NGOs are eligible to take a role in formal UN deliberations through applying for a consultative status in ECOSOC. There are three categories of status: General consultative status, Special consultative status and Roster status.

The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights attaches great importance to cooperation with all NGOs active in the field of economic, social and cultural rights. The Committee adopted a document entitled "NGO participation in activities of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights", which explains in a concise manner the modalities of NGO participation in the Committee's work. The document serves to provide detailed guidelines for NGOs with a view to facilitating their cooperation with the Committee to enhance the effectiveness of the international monitoring, through its examination of State party reports, of the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights by States parties.