United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison

Service

Project Background

Addressing International Issues? Global Financial Architectural Reform Global Economic Governance

Key Stakeholders? Miguel d’Escoto, President of the UN

General Assembly Nobel Prize Laurete Joseph Stiglitz UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UN-

NGLS) Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Finance for Development (FfD) Civil Society Organizations

Project Background

Project 1Civil Society Consultation on the Work of the President of the UN General Assembly’s Commission of Experts on Reforms of the International Monetary and Financial System• Civil Society compilation report prepared for UN-NGLS on

reform of the global monetary and financial system

Project 2Global Economic Governance Reform and the United Nations: Proposal and Analysis from Civil Society • Extensive literature review of civil society proposals

advocating global economic governance reform

Methodology – Project 1

Financial Architecture Reform: NGO Consultation ReportInclusive report bringing together civil society-based expertise and

insights

Online consultation that sought feedback on world financial and economic crisis:

1. Financial regulation2. Multilateral issues3. Macroeconomic issues & Addressing the crisis4. Reforming the global financial architecture

Received submissions from civil society

Compiled submissions into 4 subject themes

Prepared report which provides a forum for debate

Methodology – Project 2

Global Economic Governance Reform: Civil Society Proposals & Analysis

Background review of civil society-based expertise and insights

Literature review of civil society proposals advocating reform of:1. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)2. Strengthening the Financing for Development follow-

up process 3. Formation of a new UN-based economic governance

body

Researched proposals and advocacy documents

Sent our proposal outline and position briefing to NGLS

Intentionally excluded proposals• That relied on narrow definitions of ‘global economic

governance’• Included specific economic policy prescriptions

Project 1 - Compiled and analyzed recommendations from civil society, on behalf of NGLS, for reforming the global financial architecture in light of the current economic and financial crisis.

Recommendations used as key inputs:

Deliberations of the President of the UN General Assembly’s Commission of Experts on Reforms of the International Monetary and Financial System

Financial system forum chaired by Professor Joseph L. Stiglitz

Published paper is available at: www.un-ngls.org/IMG/pdf_finalreport.pdf

Outcome & Results

Project 2 - Produce a background paper advocating global economic governance reform.

• The United Nations is best positioned to be the locus of global economic governance reform; through strengthening ECOSOC (or creating a new global governance body under U.N. auspices) and leveraging the FfD follow-up process.

• Platform to mobilize Civil Society around :• Doha Review Conference (Nov/Dec in Doha, Qatar) • High Level Conference taking place at the UN in June

Paper is available at: www.ffdngo.org

Outcome & Results

• Coordinate team members in collaboration with UN-NGLS offices in New York and Geneva

• Weekly in-person meetings, conference calls, and continuous email dialogue to keep everyone up to date and on task

• Required constant reworking and revising of timelines, establishment of clear objectives and benchmarks, as well as definitive allocation of tasks

Partnerships & Cooperation

• Extensive individual research and group discussions to develop the understanding of two complex themes√ Global economic governance√ Financial and monetary architectural reform

• Research, writing and editing phases

Collaboration

Research

Briefings

Writing

& Editing

Client Feedback

Writing

& Editing

Sign-Off &

Distribution

Group in Action

• Political considerations

• Client inexperience managing consultants

• Differing or unclear expectations

• Client has inadequate time/other priorities incompatible with project timeline

Challenges

• Becoming an expert– Understanding topic before doing anything else

• Clear terms of reference– Our role/responsibilities to client– Client’s role, responsibilities and expectations

• Establishing standards & clear writing process – Workflow, editing, feedback from peers/client, style, voice, references

• Setting realistic objectives and deadlines– Up-to-date timeline

• Open a clear and continuous line of communication between group members and client – Regular meetings

Lessons Learned

Thank youBarry!

United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison

Service

Questions