Engaging with UNEP: Major Groups and Stakeholders Branch Overview

1. Engaging with UNEP By Alexander Juras Chief, Major Groups and Stakeholders Branch UNEP Regional Consultation Meeting October 2010 Major Groups & Stakeholders Branch

2. Content • Why should Major Groups and Stakeholders Engage with UNEP • UNEP’s Major Groups and Stakeholder Branch • Accreditation • Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum 2011 • Governing Council/Global Ministers of Environment Forum 2011 Major Groups & Stakeholders Branch

3. Why Should Major Groups and Stakeholders Engage with UNEP? • Access to Information • Participation in UNEP’s work at Programmatic Level • Program of Work (POW) input • Participation in Projects • Expert Advise • Participation in UNEP’s work at Political Level • GC/GMEF • Consultations • Direct input through the Major Groups and Stakeholders Facilitating Committee Major Groups & Stakeholders Branch

4. UNEP’s Major Groups and Stakeholder Branch: Your Entry Point to UNEP • Mandated to provide Civil Society Organisation/Major Groups and Stakeholders (CSO/MGS) with a chance for broad participation in environmental decision-making through enhanced participation inter alia by: • Guiding, facilitating , catalyzing and operationalizing collaboration with the CSO/MGS • Encouraging and, where feasible, supporting the participation of CSO/MGS in policy development and governance of the organization • Maintaining CSO/MGS databases and background information on global developments relating to CSO/MGS; •  Establishing and Supporting the Major Groups Facilitation Committee (MGFC) to provide guidance and coordinate the engagement of CSO/MGS with UNEP • Disseminate information on UNEP activities and on environment related issues Major Groups & Stakeholders Branch

5. Accreditation • Conditions: • Constitution, charter, statutes and/or by-laws • Official registration • Interest in the environment • International scope • Commitment to invest time and give substantial input into UNEP’s work Major Groups & Stakeholders Branch

6. Application • A letter requesting accreditation • A completed application form • Copy of constitution, charter, statutes or by-laws and amendments to those documents, and list of affiliates • Copy of certificate of registration • Proof of interest in the environment e.g. annual reports; conference and seminar reports; The organization should submit an account of at least two years of activities in the field of environment. • Detailed account of the international scope of the organization’s activities Major Groups & Stakeholders Branch

7. Review Process (approx. 3 months) Review of submitted documents The Organisation is notified by the Branch if any information or documents are missing MGSB sends the complete documentation together with its recommendation to the office of the Secretariat for Governing Bodies (SGB) for its consideration and decision The SGB notifies the successful applicant of its decision MGSB revises its database to include the name and contact details of newly accredited organizations. An e-mail notification is sent to the accredited organization Major Groups & Stakeholders Branch

8. Global Major Groups and Stakeholder Forum 2011 • The Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum (GMGSF) • 2 days, before the GC/GMEF, February 19 – 20, 2011 • Same themes as GC/GMEF agenda: IEG, Green Economy • Platform for exchange of MGS views and expertise • Prepare MGS inputs for consideration during the GC/GMEF • Draft Agenda prepared • UNEP is committed to enhance dialogue with its partners, incl. MGS, in policy-making • UNEP Policy on Partnerships, and Guidelines for Implementation, adopted by Senior Management in August 2009, to guide UNEP’s work with partners Major Groups & Stakeholders Branch

9. Governing Council/Global Ministers of Environment Forum • Governing Council (GC): Highest decision-making political authority of UNEP on • Global environmental issues + development challenges • Budget + Programme of Work (PoW) • Draft Agenda Prepared • Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GMEF) • Review important + emerging policy issues in environment • GC/GMEF session • 4 days, at HQ, Nairobi, Kenya, February 21-24,2011 Major Groups & Stakeholders Branch

10. Major Groups & Stakeholders Branch

11. References To apply for accreditation go to: http://www.unep.org/civil-society/GCGMEFAccreditation/tabid/2747/Default.aspx For additional examples of successful work between UNEP and CSO/MGS, please go to: http://www.unep.org/indigenous/ http://www.unep.fr/en/branches/partnerships.htm http://www.unep.org/labour_environment/index.asp http://www.unep.org/Tunza/ Other Relevant links: http://www.unep.org/civil-society/Default.aspx www.unep.org/civil_society/GCSF8/pdfs/MGSB-implementation-plan-rev 12annexesJan07.pdf  http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=468&ArticleID=4622&l=en http://www.unep.org/civil-society/About/ConsultationonEnhancing/tabid/2991/language/en-US/Default.aspx Major Groups & Stakeholders Branch

12. Contacts The Major Groups and Stakeholders Branch (MGSB) Division of Regional Cooperation United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) P.O. 30552 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: 254 20 7624686 Fax: 254 20 7625010 Email: civil.society@unep.org Website: http://www.unep.org/civil_society/ Major Groups & Stakeholders Branch