While looking at the global power dynamics, it’s not new that the global south is under-represented in the international arenas, including the United Nations which was developed after WWII, and it is only one of many dilemmas the UN system has. However, the United Nations is still the largest and most important hub for international policy-making. It has to be a core target for any civil society organization that aims to have an impact not only on the global level, but also on the local.
These policies are not only about managing state relations, but also cover topics that touch our lives daily, like health policies by the World Health Organization, education policies by the UNICEF, or food security by WFP and FAO.
Purpose of the Guide
This guide, “NGOs Guide to Apply for ECOSOC Consultative Status” was developed to support NGOs through each stage of obtaining consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). My aim is to provide a clear, practical resource that NGOs can rely on to navigate the application process, understand the advantages of consultative status, and identify strategies to overcome potential challenges.
ECOSOC consultative status offers NGOs an essential gateway to influencing global policy and participating actively in the United Nations. By achieving this status, NGOs can access UN offices in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, attend critical conferences and events, and present both written and oral statements. This status isn’t merely symbolic; it enables NGOs to bring local and regional issues into the global arena, impacting fields like health, education, social development, and environmental policy.
The guide is a result of personal, voluntary, and non-funded efforts. It was not reviewed by the UN, and does not reflect their official position.
How can you use this guide?
The guide is divided into six sections:
- The first section is about the ECOSOC, its position in the UN Bodies, and its mandate;
- The second is about the ECOSOC system, the structure, the subsidiary bodies, and the non-subsidiary bodies like UN Funds and programs and specialized agencies, and the ECOSOC relations with each of them.
- The Third is about the consultative status, explaining it, its types, eligibility criteria, and most importantly its benefits and obligations;
- The fourth explains in as much detail as possible the application process and provides practical resources for it.
- The fifth tackles the challenges of the application process and the ways forward to start the interaction from today while waiting to get the status!
- The sixth includes additional resources for further details.
If you have any questions about the guide, the Consultative Status, or the UN Mechanisms, please let me know and I will be glad to help!
To download the full guide in English: https://lnkd.in/eidEvsne
To download the full guide in Arabic: https://lnkd.in/eSsYY8xd
