Evolving roles of NGOs in member state decision-making in the UN system

Abstract

NGOs have become involved in virtually all issues on the agendas of organizations throughout the UN system, with their presence facilitated by 90 liaison offices. They play a diversity of roles in public sessions of decision-making bodies and also perform a variety of roles in private meetings in which preparations are made for public meetings. At the same time, their involvements with secretariats involve an even broader range of activities, including regular meetings, representation on committees, involvement in symposia, receiving papers posted on UN websites, joint research, joint implementation and monitoring of UN programs and even standing in for UN agencies. Involvement of NGOs in global governance is growing in dynamic ways at a time in which financial restraints are severely limiting capacity of the UN system to respond.