Deadline: 01 June, 2020
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) invites non-governmental organisations to apply for consultative status, in order to have an opportunity to take part in United Nations (UN) deliberations. ECOSOC consultative status is governed by ECOSOC resolution 1996/31, which outlines the eligibility requirements for consultative status, rights and obligations of NGOs in consultative status, procedures for the withdrawal or suspension of consultative status, the role and functions of the ECOSOC Committee on NGOs, and the responsibilities of the UN Secretariat in supporting the consultative relationship. Consultative status is granted by ECOSOC on the recommendation of the ECOSOC Committee on NGOs, which is composed by member states.
Benefits
- NGOs that are accredited with ECOSOC can participate in a number of events, including but not limited to regular sessions of ECOSOC, the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, its functional commissions and its other subsidiary bodies
- NGOs may attend official meetings
- NGOs may submit written statements prior to sessions
- NGOs may make oral statements
- NGOs may meet official government delegations and other NGO representatives
- NGOs may organise and attend parallel events that take place during the session
- NGOs may participate in debates, interactive dialogues, panel discussions and informal meetings
Eligibility
To be eligible for consultative status, an NGO must:
- have been in existence (officially registered with the appropriate government authorities as an NGO/non-profit) for two years, minimum
- have an established headquarters, a democratically adopted constitution, authority to speak for its members, a representative structure, appropriate mechanisms of accountability and democratic and transparent decision-making processes
- derive the main part of its basic resources from contributions of the national affiliates, individual members, or other components
- NGOs affiliated to an international organisation already in status may be admitted, provided that they can demonstrate that their programme of work has direct relevance to the aims and purposes of the UN
- Organisations established by governments or intergovernmental agreements are not considered NGOs
To apply and for more information, click here.
Photo source: ID4Africa
