The Economic and Social Council is at the heart of the United Nations system to advance the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental. It is the central platform for fostering debate and innovative thinking, forging consensus on ways forward, and coordinating efforts to achieve internationally agreed goals. It is also responsible for the follow-up to major UN conferences and summits.
The UN Charter established ECOSOC in 1945 as one of the six main organs of the United Nations.
ECOSOC operates at the centre of the UN system’s work on all three pillars of sustainable development—economic, social and environmental. It is the unifying platform for integration, action on sustainable development and follow-up and review.
As the umbrella for the UN’s functional and regional commissions, and operational and specialized agencies, it links the setting of global norms with their implementation. Across diverse fora, it brings together all the different people and partners involved in achieving sustainable development, while fueling broader awareness and action through sharing its own extensive knowledge and issue expertise.
Events / News
April 14, 2021
The Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) NGO Branch will be conducting a Webinar on Applying for ECOSOC Consultative Status for NGOs on
5 May 2021, 11am - 12:30pm (NYT).
The meeting will provide answers to the following questions:
- What is Consultative Status, which organizations are eligible and what are its benefits?
- How the entire application process works since the application is submitted to the NGO Branch until ECOSOC makes its decision?
- What are the main components of the application package?
