In his response to the report of the Panel of Eminent Persons on United Nations-Civil Society Relations (the Cardoso Report), the SG set forth several recommendations to enhance the capacity of the UN Resident Coordinator system to engage with civil society at the country level. These included the identification of a civil society focal point at country level and the establishment of a UN Civil Society Trust Fund to enhance the capacity of NGOs at the country level and the provision of additional capacity in the Resident Coordinator Office to engage civil society. The UNDG established a Working Group on Civil Society (WGCS) to follow-up on these actions. In 2006, the Working Group completed all assigned tasks, as recommended in the Secretary General’s report. In particular, the development of terms of reference for the civil society focal point to be appointed in the UNCT, and formulation of a framework action plan for the proposed UN Civil Society Trust Fund.

The framework was approved by the UNDG Programme Group on October 2006 and will be implemented by the UN System at country-level.