In September 2000, the United Nations determined that the ten-year review of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) would be held at a summit level, called the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD).

It was agreed that South Africa would host the Summit, as well as to facilitate The Global Forum for Civil Society and that the South African government would take responsibility to both host the Summit, plan for and co-ordinate the event itself.

Following these events a national NGO process was initiated at the South Africa NGO coalition (SANGOCO) national week in December 2000. This culminated in the establishment of the WSSD NGO Secretariat to oversee the preparation and coordination of the WSSD Global Forum.

The primary objective of the WSSD NGO Secretariat is to ensure that African and International Civil Society organisations, especially those from the South, participate effectively at the WSSD in order to ensure that the review and implementation of Agenda 21 is developed as an outcome of the World Summit. Specific objectives include.

1. To prepare South African civil society for participation in the WSSD NGO forum, and to facilitate their participation and meaningful input in the processes leading to, and after the WSSD.
2. To co-ordinate the involvement of African and International NGOs in the WSSD preparatory processes, and at the event itself.
3. To ensure that the WSSD Global NGO forum is hosted, and that there is participation of Southern and Northern Civil Society in the Summit.

Read more about the WSSD Secretariat.