The Report of the Panel of Eminent persons on United Nations-Civil Society Relations (the Cardoso report), submitted to the Secretary-General in June 2004, emphasised the importance of enhancing UN-civil society relations at the country level. In response to the report, the Secretary-General recommended that United Nations Country Teams (UNCT) establish civil society advisory committees at country level as a forum for policy advice and civil society participation.
The overall goal of the civil society advisory advisory committee is to facilitate a synergistic two-way relationship:
- The committee provides UNCT with strategic, political and substantive guidance on policies and programmes to improve development effectiveness; and
- UNCT provides the committee with a space for dialogue, engagement and influence with the government and an avenue to make UNCT relevant to the lives of people. Together, the committee and UNCT help to generate dialogues on issues that need to be on social and governmental agendas.
The national advisory committees will seek to strengthen and support the ability of UNCT to understand and analyze the role and contributions of civil society in the changing development process of a country. They will also aim to contribute to policy development and thinking in UNCT, not only with regard to policies directly affecting and involving civil society, but on broad development policy. They will serve as a key vehicle to strengthen UN relations with CSOs and adapt the relationship to current needs.
This workspace has been set up to facilitate learning and exchange among UNCT civil society focal points and other country-level staff on setting up advisory committees.
Guidelines
Country Focal Points
Questions and Comments from UNCTs
News and Updates
Guidelines on CSACs
Contact Information
