59th Annual DPI NGO Conference

September 6-8, 2006

More than 2,500 Non-governmental Organization (NGO) representatives and other civil society partners from more than 90 countries are expected to gather at the United Nations headquarters in New York, from 6 – 8 September 2006, to discuss ways and means for strengthening collaboration between local communities and global institutions. They will meet during the 59th Annual DPI/NGO Conference, entitled Unfinished Business: Effective Partnerships for Human Security and Sustainable Development. The three-day gathering of NGOs is organized by the Department of Public Information (DPI) in cooperation with the NGO/DPI Executive Committee and the participation of its associated NGOs and NGOs that have consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

The Conference aims to build on what has already been accomplished by greater NGO and civil society participation in many of the debates taking place at the United Nations, including Informal Interactive Hearings by the General Assembly President with NGOs, civil society and private sector representatives. Speakers at the Conference are being asked to illustrate their work on the ground by real-life examples of effective partnerships to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). To ensure the widest possible exchange of views and experiences, all NGO delegations will include one representative under the age of 30

As an annual meeting taking place on the eve of the opening of the General Assembly, the Conference has become an established forum for networking and exchange of views, opinions, expertise and best-practices on relevant issues. Beyond these, it has moved in recent times towards strategic partnership-building by inviting representatives of Member States to engage in dialogues with Conference participants. This year, it aims to provide a policy-building forum for NGO collaboration with the United Nations.

In addition to five plenary sessions and six roundtables, there will be 30 midday NGO Workshops featuring the participation of civil society, United Nations, government and private-sector representatives.

For more information visit the Conference Website.