United Nations Department of Public Information Approves 11 NGOs for Association, Bringing Total Number to 1,450
The Department of Public Information (DPI) today associated itself with 11 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), bringing to 1,450 the number working with the Department in the area of communications and outreach.
Stressing their important partnership role in diffusing information about the Organization’s work to the world, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon offered a twist on the “NGO” acronym at the sixty-sixth DPI/NGO Conference held in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea, earlier in 2016, calling them “networks of global opportunities”.
In partnering with the Department to inform the world about the work of the United Nations, NGOs are also playing an important role in carrying out the Organization’s goals and contributing to the development, implementation and monitoring of agendas agreed by its 193 Member States.
“NGOs, with their knowledge of and reach to local communities, are invaluable partners of the Department of Public Information,” said Cristina Gallach, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information. “Together, we inform the world of what the United Nations is doing to ensure no one is left behind, from working on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on climate change to rallying the international community towards a compassionate response to massive refugee and migrant flows. NGOs help carry out the United Nations global mission of peace, sustainable development and human rights.”
Maher Nasser, Director of the Department’s Outreach Division, welcomed the new group of NGOs — hailing from India, Republic of Korea and the United States — and their contribution in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The following NGOs, working in issues ranging from HIV/AIDS education to microfinancing and youth empowerment, were associated with the Department of Public Information:
- Coalition for Our Common Future, Republic of Korea
- Concordia, United States
- Generations for Peace, United States/Jordan
- Global Peace Foundation, United States
- Grassroot Soccer, United States/South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe
- Kalinga Institute of Social Science, India
- Korean-American Family Services, United States
- The Culinary Institute of America, United States
- The Bridge, Republic of Korea
- University of Connecticut, United States
- World Canaan Farmers’ Movement, Republic of Korea
About DPI/NGO Association
The Department of Public Information works with diverse NGOs, ranging from small groups to subsidiaries of large networks and academic institutions around the world. Organizations are required to meet certain minimum requirements before they are associated with the Department: http://outreach.un.org/ngorelations/membership/application.
In addition to their main activities, associated NGOs are expected to use their communications assets and networks to disseminate information received from the Department about the work of the United Nations and to advocate on issues on the agenda to their members and other stakeholders. In 2016, they are expected to join the global effort to support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by raising awareness regarding implementation of its 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
NGOs accepted for association with DPI receive six grounds passes (two of which are designated for youth representatives aged 18 to 32) to facilitate access to United Nations officials, meetings, events and informational sessions at New York Headquarters. Youth engagement has been an important dimension of DPI/NGO Relations outreach activities in recent years. In addition to leading briefings on issues relating to the United Nations, young people have taken on planning and speaking roles at the annual DPI/NGO Conference. A record 1,300 young people took part in the 2016 event held in the Republic of Korea, accounting for almost one third of all participants. For more information about the Youth Representative Programme at DPI/NGO Relations, please visit http://outreach.un.org/ngorelations/youth.
NGOs that successfully meet the association criteria are also eligible to propose and lead NGO briefings organized by the Department. A dedicated NGO Resource Centre with materials and information on the Organization’s work is located in the UNITAR Building at 801 UN Plaza, 2nd Floor, New York.
For further information, please visit http://outreach.un.org/ngorelations or e-mail: undpingo@un.org.
For information on how to apply for association, please visit http://outreach.un.org/ngorelations/membership/application.
To view a full list of DPI-associated NGOs, please visit http://outreach.un.org/ngorelations/membership/dpingo-directory.
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