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Civil Society and Outreach Unit

Promoting Social Progress and Development in Partnership with
Non-Governmental Organizations

Information Note on NGOs participation at the 48th Session of the Commission for Social Development, which will take place from 3 to 12 February 2010 in New York is now available online.

As a part of the Office of the Director of Division for Social Policy and Development, the Civil Society and Outreach Unit serves as an interface between the Division and non-governmental organizations. It acts as a gateway for NGOs interested in building a strong working relationship with the Division in advancing social progress and development.

 The main responsibility of the Unit is to provide advisory services to representatives of NGOs on the various aspects of the work of the Division so as to stimulate a productive partnership between the branches of the Division and interested civil society organizations. It also strives to channel concerns and areas of interest of NGOs to relevant substantive services of the Division with a view to optimising the contribution of NGOs to social progress and development.

The Unit aims at providing a two-way information tract between NGOs and the Division:  it holds briefings for representatives of NGOs on mandates and core issues relating to social development and to the work of the Division, as well as on procedures guiding their implementation and the way NGOs can contribute to them. The Unit takes stock of the needs and concerns raised by NGOs and reflects them in the broader spectrum of the work of the Division, so as to stimulate a productive collaboration between civil society actors and relevant services of the Division.

The Unit encourages a more active involvement of NGOs in the substantive work of the Division. In so doing, it focuses on the way the Division could benefit from the expertise and experience accumulated by NGOs, especially at the grass-root level.

Through the Unit, DSPD intends to stimulate a more proactive and productive involvement of NGOs in the work of the Commission for Social Development and other major United Nations events for which the Division provides substantive servicing.

The Civil Society and Outreach Unit of the Division contributes to promoting social policy and development among civil society organization by conducting briefings, seminars and workshops. It also participates in activities carried out by NGOs.

For additional information, please contact:

Mr. Yao NGoran
Chief, Civil Society and Outreach Unit
Division for Social Policy and Development
2 United Nations Plaza
Room DC2-1324
New York, NY 10017
Tel.: (212) 963 3175
Fax: (212) 963 3062
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