View source for UN Department of Public Information and NGOs

NGOs may apply for association with the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI). These are NGOs that are committed to conducting effective information programs with their constituents and the broader community about UN activities, and which have an established record of continuity of work for at least three years. Over 1,500 NGOs with information programs on issues of interest to the United Nations are associated with DPI; about half of these are also associated with [[ECOSOC]].<membersonly>

The DPI/NGO Section at the United Nations provides a number of services to its associated organizations. DPI assists those NGOs by providing access to general information and practical information concerning the complexity of the intergovernmental process, thereby increasing the effectiveness of NGOs in their area of specialization. DPI organizes an annual NGO/DPI conference and conducts weekly briefings on varies global issues for the NGO community at UN Headquarters. DPI also provides ground passes that grant access to all “open” meetings of the UN bodies and to the libraries and other meetings and to other services and publications. 

==Application Process==

To become associated with DPI, an NGO must:
*Be of recognized national or international standing 
*Operate solely on a not-for-profit basis with tax-exempt status 
*Provide an audited annual financial statement conducted by a qualified, independent accountant 
*Have a demonstrated interest in UN issues and proven ability to conduct effective information programs about UN activities and preferably a satisfactory record of collaboration with parts of the UN System prior to association
*Have statutes/bylaws providing for a transparent process of taking decisions, elections of officers, and members of the Board of Directors
*Support and respect the principles of the Charter of the United Nations
The DPI committee on Non-Governmental Organizations reviews applications. To become associated with DPI, an NGO should send an official letter expressing such interest and all application materials from its headquarters to the UN Information Center (UNIC) covering the country where the NGO is based, and all. The required application materials (in English or French) include: 
*A completed Application Form for Non-Governmental Organizations (obtained from http://www.un.org/dpi/ngosection/documents/NGO_Application%20Form.doc).
*A completed Summary of Application (obtained from http://www.un.org/dpi/ngosection/documents/NGO_Summary%20of%20Application.doc
*A copy of the organization's constitution/charter or by-laws
*Official proof of non-profit status, issued by public authorities, and tax exemption status
*A copy of the organization's most recent audited financial statement, in U.S. dollars, conducted by a qualified and independent accountant.
*Evidence of an active information program relevant to the United Nations, with at least six (6) different types of samples of the organization's most recent information materials (e.g. newsletter, periodicals, tapes of radio programs, conference reports)
*Two letters of recommendation of organizations 
*References 

The process takes three to six months.

==Representative Mechanism==
DPI NGOs have a representative mechanism available in the UN system. There is an 18-member DPI/NGO Executive Committee that is elected by the DPI/NGO community to act in an advisory and liaison capacity to channel information and to represent the interest of NGOS associated with DPI. This Committee is made up of NGOs from different parts of the world whose representatives in New York are elected for a period of two years. WANGO Secretary General Taj Hamad previously has served on this committee. 

==References==
This article was summarized and updated from the following article: Swarts, F. 2002. NGO-UN partnerships. ''Beyond Boundaries'' 1(2):7-8.