Guidelines for WSSD-accredited major groups

Normally, major group organizations accredited only to the WSSD process would not be able to attend a regular CSD meeting, as these meetings require non-governmental participants to be representatives of organizations in consultative status with ECOSOC. However, the Bureau of CSD-11 recently decided to grant WSSD-accredited NGOs and other major groups a one-time opportunity to participate in this upcoming session. This is a special arrangement and is applicable only to CSD-11. A decision or recommendation on how WSSD-accredited NGOs and other major groups can participate in subsequent CSD meetings is expected from CSD-11. 

WSSD-accredited organizations may pre-register for CSD-11 by faxing a request on organizational letterhead to the CSD Secretariat at +1-917-367-2341. This letter should indicate that your organization was accredited with WSSD and provide a list of names of the representatives your organization would like to send to CSD-11. The deadline to send this letter is 14 April. 

Please note that the CSD Secretariat does not have any funds to support travel costs to participate in this session. 


Opportunities for Participation

CSD-11 will continue to incorporate major groups through the participatory and interactive traditions developed during past CSD sessions and at the WSSD. Multi-stakeholder dialogues, integrated panel discussions and side events, as well as a learning center and a partnership fair will all provide opportunities for major groups to share their views and exchange information.

The main focus of CSD-11 will be the future work programme of the Commission and the modalities with which it will monitor the success of activities taken in response to the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and the WSSD Political Declaration, as well as Agenda 21. The primary outcome of this session will be a long-term work programme for the Commission and decisions related to the modalities it would use to monitor implementation activities. To this end, the Secretary-General's report is now available on the CSD Secretariat's website for review by all interested parties. This report provides suggestions and recommendations on the possible work programme of the Commission, as well as the modalities it could use for an effective monitoring of actions taken in response to the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. 

Interactive Dialogues
CSD-11 will integrate major groups into various interactive segments. The Ministerial segment will include three sessions focusing on how the outcomes of the WSSD could be implemented at all levels by various actors, and how the CSD could implement its renewed mandate focused on implementation. Major group representatives will be invited to contribute views and information on:

• Practical steps being taken in various countries and constituencies to give effect to the outcomes of the Johannesburg Summit, with a focus on specific objectives, targets and time-bound measures agreed in the POI, as well as the means of implementation to achieve them;

• Expectations regarding practical steps to be taken by international organisations and development and financial institutions to facilitate implementation of the WSSD outcomes, including opportunities for collaboration and improved coordination;

• The role of partnerships in the implementation of agreements reached at the WSSD; possible ways of making the CSD a focal point for partnerships; how to create a transparent, participatory and credible reporting and monitoring mechanism on partnerships, including guidelines; how to ensure that partnerships are closely linked to the implementation of the POI; and how to facilitate the implementation of partnerships and foster new ones.

A “traditional” multi-stakeholder dialogue session will also be held on Thursday of the first week, following the Ministerial segment, to allow governments to hear major groups’ views on the CSD’s future programme of work and the related modalities. A follow-up session on Friday will provide an opportunity for major groups to comment on the Chair’s draft text. On Friday of the second week, major groups will be invited to offer concluding statements on the session and its decisions, and express their commitments for implementation activities.

Learning Center

For the duration of CSD-11, a Learning Center will be set up to function as a teaching and training space. Its purpose is to provide CSD participants with opportunities to build their capacity to contribute to WSSD and UNCED follow-up activities. The Learning Center will feature training sessions on a range of topics related to effective negotiations, fundraising, and sustainable development issues and history. Workshops, seminars, lectures, presentations and other training activities will be scheduled, using trainers provided by various governmental and non-governmental partners. Distribution of printed learning materials and demonstration of Internet-based information and technology will be ongoing throughout CSD-11. A detailed schedule for the Learning Center will be released in late March. 

Partnership Fair

Also during CSD-11, the Partnership Fair will provide space to allow Sustainable Development Partners to network with each other, organize small planning or consultation meetings, make presentations about their partnership, further develop the partnership they had launched in the WSSD process, disseminate information about their partnerships, and encourage new partnerships to develop. Some of the activities of the Fair such as short workshops on how to apply for project funding or how to create a partnership may overlap and be coordinated with the Learning Center.

Side Events

Major Groups, Governments, and international organizations can submit a request for rooms to organize side events to share experiences, views and other information that adds value to the CSD session. Non-governmental actors who organize side events must be accredited. The deadline to request a room is 28 March 2003. 

If your organization would like to suggest topics for the training sessions or provide trainers free of charge, please contact Ms. Zehra Aydin, aydin@un.org  or Ms. Tonya Barnes, barnes1@un.org.

We look forward to working with you again.