About


Our mission


Global Policy Forum (GPF) is an independent policy watchdog that monitors and reports on United Nations activities and developments in multilateral affairs. GPF is convinced that active civic participation is needed to defend and strengthen rights-based multilateralism and international governance institutions. It scrutinizes global policymaking and promotes accountability and civic participation in areas related to social justice, sustainability, human rights, peace and security, and international law. Human rights and justice-based global agreements are amongst the primary tools to address xenophobia, authoritarianism and unilateralist trends that threaten peace, development and sustainability. 
GPF monitors UN negotiations and processes, undertakes original research and maintains a dynamic communications programme that includes publications, briefings, presentations, and social media. GPF also plays an active role in civil society networks and other alliances. 
GPF organizes meetings and conferences and participates in policy dialogues and expert group meetings that address the implications of the changing world on multilateral principles, values and commitments.


Basic facts
GPF was founded in New York in December 1993 by a group of progressive scholars and activists. GPF is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization, with consultative status at the UN. It maintains an office near the UN headquarters in New York. In September 2004, Global Policy Forum Europe (GPF Europe) was founded in Bonn. GPF Europe is registered as a tax-exempt non-profit organization in Germany. While both are legally separate organizations, the teams in New York and Bonn cooperate closely.


Programs
GPF uses a holistic approach, linking social with economic, financial, and environmental issues, peace and security, human rights and gender equity. GPF’s and GPF Europe’s programmes currently focus on sustainable development and human rights, development finance and tax justice, UN reform and multilateralism, and corporate Influence and accountability.


Networking
GPF and GPF Europe play an active role in international civil society networks and coalitions, which include Social Watch, the Women's Major Group, the Reflection Group on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Global Alliance for Tax Justice, the Civil Society Financing for Development Group, the Treaty Alliance, the CorA Netzwerk for Corporate Accountability, the Geneva Global Health Hub (G2H2)  
Our activities are implemented in close cooperation with civil society organizations and networks. Our partners have included the Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND), the Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR), Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN), Public Services International (PSI), Social Watch, Society for International Development (SID), Third World Network (TWN), the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung (RLS), Misereor, Bread for the World, Engagement Global, and the Foundation Environment and Development North Rhine-Westphalia


Governance
The operations of GPF are governed by a Board in New York, the operations of GPF Europe by a separate Board in Bonn. The programs are closely linked and implemented by the teams in Bonn and New York, and supported by a network of members (of GPF Europe), research fellows and policy advisors, based in different parts of the world. 
Funding
GPF and GPF Europe receive most of their funding from partner organizations, public institutions, foundations, membership fees and individual donations. Detailed information on our funding is provided here.