International Conference of NGOs (ICNGO)
The International Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations is a key forum for meeting and dialogue among NGOs in official partnership with UNESCO, explicitly provided for by the Directives concerning UNESCO’s partnership with non-governmental organizations.
It enables official NGO partners to meet every two years (usually in December) to review the state of cooperation with UNESCO, to conduct collective consultations on the main lines of UNESCO's programme, and to facilitate cooperation between NGOs having common interests.
The International Conference elects its Chairperson (elected in a personal capacity). It also elects the members of the NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee (see below). The Chairperson of the International Conference also presides the Liaison Committee.
The NGO-UNESCO Liaison COmmittee
The NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee is a permanent body - elected by the International Conference of NGOs – operating between meetings of the International Conference to represent the interests of all NGO partners vis-à-vis UNESCO and ensure the proper functioning and efficiency of the partnership between the community of NGO partners and UNESCO. It is chaired by the Chairperson of the International Conference and is composed of 10 NGO partners (four with associate status and six with consultative status), with at least one partner from each region.
The Committee is currently chaired by Mr Nick Newland, Chairperson of the International Conference of NGOs and is composed of the following NGOs for the 2022-2024 period:
- Arab Institute for Human Rights (AIHR) – based in Tunisia
- Arterial Network – based in Côte d’Ivoire
- China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE) – based in China
- International Association for Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE) – based in Luxembourg
- International Council of Associations for Science Education (ICASE) – based in Ireland
- International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE) – based in Germany
- International Music Council (IMC) – based in France
- Latin American Campaign for the Right to Education (CLADE) – based in Brazil
- Rotary International – based in the United States of America
- Sozopol Foundation – based in Bulgaria.
Among its main tasks, the Committee also organizes, in cooperation with the UNESCO Secretariat, international forums of NGOs in official partnership with UNESCO on a priority issue of the Organization. For more information on the NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee and its workplans consult its website.