Partnering with the United Nations
NGOs in partnership with the United Nations
In the recent half-century, we have seen the birth of a new civil society, where non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have dramatically increased in number, diversity, and influence, forging an effective middle ground between governments and corporations. NGOs are more and more impacting governmental and intergovernmental policies, providing voices for important causes and constituencies, offering analyses and expertise, and performing varied services and humanitarian functions.
Since its founding in 1945, the United Nations have maintained relations with NGOs, who represent the concerns of civil society throughout the world. These relationships have been formalized in a number of United Nations resolutions, which derive from the United Nations Charter itself. As stated in Article 71 of the Charter: “The Economic and Social Council may make suitable arrangements for consultation with non-governmental organizations which are concerned with matters within its competence.” Indeed, the preamble of the U.N. Charter begins “We, the peoples of the United Nations,” which has come to mean both Member States and civil society.
In essence, there are four primary ways in which NGOs partner with the United Nations.
Contents
NGOs and ECOSOC
The first way for NGOs to enter into a working relationship with the United Nations is by attaining consultative status with ECOSOC.
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is one of the six organs of the United Nations, and is composed of representatives of 54 Member States. Its primary areas of concern are sustainable development, social development, status of women, populations and development, and human rights. Several programs, funds and other bodies fall under the domain of ECOSOC, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The relationship between NGOs and ECOSOC has been formalized in ECOSOC resolution 1296 (XLIV) of May 23, 1968, and more recently ECOSOC resolution 1996/31, which revised the arrangements for NGO consultation with this body and is the current basis for the partnership. NGOs that are active in the field of economic and social development, and whose activities are considered relevant to the work of ECOSOC, can apply for consultative status.
There are three categories (General, Special, and Roster) of consultative status with ECOSOC. “General consultative status” (formally “Category I”) is accorded to NGOs that are “concerned with most of the activities of ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies and are closely involved with the economic and social life of the peoples and areas they represent.” These are generally large, international organizations that represent significant segments of societies in several countries. “Special consultative status” (formally “Category II”) is granted to NGOs that have special competence in one or a few of the fields of activity covered by ECOSOC. Other organizations that can make occasional, useful contributions to the work of the Council or its subsidiary bodies, or other United Nations bodies within their competence, shall be included in a list (as the “Roster”). Since the first NGOs were granted consultative status by ECOSOC in 1948, the number of NGOs with consultative status has risen to the current 2,143 organizations, and some 400 NGOs are accredited by the Commission on Sustainable Development, a subsidiary body.
Each of these levels has different privileges and requirements. All may designate UN representatives to attend meetings, attend UN meetings, consult with officers from the Secretariat, and are invited to UN conferences. But only those General and Special Category NGOs can speak at ECOSOC subsidiary bodies’ meetings and circulate statements at ECOSCO meetings and subsidiary bodies meetings. Only General Category NGOs can propose items for ECOSOC’s agenda and speak at ECOSOC itself. Those in General and Special Status must submit quadrennial reports.
To apply for ECOSOC consultative status, an organization must submit a written letter of intent to the NGO Section of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (1 UN Plaza, Room DC1-1480, New York, NY 10017 or desangosection@un.org). The NGO will be mailed an application package. Completed applications are to be received by June 1 of the year preceding the year the NGO wants to be considered for recommendation by the Committee.
Among the stated requirements for consultative status with ECOSOC is that the NGO has a democratic and transparent decision-making mechanism and the authority to speak for its members through its authorized representatives. The NGO also must be in existence for at least two years before applying, and the basic resources of the organization are to be derived mainly from contributions of its membership, affiliates, or other components. ECOSOC resolution 1996/31 delineates these requirements in some detail.
The application for consultative status is examined by the Committee on NGOs, which is composed of representatives from 19 Members States. The Committee recommends to ECOSOC which organization are to be granted one of the three categories of status, with the full ECOSOC making the final decision.
NGOs and DPI
NGOs may also 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.
The DPI/NGO Section at the United Nations provides a number of services to its associated organizations. DPI assists those NGOs with access to general information as well as 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, conducts weekly briefings on varies global issues for the NGO community at UN Headquarters (rewrite), provides ground passes which grant access to all “open” meetings of the UN bodies, to the libraries and other meetings, and other services and publications.
To become associated with DPI, an NGO should send an official letter expressing such interest from its headquarters to the Chief of the NGO Section, Department of Public Information (Room S-1070L, United Nations, New York, NY 10017). The letter should state the reasons why the organization seeks such affiliation and briefly describe its programs, and should be accompanied by at least six samples of recent informational materials relevant to the Untied nations. A complete application, which can be obtained on the UN website (UN.ORG) should be provided within six months. It 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 have statutes/bylaws providing for a transparent process of taking decisions, elections of officers, and members of the Board of Directors. The DPI committee on Non-Governmental Organizations reviews applications.
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.
NGOs and particular Departments, Programs and Agencies
NGOs may also establish working relations with particular departments, programs, or specialized agencies of the United Nations system. Many UN specialized agencies have their own accreditation programs for those NGOs that are relevant to their work. Among these are such specialized agencies as the International Labor Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
NGOs desiring such working relations should consult with the particular department, program or agencies.
NGOs and conferences
NGOs may also receive accreditation for a particular international conference, summit, or other event organized by the United Nations. Such accreditation is issued through the respective secretariat office preparing the event. If one is accredited to a conference or summit, such as Earth Summit 2002, as opposed to being accredited to a main UN organ such as ECOSOC, then one would only be allowed to attend the preparatory committee meetings and actual conference or summit, and afterwards the accreditation will not continue. If one is accredited to the main body, such as ECOSOC, one is automatically accredited to the relevant conferences or summits and only has to register for the particular event.
ECOSOC Resolution 1996/31, which defines the criteria and principles for establishing consultative relationships for NGOs, also specifies that NGOs can be invited to participate in all international conferences convened by the United Nations, as well as their preparatory processes. NGOs, which have been accredited to an international conference, may be given an opportunity to briefly speak at the preparatory meetings and the event itself, and the opportunity to make written presentations
The number of NGOs involved in international conferences convened by the United Nations has greatly increased over the years. For example, the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit, Rio) was attended by some 2,400 NGO representatives. The 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, Rio+10) is expected to attract as many as 10,000 accredited representatives of NGOs.
Not part of the United Nations
NGOs, no matter to which United Nations body they are accredited or have consultative status, are not considered part of the United Nations. They are neither representatives nor agents of the UN, and consultative status does not entitle them to tax exemptions, diplomatic passports, nor use of the UN logo (unless proper authorization is secured from the UN Office of Legal Affairs.)
The relationship between NGOs and the United Nations is a dynamic one, which continues to evolve. The current situation is vastly different than the time when the United Nations was founded. NGOs are involved in all UN conferences, the range of activities in which they assist the United Nations is greatly expanded, they have encroached significantly on the General Assembly, and are knocking on the door of the Security Council. They have gained acceptance on a wide range of issues, not just on social and economic questions. The new language of “partnership” between the United Nations and NGOs, which began to appear more frequently in the 1990s, reflects this continuing evolution.
