The PrepCom holds a series of meetings at which a number of important decisions relating to the rules of procedures and NGO participation at the World Conference are made. It develops the agenda and program of work, negotiates the content of major conference documents such as the declaration and the plan of action to be adapted at the World Conference. Regional preparatory conferences are convened at which governments address a regional agenda and develop proposals, which can then be fed into the World Conference as well as pursued independently. Canada participated in a regional preparatory conference convened for Latin America, Caribbean States and North America, which was hosted by Chile to develop a regional agenda and a regional program of work by using the framework of the Economic Community for Latin America and the Caribbean States. Expert group consultations are held on specific issues relating to the World Conference.
National governments decide on their own policies and positions.
This may involve collection of data and preparations of national reports on the subject matter of the conference, holding of meetings or consultations related with civil society. The UN World Conference and the NGO Forum take place, negotiations initiated at the PrepCom meetings are completed, and final conference documents are adopted usually by consensus among the member states of the United Nations. This long-term process provides the framework for holding governments and the UN accountable for fulfilling their commitments and obligations made at the conference.