Geographical Scope: Global Lead Partner: Future Harvest Foundation - Future Harvest Foundation
Summary: Goals: To promote Science, Practice and Policy for Land Use Systems that Jointly increase Food Production, Reduce Rural Poverty, and Conserve Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services by catalysing:
* Research and land-use innovation with farmers and conservationists
* Capacity building
* Education and public awareness
* Enabling policies
* Resource mobilisation
Expected Results:
1. An international conference of ecoagriculture innovators
2. Support for on-going ecoagriculture field projects or community based initiatives
3. Identification and publicize communities managing successful ecoagriculture systems
4. Promotion of ecoagriculture education, training and capacity building
5. Promotion of information dissemination and thus public awareness of the potentials of ecoagriculture [more]
Geographical Scope: Global Lead Partner: The World Conservation Union (IUCN)
Summary: There is high demand for information on environmental law. Various Governing Council decisions of UNEP recognise the need to make this information available and accessible, a task now included in the Montevideo Programme, adopted by UNEP/GC in 2001 and endorsed thereafter by UN/GA. Linguistic barriers must be overcome. The information is fragmented and changing constantly as new laws are being drafted and entering into force.
The objective of this ongoing initiative is to increase access to authoritative information on environmental law by establishing a single gateway on the Internet (ECOLEX) and publishing a range of products on specific topics.
The main beneficiaries will be policy-makers in developing countries and countries in transition. Policy-makers drafting new legislation have a need to obtain information on the law (national and international) existing in relevant thematic areas in other countries. NGOs, academics and advocacy groups are also important beneficiaries.
Business and industry also need information on environmental law in particular on legal mechanisms dealing with waste, pollution and EIA, etc [more]
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Middle East: Euphrates-Tigris Basin Lead Partner: Kent State University
Summary: ETIC is a riparian initiative that aims to effectively facilitate cooperation for technical, social and economically sustainable development within the Euphrates-Tigris system and in the riparian countries. [more]
Geographical Scope: Global Lead Partner: Government of European Community - European Commission, Directorate General Environment
Summary: The initiative provides a platform for strategic partnerships to implement the programmes of action for the WSSD and to contribute to meeting the Millennium Development Goals on water. Under the initiative, the EU seeks to work with its partners to:
* Reinforce political will and commitment to action
The global water crisis is not on the agenda of many political leaders of the world. The initiative seeks to support governments in understanding the links between water, poverty and sustainable development and to help translate this into firm commitments for action. In particular, the initiative seeks to provide a mechanism to develop joint action plans to implement the programmes of action of the WSSD.
* Make water governance effective and build institutional capacity
Making water governance effective is an essential step in supporting healthy and productive lives and safe-guarding the environment. The initiative seeks to promote better water governance arrangements and good practice centred on the principles of integrated water resources management. Capacity to plan, manage and implement programmes of action at all levels is central to achieving the desired outcomes and the initiative seeks to build capacity by providing expertise and knowledge and by facilitating access to information. Research co-operation should form an import part of such these activities.
* Improve co-ordination and co-operation
A vast range of water-related activities are currently underway or planned but their inter-relationship is not always apparent. The initiative seeks to provide a platform to co-ordinate and streamline activities and to establish multi-stakeholder processes to bring partners together, including south-south collaboration and co-operation. The initiative seeks to support regional and sub-regional activities where clear commitment to collaboration exists. As a contribution to peace and security it seeks specifically to support the build-up of river basin organisations and to assist in the development and application of river basin approaches in transboundary waters.
* Increase the efficiency of existing EU aid flows
Meeting the Millennium Development Goals will require considerable financing efforts and although no exact estimates are available it is evident there is a major financing gap. The initiative seeks to make the most of available funds and to increase the effectiveness of existing and future EU aid flows. It seeks to use official development assistance as a lever for other forms of finance, including user finance and private finance, and to encourage the development of innovative funding mechanisms to create higher efficiencies. It also seeks to finance water projects with a particular focus on meeting the needs of poor customers and a sustainable environment. [more]
Geographical Scope: Global Lead Partner: EVE-olution Foundation
Summary: OUR SOLUTION:
To increase the number and profit of women entrepreneurs in developing nations with the help of retired executives from developed nations to coach them.
OUR MISSION:
To sustain women entrepreneurs in developing countries to emerge successfully in the global market by embracing the ¿Export Fever¿®
OUR PROCESS:
We are capitalizing potentials and selecting them by MBAs worldwide and in site tutors
We are coaching women selected with the help of motivated retired executives
OUR GOAL:
To challenge their new influence and position with their country leaders to build a healthier and secure Planet for our kids. [more]
Geographical Scope: Global Lead Partner: Earth Charter Youth Initiative, Earth Charter International
Summary: Vision
From Earth Charter International Council, October 2006:
“We envision the Earth Charter becoming the most widely shared ethical framework for sustainable living and exercising a growing influence on human affairs.
We envision recognition and endorsement of the Earth Charter by an ever-increasing number of national and international institutions, including UN agencies, leading to the embrace of the Earth Charter by the United Nations General Assembly.
We envision individuals, organizations, businesses, governments, and multilateral institutions throughout the world adopting the values and principles of the Earth Charter and working collaboratively to build just, sustainable, and peaceful communities.”
ECYI Goal:
Inspire hope within and through the Earth Charter Youth Initiative (ECYI) and support this global youth network in embodying, promoting, and applying the principles of the Earth Charter.
ECYI Objectives:
1. Raise awareness of the Earth Charter among key youth leaders and networks.
2. Grow, empower, and support Earth Charter Youth Groups (ECYGs) that are engaged in local action projects.
3. Facilitate the engagement of ECYI members in global sustainable development decision-making processes. [more]
Geographical Scope: Global Lead Partner: European Space Agency (ESA)
Summary: The partnership strategy for Earth Observation Education and Training is the establishment of an effective coordination and partnership mechanism among CEOS agencies and institutions offering education and training around the world. The key objective is to facilitate activities that substantially enhance international. education and training in Earth observation techniques, data analysis, interpretation, use and application in support of the objectives of Agenda 21.
The partnership will: Allow space agencies, education and training providers, UN agencies and other entities to coordinate activities for specific education and training programmes and to exchange experiences and information; Provide opportunities for CEOS agencies, UNEP, UNOOSA, and others to network with each other, as well as with educational and training institutions; Provide for the timely integration and refresh of Earth observation data, information and techniques into education and training programmes; Provide an opportunity to agencies to disseminate materials, data, information, experts and guidance, as appropriate, for improving Earth observation training and education around the world; Promote a growing cadre of specialists in Earth observation who will address the growing environmental questions facing the world and who will develop expanded practical applications of Earth observation data and information world wide; Enable better and more far-reaching outreach to the larger international community and general public; Underscore the relevance of Earth observation for formulating policy and for addressing environmental and sustainable development issues at local, national, regional and global levels as well as for addressing scientific questions of relevance.
[more]
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Africa Lead Partner: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) - European Space Agency (ESA)
Summary: The TIGER-SHIP partnership aims at developing sustainable earth observation information services for integrated water resources management in developing countries, with a particular focus on Africa as special contribution to the NEPAD/AMCOW process and the achievement of WSSD goals.
Specific Objectives include:
* To establish a network of multidisciplinary experts and institutions for the identification and definition of space technology applications and contribution to the sustainable water resources management in Africa.
* To promote the integrated assessments of water resources availability and use in Africa.
* To identify several case studies and support multidisciplinary experts teams to conduct detailed projects in Africa.
* To learn, from case studies the issues relevant to sound management of surface and groundwater resources in Africa.
* To raise the awareness of policy and decision makers of the significance and importance of space technology for water resources management.
* To set up training facilities and disseminate the lessons learnt from case studies.
* To contribute to the improvement of the socio-economic situations of African countries.
* To contribute to the formulation of strategies to cope with water scarcity.
* To develop a pre-operational information services on water resources management in Africa using space technology. [more]
Geographical Scope: Global Lead Partner: Government of Sweden - Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) - Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)
Summary: Swedish initiative to promote and develop ecological sanitation in Asia, Africa and Latin America and to provide a base for global communications on the topic.
The overall goal is to set up a long-term program of ecological sanitation around the world including pilot projects, promotion activities and capacity development. To involve additional bilateral and multilateral agencies so that they will also initiate their own programs: [more]
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Europe and North America Lead Partner: Eco Idea
Summary: The actual state of natural environment depends on everyday decisions taken at the local level (at household, institutions, business and trade). The importance of environmental protection is obvious for every citizen and local stakeholder. But at the same time sustainability in everyday life, decision making in industries, institutions shops etc. is not considered. Acting for environment is not attractive at the marketing level. When we want to achieve any ecological result we have to arrange project for various players of locality.
There are three key areas:
1) For sustainable consumption (focused on noncommercial informational system for consumers) addressed to trade - consumers - schools - local authority.
2) For sustainable management (focused on reduction of paper, energy and heating use) addressed to business and institutions - local authority - media.
3) For youth eco-activation (focused on out of school activity closely coordinated with local eco policy) addressed to schools - local authority - households. [more]
to collapse the Summary of Partnerships.