach.

We ask that participants are respectful of Greece’s customs, traditions, and religious culture and plan to dress accordingly. Business casual wear is appropriate during conference events. Athens is a walking city; comfortable shoes are recommended.

For more information on etiquette, please visit here.

The average temperature in Greece in November is 15°C (59°F), while the average low is 12°C (54°F), and the average high is 18°C (64°F). The beginning of November brings a mix of sunny and overcast days, with a slight chance of rain, and an average daily temperature of 16°C (61°F). An umbrella or raincoat may be necessary for the occasional shower.

The national language is Greek; however, English is commonly spoken to cater to tourists.

Some helpful phrases and words:

Please view a draft of the Annual Meeting program here. A detailed agenda will be circulated by October 20, 2017.

Is there a IAWG room block or hotel rate for the Annual Meeting?
There is no hotel block or fixed hotel rate for the IAWG Annual Meeting. We strongly suggest booking all accommodations as early as possible to secure the best rate.

Is transportation provided to the venue?
Shuttle buses will not be provided to the venue. However, the alternative hotels that are listed below are within walking distance to the venue (on average 5-7-minute walk). Average Uber rates range from 3-8 Euros from these hotels.

Will translation services be provided?
IAWG will provide simultaneous English to French and French to English translations during the Annual Meeting.

How can I acquire an invitation letter for my visa?
If you require a letter, please send as soon as possible an email to Alison Greer (alisong@wrcommission.org) with the header “Support Letter Request” with the following information/documentation:

1)Scanned copy of your passport
2)Information about your travel plans (dates of travel, etc.)