NGOs and the United Nations Department of Public Information:
Some Questions and Answers

What is an NGO?

A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a not-for-profit, voluntary citizens’ group, which is organized on a local, national or international level to address issues in support of the public good. Task-oriented and made up of people with a common interest, NGOs perform a variety of services and humanitarian functions, bring citizens’ concerns to Governments, monitor policy and programme implementation, and encourage participation of civil society stakeholders at the community level. They provide analysis and expertise, serve as early warning mechanisms and help monitor and implement international agreements. Some are organized around specific issues, such as human rights, the environment or health. Their relationship with offices and agencies of the United Nations (UN) system differs depending on their goals, their venue and their mandate.

About 1,500 NGOs with strong information programmes on issues of concern to the UN are associated with the Department of Public Information (DPI), giving the UN valuable links to people around the world. DPI helps these NGOs gain access to and disseminate information about the issues in which the United Nations is involved so that the public can better understand the aims and objectives of the world Organization and support its work.

How do NGOs and DPI cooperate?

NGOs have been partners of DPI since its establishment in 1947. The NGO Section of DPI is part of DPI’s Outreach Division, and acts as its liaison to the UN. It provides a range of information services to civil society and other partners, including the academic community, educational institutions and the public at large. The Division’s services include the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, the CyberschoolBus, the UN Publications Sales and Marketing Section, and the Guided Tours and Group Programmes Units. It also offers opportunities for views and ideas from these sectors to be considered by the United Nations.
The programme of the NGO Section include weekly NGO Briefings, the Annual DPI/NGO Conference, Communications Workshops, an Annual Orientation Programme, as well as the NGO association and evaluation processes, maintenance of the NGO Resource Centre, monthly mailings, a DPI/NGO Directory and website.

The DPI/NGO Section oversees partnerships with associated NGOs to better support the work of the UN. NGOs that have the commitment and the means to conduct effective information programmes with their constituents and to a broader audience about UN activities may apply for association with DPI. NGOs may disseminate information through newsletters, bulletins and pamphlets, radio or television programmes, or through public activities such as conferences, lectures, seminars or workshops.
Both UN-affiliated and non-affiliated NGOs can obtain UN public information materials from UN Information Centres around the world. They can also access UN information on the Internet at: http://www.un.org and http://www.un.org/dpi/ngosection. There is also a website for the Annual DPI/Annual Conference in September.

When did the DPI relationship with NGOs begin?

The importance of working alongside NGOs as an integral part of UN information activities was recognized when the Department of Public Information was first established in 1946. The General Assembly, in its resolution 13 (I), instructed DPI and its branch offices to: “...actively assist and encourage national information services, educational institutions and other governmental and non-governmental organizations of all kinds interested in spreading information about the United Nations. For this and other purposes, it should operate a fully equipped reference service, brief or supply lecturers, and make available its publications, documentary films, film strips, posters and other exhibits for use by these agencies and organizations.”

In 1968, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), by resolution 1297 (XLIV) of 27 May, called on DPI to associate NGOs, bearing in mind the letter and spirit of its resolution 1296 (XLIV) of 23 May 1968, which stated that an NGO “...shall undertake to support the work of the UN and to promote knowledge of its principles and activities, in accordance with its own aims and purposes and the nature and scope of its competence and activities”.

What are the Criteria for NGOs to become associated with DPI?

The NGO must support and respect the principles of the Charter of the UN and have a clear mission statement that is consistent with those principles;
• The NGO must be recognized nationally or internationally;
• The NGO should operate solely on a non-for-profit basis and have tax-exempt status;
• The NGO must have the commitment and the means to conduct effective information programmes, with its constituents and to a broader audience about UN activities;
• The NGO should have an established record of continuity of work for a minimum of three years and should show promise of sustained activity in the future;
• The NGO should have a satisfactory record of collaboration with UN Information Centres/Services or other parts of the UN System prior to association;
• The NGO should provide an audited annual financial statement, conducted by a qualified, independent accountant;
• The NGO should have statutes/by-laws providing for a transparent process of making decisions, elections of officers and members of the Board of Directors.

What is the procedure for NGOs to become associated with DPI?

Interested NGOs that meet the criteria should send an official letter of request to be associated with DPI, provide a brief description of their organization and at least six samples of recent information materials.
Correspondence should be sent to:
Chief, NGO Section
Department of Public Information
Room S-1070L
United Nations, New York, N.Y. 10017
Tel: (212) 963-8070 •Fax: (212) 963-6914/2819
E-mail: dpingo@un.org
Website: www.un.org/dpi/ngosection
The association process takes three to six months. The DPI/NGO Section, upon receipt of the documents, will determine whether the formal application process for association can proceed.
If the applying NGO has been determined to meet the criteria, the application form, summary of applications and other required materials will be sent to the NGO.
The required application materials include:
• A completed Application Form for Non-Governmental Organizations
(Note: All responses must be typed. Handwritten responses will not be accepted.)
• A completed Summary of Application
• A copy of the organization’s constitution/charter or by-laws
• Official proof of not-for-profit status, issued by public authorities, and tax exemption status
(Note: The document should be on official letterhead and dated.)
• A copy of the organization’s most recent audited annual budget or financial statement, conducted by a qualified and independent accountant.
• Evidence of an active information programme relevant to the UN: at least six (6) different types of samples of the organization’s most recent information materials (e.g. newsletter, periodicals, tapes of radio or television programmes, conference reports, web site, news clippings)
(Note: Electronic materials, such as a
website or periodicals, should be sent in hard copy form.)
• Two (2) letters of recommendation from organizations (UN or others)
• References (see question 21 in the application form)
(Note: All items on the list above are required for the facilitation of the association process. Also, all submitted materials must be in English or French, the two working languages of the UN Secretariat. Material in any other language should be accompanied by an unofficial translation into either of these two languages.)
Once all the required materials are received and all the documents are in order, the DPI/NGO Section will write to the NGO informing them of the approximate date the DPI Committee on NGOs will meet to review the new applications for that period. The NGOs will be notified of the results of the meeting. The DPI Committee on NGOs meets twice a year.
NGOs that have been approved for association by the DPI Committee on NGOs will be invited to designate their main and alternate representatives to the UN and will receive annual grounds passes to have access to the UN, DPI/NGO briefings, the Resource Centre and the Annual DPI/NGO Conference.
The new NGO representatives will be invited to attend the Annual Orientation Programme to familiarize them with the UN system.

Please note: Association of NGOs with DPI does not constitute their incorporation into the UN system, nor does it entitle associated organizations or their staff to any kind of privileges, immunities or special status.

What is consultative status with the Economic and Social Council?

Many NGOs active in the field of economic and social development have qualified for consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
Article 71 of the Charter provides that “...the Economic and Social Council may make suitable arrangements for consultations with non-governmental organizations which are concerned with matters within its competence”. Such arrangements are governed by ECOSOC resolution 1296 (XLIV) of 23 May 1968, which makes provision for NGOs to be placed in consultative status with ECOSOC, as well as for them to hold consultations with its secretariat.
After three years of negotiation, ECOSOC reviewed its arrangements for consultation with NGOs in July 1996. One outcome was ECOSOC Resolution 1996/31, which revised the arrangements for NGO consultation with ECOSOC. It standardized arrangements for accrediting NGOs for UN conferences, streamlined the process of applying for ECOSOC consultative status, and decided that national NGOs would be eligible to apply. “General status” is granted to large, international NGOs that work on almost all the issues on ECOSOC’s agenda; “special consultative status” is granted to NGOs that have competence in a few of ECOSOC’s issue areas; while “roster status” is granted to NGOs which ECOSOC considers can make occasional useful contributions to its work.
A second outcome of the July 1996 ECOSOC review was ECOSOC Decision 1996/297, which recommended that the General Assembly examine, at its 51st session, the question of the participation of NGOs in all areas of work of the UN, in light of the experience gained through the consultative arrangement between NGOs and ECOSOC. Subsequently, in the General Assembly Working Group looking into the strengthening of the UN System, a sub-group on NGOs was formed. This sub-group is examining issues of NGO access, particularly with regard to the General Assembly, and its work is on-going.

ECOSOC decides on consultative status for NGOs based upon the recommendation of the inter-governmental Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations. This Committee is composed of 19 Member States and meets yearly. For further information contact:
Chief, NGO Section
Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)
One United Nations Plaza, Room DC1-1480
New York, NY 10017
Tel: (212)-963-8652 • Fax: (212)-963-9248
E-mail: desangosection@un.org
Web site: www.un.org/esa/coordination/ngo
CONGO, the Conference on Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Status with ECOSOC, serves as a representative voice of NGOs in consultative status ECOSOC. Its aims are to ensure that NGO representatives enjoy the fullest opportunities and appropriate facilities for performing their consultative functions, to provide a forum on the consultative process, and to convene meetings of member organizations to exchange views on matters of common interest.
NGOs which enjoy consultative status with ECOSOC and strong public information programmes are granted association with DPI upon written request to the DPI/NGO Section. A completed application form, summary of application and six samples of information materials are also required.

Do DPI NGOs have a representative mechanism?

The DPI/NGO Section works in partnership with the NGO/DPI Executive Committee and the UN Information Centres/Services, in its outreach to NGOs in developing countries and countries with economies in transition, and encourages their association with DPI and participation in UN-related activities. The Section continues to build bridges with civil society, primarily through NGOs and their networks.
The Section also works closely with the NGO/DPI Executive Committee, an
18-member committee elected by the associated NGO community, to act in an advisory and liaison capacity to channel information and represent the interests of NGOs associated with DPI. The NGO/DPI Executive 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. It collaborates with the DPI/NGO Section on events, programmes and initiatives of mutual interest, including the Communications Workshop programme for NGOs and planning and organization of the Annual DPI/NGO Conference, the premier event for NGOs at the UN each year, attracting 2,000 participants. The website of the NGO/DPI Executive Committee is: www.ngodpiexecom.org, and its mailing address is:
NGO/DPI Executive Committee,
NGO Resource Centre,
Room L-1B-31,
New York, NY 10017.

"How does DPI assist NGOs?"

To fulfil its mission, the DPI/NGO Section oversees an extensive information programme that includes, on an annual basis, 30 NGO Briefings, three DPI/NGO Communications Workshops (designed to assist NGOs to professionalize their communication capacity), a two-day Orientation Programme for new NGO representatives, and the annual three-day DPI/NGO Conference, the premier NGO event at UN Headquarters in New York each year.
It provides grounds passes for NGO representatives who wish to obtain access to the Secretariat building in New York. It maintains a website (www.un.org/dpi/ngosection), and provides access to official UN documents system-wide, regular monthly mailings of UN information materials and the issuance of a weekly electronic and hard-copy newsletter, “DPI/NGO Link”, and a monthly calendar of events. The Section publishes a Directory of NGOs associated with DPI every two years. The electronic version of the Directory is available on the NGO Section website. The Section operates the DPI/NGO Resource Centre at UN Headquarters where associated NGO representatives can meet and work. The NGO Resource Centre offers the following:
• Access to current UN documents and press releases;
• Regular mailings of UN information materials sent to the Headquarters of all associated NGOs;
• A video lending library with an extensive collection of UN films; and
• A continuously updated selection of UN system publications.
The address is:
DPI/NGO Resource Centre
Room L-1B-31, United Nations
New York, N.Y. 10017
Phone: (212) 963-7233 • Fax: (212) 963-2819
Website: www.un.org/dpi/ngosection

"What are the responsibilities of NGOs associated with DPI?"

Since the founding of the United Nations in San Francisco in 1945, NGOs have made valuable contributions to the international community by drawing attention to key issues, promoting initiatives and programmes, disseminating information and mobilizing public opinion in support of the United Nations and its specialized agencies. In the last two decades, NGO participation in the work of the United Nations has increased exponentially at UN offices and in the field. Association with DPI constitutes a commitment to that effect.

Associated NGOs are expected to devote a portion of their information programmes to promoting knowledge of the principles and activities of the UN. In addition, an evaluation and review process was in place in 2002 wherein NGOs associated with DPI are expected to keep the DPI/NGO Section abreast of their activities by providing a quadrennial report of their UN-related activities and samples of their information materials relating to the work of the UN. The information materials are also made available for perusal at the DPI/NGO Resource Centre.

Published by the Outreach Division, United Nations Department of Public Information