Departmentof Public Information Non-Governmental Organizations

Criteria

The NGO must:

• Support and respect the principles of the Charter of the United Nations;
• Have national or international standing;
• Operate solely on a not-for-profit basis and have tax-exempt status;
• Have the commitment and the means to conduct effective information programmes with its constituents to a broader audience about UN activities by publishing newsletters, bulletins and pamphlets; organizing conferences, seminars and round tables; or enlisting the attention of the media;
• Preferably have a satisfactory record of collaboration with UN Information Centres/Services(UNICS/UNISs) or other parts of the UN System prior to association.

[Please note that in cases where the NGO has no record of collaboration but the DPI Committee on NGOs approves its application, it will have a provisional association status of two years until which it can establish a partnership with the relevant UNICs/UNISs or UN system organization];

• Provide an audited annual financial statement conducted by a qualified, independent accountant;
• Have statutes/by-laws providing for a transparent process of taking decisions, elections of officers and members of the Board of Directors;
• Have an established record of continuity of work for a minimum of three years and show promise of sustained activity in the future.

Evaluation and review process

Associated NGOs undergo a specifically designed evaluation and review process.

1. The DPI Committee on NGOs, the body that approves the association of NGOs with DPI, also approves the disassociation of NGOs that no longer meet the criteria for association. This Committee meets twice a year.
2. Every year associated NGOs are required to submit one document that will consist of:
   1. an accreditation area with the updated information of the NGO and its representatives
   2. a completed evaluation area of UN-related activities, with at least three (3) samples of materials of those activities.