The GEC is keen to explore possibilities for cooperation and collaboration on green economy around the world, and we welcome membership applications from interested organisations working in fields connected with our Five Themes of Green Economy.

Collaboration and movement-building is at the core of the GEC. Through our network, we empower our member organisations to leverage expertise, pool knowledge and resources, connect with policymakers, investors and ordinary citizens around the world, and connect their work to a broader movement for systemic reform.

Joining the GEC means access to our global membership and network, the opportunity to develop and deliver collaborative, externally funded projects, and increased influence through shared policy positions. In recent years, our annual Global Meetings have convened our networks in India, South Africa, the Caribbean and Europe.

There is no membership fee for joining the GEC. However, there is an expectation for all members to proactively engage in discussion and collaboration, as well as commit to the green economy principles of wellbeing, justice, planetary boundaries, sufficiency and good governance.

For more information, or to submit an application:

• Slide deck background & context of our work (pdf)
• Introduction our Membership Process (pdf)
• Membership Application form (pdf)

If you have any questions about the process - please do get in touch.

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Our Membership Application Review Process

Rationale: The GEC signed off its new 10 Year Strategy in February 2020. It is expected to take 12-24 months for the strategy to become operational with plans that include clear roles for members. Specifically, under ‘Theme 4, Building the Coalition’, we plan to create a distributive delivery structure with regional and national hubs managing their own GEC member base. Until this structure is in place we need a process to deal with new membership enquiries. Due to the crowded Steering Group agendas and limited SG time, it is often difficult to find space to discuss membership enquiries. The recommendation is to create this interim process to maintain standards but allow flexibility to the availability of SG time and the changing GEC organisational structures.

The process parameters

As agreed by GEC Steering group Feb 2020:

• Due diligence needs to continue in this process.
• The principle of working together to demonstrate collaboration commitment prior to membership should continue.
• SG should retain global partner overview and contentious partners to be escalated to SG.

Geographic expansion

A balance is to be struck between strategic and opportunistic growth. This recognises that while our agreed geographical strategic priorities remain robust, funder priorities or opportunities may present themselves.

Our strategic geographical expansion plans are:

• Consolidate existing hubs – and seek to expand to neighbouring countries to create regional bases.
• Prioritise new hubs in Europe, North America, China. Brazil.
• Seek geographical expansion with GEC GE Tracker countries

Due-diligence

Preferably we will receive referrals by existing members. Desk-based research compliments this, plus peer reviews. This will be supplemented by the principle of trial by collaboration, gaining experience of the organisation prior to membership.

Principle of working together

GEC is not in the game of brand accumulation. GEC is a serious attempt to foster and support collaboration. To this end, the principle of demonstrating collaboration commitment prior to membership is recommended to continue both in the interim and under the new structure.

Portfolio criteria

• Location – with preference shown to regional expansion or targeted country growth
• Sector – GEC is predominately a civil society organisation – so civil society organisations are generally our membership target. Under the new organisation, greater inclusion of other stakeholders including businesses, will be clarified.
• Change approach – ranging from think tanks to campaign organisations. Generally, the stronger the external brand and change positioning of an applying organisation the more likely the need for escalation to steering group.

Criteria for escalation to Steering Group

• Business or business related.
• Campaign organisation.
• Clear positioning on contentious issues such as fossil fuels, nuclear, population.
• Global organisation.
• IGO.

Summary of interim membership process

• GEC global hub (UK) targets new partners proactively.
• When an external membership approach is made GEC global hub (UK), applicant will be invited to complete the GEC Membership Form, with an emphasis on demonstrating potential collaboration and opportunities for mutually productive work. UK GEC staff will screen application, through desk-based due-diligence research, peer review (eg: inviting an existing GEC member organisation to comment on the application), and a call between GEC staff and applicant to discuss collaboration.
• Application is either then rejected or, where relevant, passed to collaboration trial.
• Application is then is screened for escalation to Steering Group based on above criteria for membership decision;
• If considered low risk and membership agreed by global hub (UK), it is sent round to Steering Group via email;
• If no objections, the application will be successful.