N G L S   F A C T S H E E T

APPLYING FOR CONSULTATIVE STATUS WITH THE

UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL (ECOSOC)

The consultative relationship of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with ECOSOC 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 upon recommendation of the ECOSOC Committee on NGOs, which is comprised of 24 Member States.

Who is Eligible?

Consultative relationships may be established with international, regional, subregional and national organizations, including the national affiliates of international organizations already in status, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations.  Applicants may be approved provided that they can demonstrate that their programme of work is of direct relevance to the aims and purposes of the United Nations and, in the case of national organizations, after consultation with the Member State concerned. 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 at least two years, must 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.  The basic resources of the organization must be derived in the main part from contributions of the national affiliates or other components or from individual members. Organizations established by governments or intergovernmental agreements are not considered NGOs. 

Consultative Status and the ECOSOC Roster

There are three categories of status: General consultative, Special consultative and Roster status. General consultative status is reserved for large international NGOs whose area of work covers most of the issues on the agenda of ECOSOC.  NGOs that have competence in only a few of the fields of activity of ECOSOC are eligible for Special consultative status.  NGOs that do not qualify for consultative status with ECOSOC, or that have formal status with other UN bodies or specialized agencies (FAO, ILO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, WHO and others), can be included on the ECOSOC Roster.  The roster lists NGOs that ECOSOC or the UN Secretary-General considers can make "occasional and useful contributions to the work of the Council or its subsidiary bodies."

There is a fundamental distinction between NGOs in consultative status and those on the ECOSOC roster.  NGOs in General or Special consultative status have a political relationship with ECOSOC and therefore have rights and obligations, while NGOs on the roster can contribute only upon invitation.  NGOs in General and Special consultative status have the right, among other things, to designate authorized representatives to be present at public meetings, submit written statements, and make oral presentations.  They have the obligation to submit a quadrennial report on their UN-related work for review by the ECOSOC Committee on NGOs.  In addition, NGOs with General consultative status have the right to propose items for the agenda of ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies, and to address ECOSOC.  NGOs in Special consultative status can only address ECOSOC in the absence of a subsidiary body dealing with the same topic.  No formal provision is made for NGOs on the roster to address ECOSOC. Participation arrangements in ECOSOC and its commissions and other subsidiary organs may be supplemented, however, to include "other modalities of participation."  This principle provides flexibility for the UN to continue building upon innovative practices such as government-NGO panels, dialogues, briefing and hearings.

NGO Status and UN Conferences

NGOs already in consultative status or on the roster will as a rule be accredited for participation to UN conferences on request, while other NGOs must apply and submit information on the competence of their organization and the relevance of its activities to the work of the specific conference.  On the basis of this information the conference secretariat, in cooperation with the NGO Section of the Department for Social and Economic Affairs (DESA) will make recommendations to the Preparatory Committee of the conference.

NGOs accredited to a conference that subsequently seek consultative status have to apply for the latter through normal procedures.  However, in view of the importance of NGO participation in conference follow-up, the Committee on NGOs will draw upon documents already submitted in application for conference accreditation and any further information provided in support.

Secretariat Support for NGOs

NGOs in consultative status may consult with staff officers "on matters in which there is mutual interest or mutual concern" and may arrange informal discussions on matters of special interest to groups or organizations.  NGOs also have access to the UN libraries and press documentation services.  The UN Secretariat provides ECOSOC documents, meeting space for NGO conferences or meetings on the work of ECOSOC, seating arrangements, and help with obtaining documents on economic, social and related matters during public meetings of the General Assembly.

About the Consultative Status Application Process

In order to begin the process of applying for consultative status, an organization must contact in writing the NGO Section of the Department for Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) at the address listed below, stating its interest in gaining consultative status and requesting an application packet. This letter of intent should be on the organization's letterhead and signed by the head of the organization.  Once the NGO Section receives the letter of intent, the application package containing a questionnaire and relevant background materials is mailed to the organization. The application forms are also available at the documents section of the website (see below for URL).

Please note: the deadline for receiving completed applications is June 1 of each year. Processed and completed applications are submitted to the ECOSOC Committee on NGOs for consideration at one of its two annual sessions, which normally take place during the first three months of the year.  The Committee then submits its list of NGOs recommended for consultative or Roster status, or recommended reclassifications of NGOs, to ECOSOC for final approval.  The ECOSOC substantive session is held annually in July.

Contact:      NGO Section of DESA                Tel: (+1 212) 963.8652 or 963.4842

                    Room DC1-1480                           Fax: (+1 212) 963.9248  

                    United Nations                               E-mail: <mezoui@un.org> (Ms. Hanifa Mezoui, Chief),

                    New York, NY 10017 USA           and <desangosection@un.org>

                                                                            Website: (www.un.org/esa/coordination/ngo)

February 2001