Following up on our constituency call, please find below for your information the NGO accreditation process/requirements for your attention. 

Please note that if you wish to participate in this years sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 2 to 13 December 2024, the new deadline for submission of your request is 10th September, 2024.

What is accreditation? What are the benefits?

Accreditation is a method of “formalization” of the relationship between a Civil Society Organization (CSO) - in this case your youth NGO - to the Secretariat, in this case, the UNCCD Secretariat. The UNCCD process provides an excellent platform for the participation of CSOs not only at the national level as stakeholders responsible for the implementation of the UNCCD, but also at the decision making level ensuring their participation at the negotiation sessions of the Convention. 

Accredited CSO representatives can -

a)   participate as Observers to the official sessions of the COP (that is you can send delegates to the negotiations) and its subsidiary bodies to bring the voices of their members to the international arena

b)     make official submissions on behalf of their NGOs to UNCCD process

c)     be stakeholders to the processes on Observers as mandated by the processes of the Convention

Is accreditation required to be a member of the constituency?

No. All formal and informal child-led, youth-led, and child-and-youth-serving public interest federations, unions, organizations, platforms, associations, councils, networks, movements, mechanisms, structures are welcome to join the constituency (in this case the Youth Caucus on Desertification and Land).

Accreditation serves as a formal relationship between the Secretariat and the NGOs, and it is recommended that eligible NGOs apply for it. 

How long will the accreditation process take? 

Unlike UNFCCC accreditation processes (which can last for more than a year), the time taken for accreditation to UNCCD is very short (around a month or so upon the reception of the documents). We have been having conversations with our colleagues at the UNCCD Secretariat and they will help us expedite the process for youth NGOs (for those who meet the criteria).

I want my NGO to be accredited to the UNCCD, what do I need to do?

As mentioned above, the NGO requesting the accreditation needs to meet certain criteria to qualify for accreditation. More specifically, the following documents -

1. Letter of application on letterhead from the organization, addressed to the Executive Secretary, stating the motivation of the organization to apply as an accredited entity and its engagement towards desertification issues.

2. Completed “Organization Accreditation form” (find it attached with the email)

3. Copies of official documents detailing the mandate and scope of the organization, such as the approved statute of establishment, registration certificate, charter or constitution of the association, and any other official document that explains the organization’s purpose, aims, and initiatives.

4. Copies of official documents detailing the governing body of the organization (organogram or similar, stating the full name and country of nationality of its members).

5. Evidence of the status of the organization (governmental/non-non-governmental; public/private; profit/ non-profit) in the country in which it is based.

6. Information on the affiliation of the organization with non-governmental organizations or institutions involved in activities relating to the UNCCD.

7. Information on the programmes and activities undertaken by the organization that indicate its competence in matters relating to the UNCCD, and in which country/countries they are carried out, including brochures, newsletters, and other publications. Web or e-versions are most welcome in this case rather than printed materials. 

8. Copies of a recent annual report including a financial statement, or other project reports produced for donor entities or governments, and information on funding sources.

NOTE: If your organization already has consultative status with ECOSOC (also called ECOSOC accreditation), then only document number 1, 2, 7 are needed together with the proof of your ECOSOC observer status.

In case you would want your NGO to be accredited, please send the above-mentioned 8 documents to MMontoiro@unccd.int.