Monitoring Policy Making at the United Nations |
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NGOs A/54/329: Report of the Secretary-General
"Views of Member States, members of the specialized agencies, observers,
September 8, 1999
intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations from all regions
on the report of the Secretary-General on arrangements and practices for the
interaction of non-governmental organizations in all activities
of the United Nations system".Contents
I. Introduction ........................................................................................... Paragraph 1-4
II. Background information .........................................................................Paragraphs 5-6
III. General Remarks.................................................................................... Paragraphs 7-12
IV. Views on specific issues ......................................................................... Paragraphs 13-62
V. Recommendations................................................................................... Paragraphs 63-66 I. Introduction
1. In its decision 1996/297 the Economic and Social Council recommended that the General Assembly examine the question of participation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in all areas of the United Nations. Such request led to the publication of the Secretary-General's report (A/53/170) on "arrangements and practices for the interaction of non-governmental organizations in all activities of the United Nations system". The General Assembly had requested in its decision 52/453 of 19 December 1997 that once prepared, the report be circulated for consideration. Having considered this report at its fifty-third session, the General Assembly adopted decision 53/452 of 17 December 1998, whereby it requested the Secretary-General to: (a) seek the views of Member States, members of the specialized agencies, observers and inter-governmental organizations, as well as the views of non-governmental organizations from all regions, on the report A/53/170; (b) submit a further report to the General Assembly, at its fifty-fourth session, taking into account the submissions received.
2. Accordingly, a note (NGORPT2/1) of 26 February 1999 was sent from the Secretary-General to all concerned. Pursuant to the request of the General Assembly in its decision 53/452, the present report takes into account the submissions by the Secretary-General from various Member States, observers, members of specialized agencies, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations.
3. The Secretariat contacted 183 Member States of the United Nations and 9 observers, as well as 16 specialized agencies, 31 inter-governmental organizations and the 1603 NGOs holding consultative status with the Economic and Social Council. In its efforts to reach NGOs not based at Headquarters, the Office of External Relations collaborated with the Department of Public Information (DPI) to contact the network of 67 United Nations Information Centres and Services and used electronic means to reach out to non-governmental organizations worldwide to seek their views on the previous report (A/53/170). The note requesting comments was sent to networks of NGOs dealing with NGOs from developing and least developed countries. Announcements were also made during the meetings of the Commission on Social Development which is well attended by NGOs from developing countries.
4. Comments were received from twenty-seven Member States (Algeria, Argentina, Canada, People's Republic of China, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Germany on behalf of the European Union, Republic of Korea, Morocco, The Russian Federation, United States of America, and Venezuela), one observer (Switzerland), ten specialized agencies and inter-governmental organizations (IGOs) and 130 non-governmental organizations (NGOs). They are summarized hereunder. Due to limitations established by the General Assembly on the length of the reports, the views cannot be entirely reproduced however all submissions are available in entirety for review in the Secretariat.
5. The previous report (A/53/170) focused on the practical cooperation between the organs, programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations and NGOs as regards the execution of projects. It presented the steps taken to enhance close collaboration and dialogue between the United Nations and civil society. The report also tried to address key issues such as the need for the United Nations to ensure a balanced geographical representation of NGOs and ways in which it can answer the growing demands of NGOs for access to information and increased participation.
6. The present report includes comments and suggestions submitted by Member States, specialized agencies, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations on ways to adapt and improve the relationships between the United Nations and NGOs.
7. Nearly all Member States who responded recognized the important contribution by NGOs to the activities of the United Nations. Most of them stressed the central role of NGOs as essential and indispensable partners for governments and the international community and as a driving force in the conceptualization and implementation of decisions taken at major United Nations Conferences. Although Member States found the report (A/53/170) to be comprehensive and informative providing a good overview of existing rules and modalities, they felt that some aspects needed further elaboration. A number of Member States suggested that the report give more careful consideration to the legal issues governing the interaction of NGOs in activities of the United Nations as well as to the financial implications of the relationship between the United Nations and NGOs. Some Member State replies expressed the view that the report should consider more deeply the question of participation of NGOs from developing countries and the important issue of performance review.
8. In their responses, the United Nations specialized agencies and intergovernmental organizations indicated that the Secretary-General's report accurately reflected the growing role and participation of NGOs in the work of the United Nations and its agencies as well as in public affairs and governance at local, national and global levels. In particular, they stressed that the report served as a useful overview of institutional implications of new forms of partnerships in development co-operation. A number of UN specialized agencies reported that they were currently reviewing their policies on collaboration with NGOs and found the report to be a useful reference tool in this regard. Most said that the report provided a helpful summary of evolving interaction between NGOs worldwide and the United Nations system and was useful in underlining the commonalities as well as differences in practices within the UN system, in line with particular mandates, needs and NGO constituencies.
9. The NGO Section of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) expressed its strong support for the efforts undertaken to improve coordination with UN Bodies and the specialized Agencies in order to examine the principles and practices related to their consultative relationship with NGOs throughout the United Nations System. During the NGO Committee's discussion on the issue of accreditation, the Committee recognized the important contribution of NGOs to the work of the United Nations. Clearly, that role continues to expand. This year, for example, the President of ECOSOC allowed a limited number of NGOs to participate in the High-Level Segment of the Council. The NGO Section advised and assisted CONGO and two major international non-governmental organizations in their preparations. For the first time, representatives of these organizations took the floor during the High-Level Segment to present the views and proposals of their organizations.
10. Almost all of the NGOs who responded welcomed the Secretary-General's report as a comprehensive and thoughtful overview of relations between the UN and the NGO community. Many found the report useful in an informational sense. They felt that a serious attempt had been made to assess current arrangements and to consider how these might be developed in the future. They appreciated the opportunity to contribute to the appraisal, and said they hoped this open approach would continue to characterize UN activities in this area.
11. Some NGOs were concerned that the report created the perception that the increasing number of NGOs represented a threat to the system or a problem that needed to be dealt with. They stressed that the growth of NGOs was very positive for the UN system, providing an extraordinary opportunity for Member States, the UN system and NGOs to make the UN a more relevant, vibrant and forceful institution. They noted that while the report described the increase in NGOs being granted status, it would be helpful to have statistics on the numbers of NGO representatives that actually participated in meetings held at United Nations Headquarters or other UN locations.
12. Many NGOs felt that the report did not sufficiently address the role of NGOs in shaping decisions taken at the UN. Some NGOs believed that the report did not offer suggestions with respect to building support for NGOs among governments and within the Secretariat despite the statements of senior level UN officials that NGOs are essential to the process of policy formation and in the execution of policies. In their view, the report should have attempted to build that support and provide specific examples of NGO best practices at all levels. General support was expressed by many NGOs for access to the GA, increased training of UN staff assigned to work with NGOs, free use of the Optical Disk System (ODS), the establishment of a trust fund to assist the participation and capacity-building of developing country NGOs, and better access to documentation before, during and after meetings.
Institutional arrangements
13. The Secretary-General's report A/53/170 covered the existing arrangements established within the various United Nations bodies, programmes and specialized agencies which govern relationships between the UN system and NGOs. These arrangements vary and range from consultative status and memoranda of understanding to the establishment of advisory committees. As to the diversity of arrangements, two differing points of view were expressed in the responses submitted by Member States. Some observed that there was no single legal framework that could serve as a model. Others suggested that procedures to deal with NGOs should be standardized and harmonized throughout the UN system. The NGO Section of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) noted the question of harmonization of standards was of particular concern in light of one of the provisions of ECOSOC resolution 1996/31, which establishes the legal framework for relations between NGOs and the United Nations through consultative status with its Economic and Social Council. Under Article 14 of the resolution, NGOs in formal relationship with a specialized agency may be entered into consultative roster status with ECOSOC. The resolution, however, specifies no requirement that these NGOs meet the stringent criteria of those passing through the established procedures for ECOSOC approval. There is, moreover, no established mechanism for monitoring NGOs on the roster. To remedy this situation, the NGO Section/DESA, which is responsible for keeping account of the activities of NGOs in all consultative categories with ECOSOC, is, therefore undertaking a review of all NGOs holding roster status with a view to identifying the organizations that continue to contribute to the work of the UN or other UN bodies. Such organizations will be encouraged to seek Special status with ECOSOC while those found to be inactive will be referred to the Committee on NGOs for review. At present there are nearly twice as many NGOs in the Roster category by virtue of their status with specialized agencies and other United Nations bodies as those that have fulfilled ECOSOC's own requirements. In relation to its review, the NGO Section has initiated contact with the relevant UN bodies and specialized agencies to update and expand its information on NGOs falling under their purview. It is intended that this collaboration with other entities of the UN system will become a regular activity to enable the Section to monitor NGO compliance with the conditions set out in 1996/31.
14. It was also observed that agencies, funds and programs must work together with NGOs to establish appropriate accountability and review mechanisms in creating and developing their working relations. Such mechanisms should foremost institute transparency in all aspects of the UN-NGO relationship, particularly in the establishment of decision-making process, ethical standards and measurable program indicators. The arrangements between NGOs and the agencies, funds and programs must be amenable to independent verification, inspection, and assessment.
15. It was generally agreed that the United Nations derives its mandate to work with NGOs from Article 71 of the United Nations Charter. In submitting their views most Member States reiterated the significance of this article which enabled the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to "make suitable arrangements for consultation with NGOs". Some Member States were of the opinion however, that Article 71 is the exception which confirms the rule. The United Nations as well as its specialized agencies, are inter-State and inter-governmental organizations, which have the capacity to call upon NGOs to cooperate with them within the bounds of their constitutive and institutional design which is essentially governmental. It was felt therefore that Article 71 limits, in principle, the possibility of cooperation between the United Nations and NGOs, ratione personae, to ECOSOC. At the same time it excludes them, ratione materiae, from dealing with all other such questions which remain the domaine reserve of other organs of the United Nations by confining NGO activities with the Organization to economic and social matters only. Nevertheless, some Member States believed that Article 71 allows ECOSOC to use its discretion in designating its interlocutors and in choosing the modalities of consultation with them.
16. Using this prerogative, ECOSOC first adopted resolution 1296(XLIV) of 23 May 1968, which outlined relations between ECOSOC and NGOs and later adopted resolution 1996/31 of 25 July 1996 that governs their relationship at present. In this regard, several Member States who responded were of the opinion that the strengthening of the role of NGOs in United Nations activities should strictly be done in the light of the provisions of the Charter as well as ECOSOC resolutions 1296/XLIV and 1996/31. It was specified that a difference should be made between the executive role of States and that of NGOs which, in their view, have proved to be efficient in the social sphere, in the dissemination of information, provision of advisory services, and assistance to United Nations specialized agencies, among others functions. They stressed that any attempt to give NGOS a status closer to that of States would require a revision of the Charter of the United Nations. In the view of several Member States who responded the contributions of NGOs undoubtedly enrich the deliberative process in the various spheres, but their participation in the decision-making process, beyond the contributions which they make at present, could give rise to significant distortions, and among other things, would undermine the principle of the sovereign equality of States and equitable consideration of the interests of all the regions of the world.
17. Some Member States were of the view that a revision of the relationship between the United Nations and NGOs was timely. It was felt that a broader legal framework than that established by ECOSOC resolution 1996/31 should govern the relationship between the United Nations and NGOs. Accordingly, discussions on new approaches, methods and responses throughout the United Nations system in order to ensure participation of NGOs should be conducted within the ECOSOC Committee on NGOs. For a Member State, greater participation of NGOs and their interaction with the United Nations should be governed by transparent arrangements previously agreed upon by States for implementation by the Secretariat and the United Nations system. These arrangements should reflect the diversity of the political, economic and social bodies of the United Nations. Even though ECOSOC consultative status (governed by resolution 1996/31) remains at the core of the formal relationship between the NGOs and the United Nations, one Member State noted that such interaction had gone beyond what was stipulated in the resolution. This was true especially with regard to cooperation between the NGOs and UN subsidiary bodies involved in humanitarian and relief operations, and development. Another Member State urged all agencies, funds and programs, in the spirit of ECOSOC 1996/31 and transparency to update, formulate and publish, where appropriate, their policies, rules and procedures governing their relationships with NGOs. While recognizing that there may need to be a broader legal framework governing the relationship between the United Nations and NGOs than is provided by resolution 1996/31 and that there is need to update and revise this resolution, the NGO Section/DESA indicated that it would equally strongly support the suggestion that for the immediate future, policies, rules and procedures should be guided by the spirit of ECOSOC resolution 1996/31. In this connection the NGO Section has already entered into a dialogue with some specialized agencies on the subject of the rules, defining criteria and parameters in their relationship with NGOs and how their requirements compare with those established for consultative status with ECOSOC.
18. Both the legal and financial implications of the relationship between the United Nations and NGOs were of great concern to Member States. Some of those who replied were of the opinion that the report should more fully address the legal and financial implications that would be incurred if the current arrangements were modified in order to enhance NGO participation and recommended that these issues be resolved beforehand. The majority of the Member States agreed that greater NGO participation should not lead to additional financial burdens on Member States. Several Member States suggested that the Secretary-General elaborate on these issues and also on the responsibilities and role of NGOs in determining ways and means aimed at promoting and enhancing the relationship with the United Nations.
19. It was recalled that the principle aim of ECOSOC decision 1996/297 was to allow the participation of NGOs in all United Nations activities and consequently enlarge the field of participation limited to economic and social activities. Therefore, a careful consideration of the legal and financial implications would help better define the relationship between the United Nations and NGOs. Should the relationship entail interaction, cooperation, participation or merely attendance at meetings?
20. According to one Member State, the report should review the financial implications of NGO participation in activities of the United Nations system such as conference scheduling, document distribution, interpretation and secretarial services. Such information should be made available to Member States in order to better evaluate the situation and take the appropriate decisions especially in the light of the current financial crisis. The same Member State believed that, at the moment, the United Nations' limited financial resources ought to be devoted to programs and matters of concern to Member States. It also felt the report should touch upon the relevant legal issues governing the interaction with NGOs.
21. On the matter of institutional arrangements, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) suggested that for the United Nations system as a whole, the UN may wish to make a clearer distinction between policy dialogue (i.e. more formal consultations such as those taking place through the ECOSOC and, by extension, governing bodies such as the Human Rights or Sustainable Development Commissions) and implementing partnerships which ensure operational cooperation with NGOs at the country level. In UNESCO's view, this might lead to the possibility of reverting to the practice of "reserving" ECOSOC status for international or regional NGOs and opening up a new "operational" status to NGOs at all levels, including at the national level for the programme implementation side of UN system operations (including the funds and programmes). Specialized agencies should continue to adopt their own specific arrangements, providing both for policy dialogue and implementing partnerships. Reserving ECOSOC "consultative status" for international and regional NGOs would, in UNESCO's opinion, have the added advantage of "disengorging" the UN Secretariat's NGO Section and Committee on NGOs, and avoiding the problems of "regional balance" that are beginning to emerge regarding the geographical origin of the national NGOs currently admitted to consultative status.
22. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) maintained that the very definition of "international NGO" sometimes used in the report did not properly reflect the wide range of differences marking institutions in the NGO arena, in particular as far as the relationships between large NGOs based in donor countries and networks of NGOs from developing countries are concerned. The consistency of formal and informal arrangements regulating, on the one hand, the NGO consultative capacity at the policy level, and, on the other hand, the "growing operational partnership" at the programme/project level could have been further elaborated on in the report, according to the OECD.
23. The World Health Organization (WHO) noted that it has at present only one category of formal relations with NGOs and that only international NGOs are eligible. In the new policy relations with NGOs currently under consideration, WHO would apply more flexibly in its criteria for admission of NGOs into official relations in order to admit more multisectoral and development NGOs and increase its partnership with local grassroots organizations.
24. Many NGOs found the section on institutional arrangements to be a valuable guide in itself and welcomed the clear outline of procedures which currently existed. They pointed out, however, that it was for many NGOs, the first clear picture of the various methods of consultation they had. Some requested that the report should form the basis of a directory, to be issued to NGOs upon accreditation. It was also proposed that each NGO should receive an orientation/welcome booklet and/or session upon obtaining formal status with the UN. The information should include specifics about the NGO liaison offices in the UN system, including names, contacts, locations. The booklet should reinforce mutual rights and responsibilities, as well as practical guidelines for the functioning of NGOs within physical structures and protocols of the UN, including how to follow debates and so forth. In this regard, it was noted by the NGO Section/DESA that members of the Committee on NGOs had also proposed that the Secretariat examine the feasibility of conducting annual briefing sessions for NGOs on this particular issue and the possibility of requesting reports from the Secretary General and the bureaux of the functional commissions on the various aspects of the participation of NGOs in the functional commissions. With reference to informing NGOs about the accreditation process, it was reported that a number of guidelines have been issued in both UN working languages by the NGO Section to assist NGOs in the preparation of their application questionnaires and quadrennial reports. It is anticipated that the positive impact of these guidelines will be reflected in improved submissions during the year 2000 and thereafter. In addition, a series of informative workshops and seminars has been organized during the various intergovernmental meetings held at headquarters and during a number of international NGO events held throughout the year. This training provides guidance on how to comply with the technical requirements of applying for consultative status as well as explaining the formal rights and responsibilities of NGOs in consultative status. Moreover, the workshops explore with participants ways to enhance their contributions to the Committee's work in the economic and social sectors. Several of these informative meetings were conducted jointly with the DPI/NGO Section.
25. A group of NGOs felt that the report described but did not systematically evaluate how the various existing arrangements with NGOs were functioning. They proposed that the Joint Investigation Unit examine the specific ways in which the Secretariat was or was not achieving what was outlined in ECOSOC resolution 1996/31. Some NGOs were of the opinion that the use and implementation of ECOSOC resolution 1996/31 was not dealt with adequately by the report. The application of this resolution, which was supposed to provide a minimum standard for the participation of NGOs in ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies, had , in their view, been applied inconsistently. Further clarification of the language of resolution 1996/31 was called for, in terms of objectives, functions, responsibilities and methods of operation. It was felt that this would help each NGO make self-assessments of its own activities for better functioning and advancement.
26. For its part, the NGO Section/DESA has developed a comprehensive database to facilitate an in-depth review and therefore closer monitoring of the activities reported by NGOs in status with ECOSOC in their quadrennial reports.
27. Other respondents specified that the report should give greater attention to part VII of ECOSOC resolution 1996/31 on the participation of NGOs in international conferences held by the UN. While it was mentioned in paragraph 58 of last year's report, this information should have been more visible to Member States and all other interested parties because it presented a model for NGO accreditation and access to special sessions of the GA and perhaps the GA itself and its main committees. Consideration of this model, in their view, could avoid an otherwise lengthy process of creating new and different arrangements for the GA and its committees and raise the possibility of one Secretariat unit handling NGO accreditation with both ECOSOC and the GA, contributing to efficient use of UN resources. At present, the NGO Section/DESA is responsible for NGO accreditation and support to International Conferences and Prepcoms. Since the 19th Special Session, the General Assembly has approved special modalities for the participation of NGOs in those special sessions. The NGO Section is responsible for certifying that NGOs and their individual participants meet established criteria in order to attend.
28. There were some comments on the Inter-Departmental Working Group (IDWG), an internal UN Secretariat group established by Secretary-General's Bulletin 209 of 21 December 1984. This Group is a coordination mechanism for UN staff dealing with NGO matters. It was the view of many NGOs that the Inter-Departmental Working Group on NGOs (IDWG) had not yielded concrete visible benefits for NGOs and that the basic responsibility for dealing with NGOs needed to be given higher profile within the UN system. They questioned the IDWG as a valid vehicle for discussions given the absence of NGOs from this group. According to NGOs, the report should evaluate in a critical way the Secretariat methods in dealing with NGOs which did not respect the decorum of the UN. Given the fact that some Member States were seeking to develop a code of conduct for NGOs, the report ought to evaluate what had or had not been done to instill a climate of proper conduct among NGOs or how the relevant units in the Secretariat had handled breaches of appropriate behaviour with administrative measures. The result, in the view of NGOs, had been Member States exerting pressure to propose onerous rules for the entire class of NGOs rather than the Secretariat exercising its prerogative to take disciplinary action against those very few NGOs which did not conduct themselves properly.
29. With regard to the code of conduct of NGOs, the NGO Section/DESA noted that this question is addressed by the NGO Committee on a regular basis. One of the items of the Committee's agenda entitled "Review of the methods of work of the Committee" focuses on two important issues related to the NGOs' code of conduct. One concerns the complaints brought to the attention of the Committee on NGO misconduct, the other refers to the process of accreditation of representatives of NGOs to United Nations meetings and special events. In addition, informal consultations with the Conference of NGOs (CONGO) and other NGOs take place during the Committee's session and throughout the year.
Participation of NGOs from all regions and establishment of a trust fund
30. The question of the participation of NGOs from developing countries was a concern to most Member States who responded. They felt that measures should be taken in order to give NGOs from developing countries the opportunity to fully participate in UN activities and to correct the prevailing geographical imbalance. Efforts are being made system-wide to promote their role and participation and give them the opportunity to fully contribute by, for instance, decentralizing and encouraging their participation. One such effort is undertaken by the NGO Section, which in December of every year, distributes to NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC, a hard copy of the UN's annual agenda of the coming year. This year, the calendar will also be accessible from the Section's web page. It should be noted that the calendar being prepared for the year 2000, will include information about national, regional and international meetings and conferences specially dedicated to the new millennium, in addition to the many special annual events that take place within the UN System. These events will review in-depth and evaluate the past work of the NGO Community and develop new initiatives for the coming years. Some Member States believed that an expansion of the role of NGOs throughout the UN system would result in a solid, constructive and mutually beneficial relationship. While emphasizing that decision-making must remain in the exclusive purview of Member States, they considered that access for NGOs would contribute to a significant increase in transparency and accountability in the UN, and improve the quality of such decision-making. Most of the NGOs which have the capacity to be represented and exert an influence in United Nations forums on a periodic basis come from the main developed countries. At the same time, NGOs entering this partnership have the responsibility to contribute positively to the attainment of the UN ideals and to seek effective, efficient means of contributing to the UN's work.
31. The NGO Section/DESA indicated that it is aware that the need to create channels for participation in the work of the United Nations System is particularly acute in the case of national NGOs from developing countries and those from countries with economies in transition, many of whom need assistance in building their capacity to work with the United Nations. Lack of financial means and inadequate access to relevant information also greatly limit the contributions of such NGOs to the policy dialogue conducted in the United Nations fora. DESA has designed an outreach programme to address this situation by means of training workshops and the introduction of a variety of communications mechanism. Similarly UNDP has also introduced a number of measures aimed at strengthening its relationship with civil society organizations and enhancing their participation in its operational programmes, particularly at the country level. In light of their shared concern, DESA has drawn up a proposal which seeks to build on these initiatives through a collaborative partnership that would benefit from the comparative advantage of the UNDP's field offices in establishing direct contact with national, regional and sub-regional NGOs to assist these organizations in adding a substantive, more policy-oriented component to their work in economic and social development.
32. Most Member States responding were in favour of the proposal for the establishment of a contributory fund to permit NGOs from developing and least developed countries as well as countries in transition to be more involved in the work of the Organization. However, some Member States warned against the difficulties inherent in establishing criteria for the selection of such beneficiaries and called for clear guidelines in order to ensure transparency, equality and accountability. Either a mechanism could be established to examine and approve the granting of assistance by the proposed trust fund or this process could be incorporated into the mandate of the ECOSOC Committee on NGOs. For a number of Member States, capacity-building and targeted financial assistance were seen as significant components in the participation of NGOs in the work of the United Nations. In this regard, one Member State suggested that NGOs from developed countries dedicate a small portion of their annual budgets to grant institutional support to select organizations from developing countries.
33. In their replies, several Member States expressed concern that the proposition of a trust fund would incur additional expenses to the budget of the United Nations, henceforth to Member States. Others stressed that such a proposal would be welcome as long as the Fund is well endowed and administered. One Member State also stressed that the trust fund should not be endowed through voluntary contributions only and that one should consider funding the core of its resources from the regular budget of the United Nations.
34. As far as accreditation with the Organization was concerned, it was felt that this should remain within the competence of ECOSOC, through a serious vetting system. The mechanism of selection should take into account two concerns: the unequal participation of NGOS from all over the world, especially from developing countries as well as the financial aspect, which can be an enabling factor for some organizations or an impediment for the participation of others. One Member State underlined the responsibility of NGOs for the actions of their accredited representatives during meetings of the ECOSOC and of its subsidiary bodies. It was noted that with the increase in the number of NGOs in consultative status with the ECOSOC there has also been an increase in the enjoyment of consultative privileges by some NGOs, including the unacceptable practice of granting accreditation at meetings to persons representing other organizations which had not previously been recognized as members or associates of the organization which received consultative status. Many NGOs advocated standardised accreditation of NGOs across all activities of the UN system. It should not be necessary for an NGO to apply individually to each section of the UN in which participation is desired, a standardised application should exist.
35. One of the themes in almost all of the responses from the specialized agencies and intergovernmental organizations was enhancing the participation of NGOs, particularly NGOs from developing countries, in the United Nations system. Many reported that they had a long history of cooperating and working with NGOs on an operational level. The WHO indicated that it would, in line with the Secretary-General's recommendation that NGO liaison offices be strengthened both in terms of financial and human resources, "make a major investment in the process of building partnerships with NGOs as part of a new policy." In order to steer this proposed new strategy, WHO said it would establish an organization-wide working group on NGO partnerships to identify best practices and models for collaboration between WHO, NGOs, governments and other UN agencies. The process of building new partnerships organization-wide would include NGO focal points, joint committees and other mechanisms for collaboration, both at WHO headquarters in Geneva and in WHO Regional and Country Offices, including WHO liaison offices. WHO indicated that "in accordance with evolving practices in other UN agencies... the proposed strategy for expanded relations with NGOs will include NGO participation in planning, implementation and review of WHO technical programmes, as well as overall policy and strategy development. WHO intends to establish mechanisms for evaluation of this new collaboration, drawing on continuous feedback from the field and working experiences at all levels of the Organization." The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) reported that a thorough review of FAO's cooperation with NGOs and other civil society organizations had been undertaken. The resulting strategy and plan of action would soon be published and would identify key activities in four areas: information sharing and analysis, policy dialogue, field programmes and resource mobilization.
36. A number of the UN specialized agencies indicated that it was important for the UN system agencies/programmes to share experience and best practices in order to enhance NGO participation. FAO, for example, stressed that it was imperative to share experience and best practices and to plan "joint action to enhance partnerships with civil society." FAO added that the UN/NGO Liaison Service (NGLS) - in collaboration with the Consultative Committee on Programme and Operational Questions (CCPOQ) on operational collaboration with civil society - was proving to be an effective mechanism for exchange and cooperation. FAO said it was in the process of developing a "partners page" on its web site which would be linked to the UN page. The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) noted that Chapter V of the report also referred to UN activities related to capacity building for national NGOs. UNIDO reported that, at a recent session of the CCPOQ, it became apparent that a number of UN agencies were actively involved in Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) capacity building and institutional development (17 UN system agencies participated in the survey). UNIDO explained that these activities ranged from strengthening institutional capacity of CSOs in areas such as technical know-how, management accountability advocacy and legal literacy. The OECD also stressed that participatory development and good governance have become central concerns in Development Assistance Committee core functions.
37. General support for the report's emphasis on participation of NGOs from developing countries was expressed by many NGOs responding, both in terms of attendance at inter-governmental meetings and international conferences, and in terms of capacity building of organizations. The participation of more developing country NGOs in inter-governmental meetings had raised awareness among civil society actors about their important role in shaping and integrating global concerns like trans-boundary emissions, marine activities and disaster alleviation. It had also increased regional cooperation among NGOs by providing opportunities for networking and sharing of information and experiences. Some NGOs proposed that the UN and its bodies continue to decentralize. Field offices should be empowered to deal with Country programmes and to facilitate local NGO consultations and participation. The need for further improvement of NGO participation not only in the areas of implementation, but also in preparation of projects and programmes, involvement in research and monitoring, policy advocacy and impact assessments in all areas of activities through UN agencies was stressed by many NGOs. A great number of NGOs proposed that the annual DPI 3-day conference be changed or complemented by smaller ad hoc meetings between similarly focused NGOs and UN departments, as a better utilisation of scarce time resources. The annual UN/DPI conference should not always be held at UNHQ. Moving its location every year would lead to a rise in the number of countries whose NGOs can attend, rather than a rise in numbers only.
38. The lack of financial means for NGOs from developing countries to participate in UN conferences and deliberations is a severe and urgent problem. Paragraph 79 of the report mentioned the possible establishment of a trust fund to assist the participation of NGOs from developing and least developed countries. It was proposed that the UN should make available funds through its agencies for capacity building to strengthen effectiveness of developing countries NGOs and that the Secretary-General issue an appeal to international donor agencies or donors to contribute liberally to such a fund. It is important that the UN support for developing countries' NGO participation take an institutional form. Assessment reports on capacity building should be made and disseminated to NGOs to help them understand the key elements of success and failures and to be better prepared to receive these programmes. It was suggested that the NGO Section of DPI and UN-NGLS should provide financial assistance to NGO representatives from developing countries to ensure adequate regional balance among NGOs at UN meetings, conferences and policy dialogues. It was proposed that UN-NGLS prepare a comprehensive profile of NGO participation in global conferences and parallel civil society fora. The profile should contain data on NGO participation such as geographical distribution, national, regional, international, functional specialization, size, duration of existence etc. as part of a frequent data gathering system about NGO activities and their level of cooperation with the UN.
39. Funding is not the only constraint to participation of developing country NGOs, though it is of great importance. Other constraints include lack of access to information, education, and poor legal frameworks regarding NGO structures. For example, many governments in developing countries have no legislation regulating NGOs. The UN could do a lot to help build capacity for NGOs through effective information dissemination and education and awareness raising with governments on the important role of NGOs in national development. In this regard, further improvements to the system of information outreach were proposed, as well as more fora for discussion via electronic communications such as listservs. The use of internet not only to disseminate information, but as a means of NGO input and interactive exchange of views with UN should be expanded and systematized. It was noted that traditional communication methods should be sustained until everyone, particularly those NGOs in the South, has access to new technology like the internet.
40. Some observed that NGOs were the second largest source of development assistance. They proposed that the UN enlarge NGO participation in the UN Consolidated Appeal formulation so that NGO initiatives and projects in the medium-run can be considered, evaluated, adjusted and incorporated with cost-sharing in the country plan of action of funds, agencies and programmes of the UN system. NGOs should not simply be considered as recipients of UN assistance or clients of grants. A cost-sharing approach by the UN and NGOs should be examined, with a well-specified set of actions to attain clear and sustainable results. A country plan of action should be made up of multiple and integrated initiatives within a framework where central, local governments and international bodies have to coordinate and facilitate the growing expression of local and hidden or disregarded skills and resources of NGOs.
41. Many NGOs commented on the contrast between statements made by high-level UN officials as to how indispensable NGOs were in fostering the work of the UN, while at the same time NGOs were, in their views, facing significant setbacks in their ability to fully participate in the consultative process. An unrecognized contradiction was the effort to increase NGO participation while simultaneously taking other steps to restrict it.
42. Many NGOs thought that the report should stress the role of NGO networks in terms of further enhancing NGO participation. Networks cover wide geographic areas; bring together a considerable number of skilled and highly motivated people; their actions and projects are mostly global in approach and efficient. Networks are good on follow-up activities as well as monitoring and they also enhance collaboration on specific targets, reducing considerably the paperwork, the communication effort and the tedious process of identification of all individual organizations potentially interested in common action.
43. It was noted that the relationship between NGOs and the UN is evolving as new ways of working and new approaches to global decision-making are developed. For NGOs, this brings new responsibilities. Active participation in the work of the UN should carry with it the duty to reflect the priorities of a broader constituency and keep that constituency informed of these international processes. Some NGOs stated that for governments an influx of new actors to UN decision-making may cause difficulties-- and some may oppose these changes because they undermine the status of the State in the work of the UN. This defensiveness is misplaced. There are issues that require global attention, on which the peoples of the world should try to agree to a common response. Governments should give due thought to the views of key sectors of global civil society in order to arrive at solutions which meet with their expectations and take their concerns and priorities into account. This kind of approach should come to characterize the work of the UN. The ways in which the CSD NGO Steering Committee has worked over the past five years may provide some useful examples which can be built on in other contexts.
Appointment of NGO Liaison Officers and Focal Points
44. The report highlighted that most substantive UN departments have appointed NGO liaison officers and focal points in order to improve communications between officials of these departments and NGO representatives. Opinions differ as to the call of the Secretary-General for all departments that have not done so yet to appoint a NGO liaison officer. In their responses, some supported the proposal. Others felt that there was no need for further appointments of NGO liaison officers and focal points. Instead they stressed the need for a comprehensive performance review mechanism. The view that liaison officers must improve their focus and efficiency and must be provided with dedicated budgets was expressed. A functional NGO focal point should have a prioritized terms of reference with measurable targets; should not be burdened with many unrelated additional tasks; and should have a dedicated budget to develop activities. It was also specified that close cooperation between the various focal points should be promoted so as to achieve the synergy in the use of the information and facilities available to them.
45. In their responses, many NGOs expressed support for the steps that UN departments and agencies were taking to appoint one or several NGO liaison officers to facilitate access for NGOs to the UN. It was emphasized that appropriate staff levels, the quality of communication, and funding allocated for this needed to be improved, as well as better training to facilitate the integration and utilisation of NGO expertise and resources into the work of the UN. Many NGOs also supported increased staff for the DESA NGO Section.
Access to information
46. Another important issue for NGOs, especially the ones from the developing Hemisphere, is access to information. The importance of Web sites in disseminating information to the public was stressed. Agencies, funds, and programmes were urged to be innovative to enhance their ability to communicate with the international community at large and to improve public access to UN information. As one Member State underlined in his response, NGO insistence on information disclosure has brought about more transparency and accountability in the UN system. In keeping up with this trend, information systems and databases should be centralized and continuously updated. They should also be made accessible to non-connected developing countries NGOs through UNDP's network of 130 country offices.
47. As regards the question of access to information, intergovernmental organizations and specialized agencies stressed that computerized databases play an important role in ensuring participation by NGOs from all parts of the world. FAO said it supported the idea of developing an interface among the NGO/CSO databases existing at the headquarters level of the various UN system agencies and programmes. Developing shared databases at the country level, was in FAO's view, equally a priority. FAO noted that it was practically impossible to maintain, at one global level, data on the thousands of national and local NGOs/CSOs in every country. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreed that a single database encompassing all NGOs was neither feasible nor necessarily useful, and indicated that IMO was willing to exchange information on NGOs across the system with UN-NGLS as outlined in paragraphs 72 and 73 of the report. WHO noted that in working to enhance the participation of NGOs, WHO intended to promote transparency and information exchange through mechanisms such as databases on NGOs active as partners in development. UNESCO broadly agreed with the recommendations made in section V of the report (on databases, NGLS, participation of regional and national NGOs in developing regions and on the establishment of a trust fund). UNESCO further recommended that some harmonization of efforts at NGO networking on the regional level be conducted system-wide to ensure efficient use of funds and to avoid duplication.
48. To promote broad-based participation of NGOs in the work of the United Nations, the NGO Section/DESA is developing a user-friendly, integrated and coordinated database profiling the NGOs in consultative status and their areas of expertise. This database is intended to serve as the central point for information management on NGOs. It is moreover intended to be compatible with other existing databases. The second phase of development of the program involves the integration of the Section's database with an electronic mail server and World Wide Web server to create a permanent electronic framework to facilitate and document the participation of NGOs in the work of the United Nations. The program will inter alia enable search by country, region, interest and sectors of activities. It will also facilitate the dissemination of UN documents and information to NGOs and on NGOs to the other parts of the UN system.
49. At Headquarters, NGOs have the possibility to access, without charge, the Optical Disk System (ODS) on computers reserved for use exclusively by NGOs in the DPI/NGO Section's Resource Center and also at the Dag Hammarskjold Library. The Secretariat is at the moment studying the question of the expansion of the Organization's Optical Disk System. A working group composed of representatives from the Secretary-General's Office of External Relations, Internal Technical Service Division, the Department of Public Information and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs was set up in order to discuss ways and means of making the system more accessible to NGOs. Some Member States responded that they were in favour of making information available to NGOs through electronic and other cost-effective means. Moreover, they felt that NGOs should not be subjected to an access fee for the use of the Optical Disk System as such costs are prohibitive for many of them, especially the ones from the developing countries. Some Member States, however, believed that the costs incurred by such an expansion could be very high and noted that United Nations Information Centres currently provide access to information, free of charge. It was also suggested as an alternative, to upgrade the services provided by individual information centres.
50. As regards ODS, NGOs felt it should be available free of charge. They noted that the $1,125 annual fee was discriminatory to NGOs from developing countries who cannot afford it. The Treaty Database should also be freely accessible. The treaties in the database are commitments made by Member States to the international community and to their own peoples. As a point of fundamental importance, those who seek to uphold the rights of those peoples should have free access to these documents. However, some NGOs consider the ODS cumbersome, sometimes of limited utility (lacking a printer), and in fact inferior to alternative information technology that may be available. It was noted that the report does not fully explore the growing possibilities of existing or rapidly evolving technology which may enhance the participation of NGOs in distant locations. Interactive, as compared with one-way communication, is becoming increasingly feasible. In many instances these methods may be used partly as a bridge of physical limits to NGO access at the UN offices. Greater attention should be given to sharing information with NGOs at the regional, sub-regional and national levels.
51. A number of NGOs felt that the report lacked an analysis of the impact of the UN website and the availability of documentation online, as well as the availability of documents at Headquarters, and the cost of printing and paper purchase. The existence of the website has undoubtedly decreased the number of documents NGOs collect from UN facilities and this should be reflected when discussing the cost and logistical implications of increased NGO interaction with the UN. All the information that the UN provides, especially that of NGLS is useful; it is important that national NGOs get a regular supply. In this regard, information about the availability of publications, newsletters, information updates and otherwise should be circulated through the regular UN website. It should be noted that information is also disseminated through the DPI/NGO Section's weekly briefings.
52. Data on NGOs and NGO related issues is already available on the web-site run by the NGO Section (http://www.un.org/esa/coordination/ngo/). In the near future, the website will make available additional information compiled from sources such as the quadrennial reports submitted by NGOs on their activities.
53. The matter of ineffective distribution of documents was raised repeatedly by NGOs. Many NGOs observed that they faced a chronic problem in obtaining negotiating documents in a timely fashion. They mentioned that consistently, during intergovernmental meetings, the distribution office will hold back in providing documents, claiming they are not available, or contending that they have been distributed in an NGO room where they can never be found. Because, in their view, the distribution staff is unwilling to provide NGOs with the working documents while the negotiations are going on, it is often impossible to follow the sessions and provide a timely response to delegates' requests for NGO input on negotiations. It was recommended that consultative status NGOs, especially those without access to the web/internet, should receive a copy of the UN's annual agenda, as available, in advance of meetings. It was also noted that NGO representatives from developing countries often face translation problems when they arrive. Documents are not available in all the languages when they are available at all to NGOs. The working language in informal meetings and in NGO discussions and dialogue sessions is almost always in English. Only NGOs with large budgets can overcome this by helping to provide assistance.
54. Many NGOs supported the evaluation of current databases, to be undertaken by UN-NGLS. Many disagreed with paragraph 72 of last year's report, which says that the creation of a single NGO database would not be useful. They said that it would indeed be useful for NGOs and would eliminate duplication within the UN system.
Participation in the work of the General Assembly
55. The issue of participation of NGOs in the work of the General Assembly was the subject of much comment. In their responses, many Member States believed that this question deserved primary attention and should be concluded during the forthcoming 54th session of the General Assembly. As regards the proposition that certain NGOs holding consultative status with ECOSOC be allowed to sit in the General Assembly when discussions on economic and social issues are taking place, some Member States were of the view that this did not entirely correspond to the spirit of ECOSOC's decision 1996/297. In fact this decision recommended that the General Assembly examine the question of participation of NGOs in all the workings of the United Nations. One Member State noted that NGOs have been participating informally and to a certain degree in the work of the General Assembly's Main Committees and several of its subsidiary bodies. In that regard, the same Member State observed that NGOs'role in the work of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee was limited to petitioning and thus did not imply that NGOs actually participated in the work of the Assembly's Main Committees. The United Nations being an inter-governmental organization, the Member State was of the opinion that NGOs' involvement should focus on providing information and consultation. Another Member State did not deem it necessary to create an NGO designated area in the General Assembly, especially when political items were under discussion. It felt that access to information and the ability for NGOs to follow intergovernmental discussions of a political nature could be ensured by means of administrative and technical arrangements implemented by the Secretary-General.
56. In their replies, a number of Member States were of the view that existing practice of the General Assembly in terms of NGO participation, for instance in its respective committees, should be reaffirmed. Furthermore, these Member States were looking forward to broadening the participation of NGOs beyond the existing practice, including through access to a number of seats in an appropriately designated area of the General Assembly Hall. It was suggested that on a basis of privileges analogous to those provided by ECOSOC resolution 1996/31, rules of procedure for NGO access could be adopted. A landmark event such as the Millennium Assembly could be used to launch these procedures. These Member States also supported the idea of establishing special arrangements for NGO participation during the Special Sessions of the General Assembly dedicated to the follow-up of major United Nations conferences and summits. It was noted that with the process of integrated follow-up to the major world conferences and summits underway, Member States have a particular responsibility to consult widely and to cooperate with partners in civil society to implement successfully the goals agreed at these very same conferences. Civil society made an invaluable contribution to the process of identifying those goals, and in many instances, constructive engagement of civil society is essential to their achievement.
57. Many NGOs felt that the report should analyze best practices for NGO access and participation and make creative suggestions as to how these best practices can become minimum standards for NGO participation not only in ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies, but also for the General Assembly and its committees. They were of the opinion that the report should make creative suggestions on ways to enhance substantive dialogue between Member States and NGOs, through informal dialogues, panels, etc. A number of NGOs recommended that the United Nations take the necessary steps to formalize NGO participation in the work of the GA, its main committees and Special Sessions, especially those that undertake reviews of major conferences. The practice of informal participation allows in reality only the participation of established NGOs at the expense of promoting a civil-society enabling environment with regard to matters pertaining to the UN.
Access to United Nations Headquarters
58. In its response, a Member State noted that access to United Nations premises and meeting rooms should correspond to the logistical possibilities and the requirements of order and security. It reaffirmed the need to ensure the presence at each meeting of at least one representative of any NGO which is entitled to attend. It reiterated the need to establish guidelines for the process of the accreditation of NGO representatives to meetings of the ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies, for the purpose of which a continuous process of consultations with NGOs themselves should be maintained.
59. In their responses, many NGOs indicated that current seating arrangements in the General Assembly Plenary were inadequate, particularly as they did not provide for access to documentation or speeches. They felt that the report addressed the matter of seating arrangements in the General Assembly only from a limited financial and legal perspective. In practice, NGOs in consultative status have been given access, as well as to the conference rooms where the main committees of the General Assembly meet, at the discretion of the Chairs of these bodies. NGOs noted that a number of bearer passes for access to the General Assembly Hall had been issued to NGOs as well as passes for access to the second floor. In the past two years, however, no passes for the General Assembly Hall were issued, and access to the second floor was to remain restricted throughout the year. NGOs also indicated that listening devices in the balconies of the General Assembly Hall as well as in other rooms were not working properly and they were thus unable to follow the proceedings of the meetings. In this regard, the Secretariat Facilities Management Division was asked to look into the matter and the necessary steps to remedy this situation have been taken.
60. Many NGOs mentioned that in the past they had access to the second floor hallways outside the Security Council, Trusteeship, ECOSOC and Delegates Lounge. New restrictions have been imposed on some of these areas. NGOs noted that access to meeting places stipulated in ECOSOC resolution 1996/31 should not require further consultation with Governments. Many NGOs were very disturbed by the recent curtailment of UN access for NGOs. Even though as paragraph 31 says, "very few incidents of a disruptive nature involving NGOs have occurred" the practical arrangements made at Headquarters over the past several months, have consistently curtailed NGO access and have made conducting work more difficult and, in their view, at times, even impossible.
61. As far as security is concerned, NGOs were of the view that security procedures should be instituted on a universal, non-discriminatory basis for all persons entering UN facilities. Such procedures exist elsewhere, such as at the UN Geneva office, and are understood as necessary. NGOs reject the implication that they constitute a greater security threat than any other person entering UN premises since they are required to go through a metal detector at the Secretariat entrance. In their view, applying these procedures to only one category of individuals does nothing for the security of the premises and creates a sense of discrimination among those targeted. NGOS felt that a properly functioning credentialing and identification/badging system for all would eliminate the need for such inappropriate discrimination against NGOs. They were of the opinion that the UN Security and Safety Service should carefully define all rules relating to searches of NGOs beyond the perimeter security zone, after full consultation, and should publish these rules so that they are clear to all. The report should note that the growing number of NGOs had not led to increased logistical or political difficulties for the work of ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies. This would be relevant to some of the contentions about numbers presented, with a rationale related to security concerns, with which most NGOs disagree, based on statistical data. Some NGOs were concerned that security pretenses by the Secretariat were used to please some Member States which may wish to insulate themselves as much as possible from interaction with NGOs despite public statements otherwise.
62. Pursuant to extensive consultations on the issue of access to United Nations Headquarters by NGOs, on 19 April 1999 the Secretariat circulated an information note to representatives of accredited NGOs. The note elaborated on the existing arrangements and specifically addressed the issue of entry into the United Nations Headquarters including the access to the second floor of the Conference building of the United Nations and related matters. According to the note, the General Assembly Hall would continue to be a restricted area. Fifty seats at the front of the fourth floor balcony were reserved for members of accredited NGOs who wished to attend meetings of the General Assembly. It was decided that during the General Debate and when heightened security considerations required extra measures, access to the second floor of the Conference Building by members of NGOs should not be permitted. Regarding meetings of the ECOSOC, its subsidiary bodies or other meetings of relevant organs to which accredited NGOs had been invited to attend and which were held in the chambers of the second floor, members of accredited NGOs will be permitted to gain access to those meetings on the second floor. At all other times, members of accredited NGOs must be in possession of a special pass in order to access the second floor of the Conference building.
Member States' recommendations
63. Member States responding provided the following recommendations in order to bring more transparency to the relationship between the United Nations and NGOs and to provide for better communication between the various partners.
- The setting up of a UN body responsible for handling related issues; the possible expansion of the mandate of the ECOSOC Committee on NGOs and the establishing of a special examining and approval process that would deal with NGO participation in UN activities.
- A decentralized approach, which would allow programmatic flexibility at the working levels, was an effective and efficient way for the UN system to work with NGOs.
- Agencies, funds, and programmes must work together with NGOs to establish appropriate accountability and review mechanisms for their working relationship. Such mechanisms would help institute transparency in all aspects of the UN-NGO relationship, particularly in the establishment of the decision-making process, ethical standards, and measurable program indicators. The arrangements must be amenable to independent verification, inspection and assessment. To increase transparency, a Member State suggested that the Committee on NGOs should consult on a regular basis with the NGO community, preferably before and after each of its regular and resumed sessions to review methods of work, accreditation procedures and review of quadrennial reports.
- A Member State urged the Secretary-General to update ST/SGB/209 of 1984, which sets out the policies and procedures within the Secretariat for NGO participation, to reflect ECOSOC 1996/31 and the new developments in the UN-NGO relationships. A comprehensive performance review would provide a basis for further strategies and actions. A joint UN-NGO workplan with specific and measurable targets was needed in order to improve relations and institutionalize efficient modes of cooperation. The Interdepartmental Working Group on NGOs could be given a specific mandate in terms of expected outputs.The important issue of coordination was also raised. NGOs will have to work with the United Nations through certain channels - like networks and interest groups - that include partners from developing countries and are capable of elaborating common positions and of appointing representatives.
- One Member State proposed to explore potential synergies with the many existing NGO Small Grant Programs. Coordination was needed in this field in order to lower transaction costs and to launch joint actions to mobilize additional resources.
- The radical streamlining of the overly bureaucratic processes governing the disbursement of project funds and the recruitment of project personnel at the local level was also proposed.
- As the number of applications for consultative status increases, measures should be taken to increase the level and quality of Secretariat support to the Committee on NGOs.
- One important task was to put in place an efficient process to evaluate current procedures and then make proposals on improvements.
UN specialized agencies and intergovernmental organizations
64. UN specialized agencies and intergovernmental organizations mainly provided additional information regarding their policies and initiatives. However, they presented the following recommendations in their submissions:
- A single database encompassing all NGOs would neither be feasible not necessarily useful.
- Consistency should be used throughout the UN system while referring to UN non-state actors. In certain instances, the terminology of Civil Society Organizations is used in order to take into account the wide range of non-state actors including NGOs, the business community, labour unions and academia.
- There is a need to make a clearer distinction between the DPI arrangements and those of ECOSOC since it was noted that NGOs accredited with DPI claim consultative status with the UN.
- Some harmonization of efforts at NGO networking on the regional level should be conducted system-wide to ensure efficient use of funds and avoid duplication.
NGO's recommendations
65. As for Non-governmental organizations they submitted the following recommendations in order to improve relationship with the United Nations:
- The Secretariat should become a focal point for facilitating the operational relationship of NGOs in consultative status with various UN bodies and programmes.
- Present arrangements for NGOs, while commendable, could be enhanced with both enlargement of the NGO sections at the UN Secretariat, and the creation of specifically equipped NGO liaison units in all Member States. The establishment of a single office in the UN Secretariat headed at the Under Secretary-General level, on UN/NGO relations throughout the system was supported by some NGOs .
- Concerned UN agencies should consider applications for operational partnership and assistance directly from those NGOs that are holding consultative status with ECOSOC. Concern was expressed about the bottleneck caused by the need for governments to approve applications for UN financial assistance to NGOs at the operational level.
- The DPI/NGO Section's orientation programme for NGOs should be held at least twice a year, and workshops organized to promote information and education about how to make better use of the UN information through channels like web sites, newsletters, and teleconferencing.
- Establishment of a single high-level NGO office at the United Nations to consolidate the numerous UN NGO databases. One NGO proposed that the UN work with the Union of International Associations which contains not only organizational information on thousands of NGOs but also profiles 10,000 issues identified by these groups. This service has been available on the web since 1998. There is an interactive version being developed to facilitate participation of NGOs in distant locations.
- It was proposed that international NGOs find financing for their national associations outside State budgets, which makes them more independent and apt to represent their society. Some INGOs were opposed in this connection, to the establishment of a trust fund for "other" NGOs.
- Regional economic and social commissions should become better at developing NGO relations at the regional and national levels, with a view to constructing policy and operational partnerships at those levels in implementing UN decisions and programmes as well as outcomes of international conferences.
- It was proposed that all NGOs in status with the UN receive information about the Consultative Committee on Programme on Operational Questions and in collaboration with UN/NGLS organize an inter-agency consultation on operational collaboration with NGOs.
- UN offices at the country level should take a more pro-active role in engaging with national and regional NGOs, not only on operational issues but also on broader political and policy issues which are dealt with by inter-governmental processes. UNDP and UNIC field offices could take a more active role in educating and sensitizing national NGOs about how the UN system functions and how NGOs might best work with it.
- An Annual Civil Society Forum should be held to relate to the regular sessions of the General Assembly, as proposed by the Commission on Global Governance. National civil societies should each have two seats; additional seats should be available for unrepresented peoples. International civil society should have at least 200 seats and should be represented through thematic associations formed specifically for representation to the Forum.
- Delegations should agree to the posting of draft texts, non-papers and other non-public documents on a selective basis, to strengthen the consultation process, especially for NGOs not based in New York and Geneva.
As specified previously, this report does not encompass all the views presented by the Member States, members of the specialized agencies, observers and intergovernmental organizations, as well as those of non-governmental organizations from all regions, on the report A/53/170. It has, however, tried to reflect the most important points of views submitted by all concerned on key issues affecting the relationship between the non-governmental organizations and the United Nations.
