Rep. n° 12/2026

New York, august 2026. Under ECOSOC resolution 1996/31, NGOs in general and special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council must submit to the Committee on NGOs, a brief report of their activities every 4 years, known as the quadrennial report, which includes information about contributions of the NGO to the work of the United Nations. To emphasize the need to abide strictly by this requirement, ECOSOC resolution 2008/4 stipulates measures that the Council has taken to suspend, and subsequently withdraw consultative status of organizations that fail to submit their reports on time.

The consultative relationship is a reciprocal one. NGOs are granted the privilege of participating in a wide variety of United Nations-sponsored events, meetings and activities. In return, they are expected to contribute to the development aims of the Economic and Social Council, and the United Nations at large, based on their relevant areas of experience and expertise.

Thus, the quadrennial review presents an opportunity for NGOs to inform Member States about their activities in support of the United Nations, and at the same time, receive feedback from Member States on their programme of work as well as an official acknowledgement of their contribution as partners in development.

The quadrennial review exercise therefore serves as a critical tool in monitoring the relationship between the United Nations and the steadily growing number of NGOs in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council.