Lead Partner: Forum for Renewable Energy Islands (FREI)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: To assist island states to meet 100% of their energy requirements from Renewable Energy Sources (RES) by helping them with the preparation & planning, organization and all the inputs (technical, financial & managerial) required for implementation of the 100% RES plan..
By helping several SIDS to use 100% RES for their energy supply, this partnership will result in
* Island states stopping the use of fossil fuels and the environmental damage caused by these fuels.
* Meeting their energy needs from locally available renewable sources in a sustainable manner.
* Local manufacture of RE equipment creating employment & income generation leading to poverty reduction. [more]
Lead Partner: Asia Pacific Forum for Environment and Development (APFED)
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Asia and the Pacific Summary: The new partnership initiatives were proposed by APFED in May 2002 and were welcomed at the side-event of Prep. Com. IV in Bali, Indonesia. The initiatives will be jointly implemented by APFED and its partners to keep momentum of WSSD and further promote efforts to sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific region.
Recognizing the importance of firm knowledge base in supporting policy making for sustainable development in the region, the new partnership initiative consists of the following three components with aim of developing knowledge network and facilitating the access to the capacity building programmes.
(a) Collect and analyze best policy practices (BPP) related to the issues that the APFED Message to the WSSD covers, as a common asset for policy makers in Asia and the Pacific region. The issues the Message contains are freshwater resources, renewable energy, trade, finance, urbanization, good governance and capacity building.
(b) Develop a network of researchers and research institutions (NetRes) to develop policy recommendations to WSSD to put into practice the APFED recommendations in the final report on governmental policies and measures in the region which will be prepared by the end of 2004.
(c) Make an inventory of capacity building programs (CBP) in Asia and the Pacific region and disseminate the information to those needing training. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of United Arab Emirates - Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The Main objectives of AGEDI are:
Ø To achieve more cost-effective and relevant environmental data collection and assessment,
Ø To strengthen and enhance environmental capacity to collect, analyze, use and update multi-sectoral environmental data and information in the decision making process,
Ø To develop and strengthen means of ensuring that planning for sustainable development in all sectors is based on, inter alia, quality, timely, reliable, and usable environmental data and information,
Ø To make relevant environmental data and information accessible to all stakeholders in the form, and at the time, required to facilitate its use,
Ø To strengthen existing national and international mechanisms of information collection, exchange and processing,
Ø To strengthen mechanisms for incorporating environmental information in decision making,
Ø To strengthen national capacities, including capacities within governments, NGOs and private sector, in data/information collection, handling and communication, particularly in developing countries, and
Ø To ensure full participation of developing countries in the collection, analysis, assessment, use and update of environmental data and information.
Lead Partner: Government of France - Institut de l’Énergie et de l’Environnement de la Francophonie - Government of Switzerland - Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Adaptation to climate change is a growing priority for development agencies, governments and vulnerable communities. However, capacity and awareness are often limited, and experiences have yet to be widely shared. The ALM partnership initiative will draw from experiences on the ground, featuring tools and practical guidance to meet the needs of developing countries. Seeking to provide stakeholders with a common platform for sharing and learning, the ALM will also complement the wide range of adaptation knowledge networks and initiatives already underway. For example, the ALM is collaborating with the Nairobi Work Programme, particularly the 'Methods and Tools' and 'Planning and Practices' areas of work, and the interactive weADAPT platform.
The ALM will develop tools and resources to support:
1. Adaptation practices – what can be done to adapt to climate change on the ground?
2. Integration of climate change risks and adaptation into development policy, planning and operations – how can policies and plans support adaptation over time?
3. Capacity building – how can people be better assisted in becoming equipped for adapting to climate change?
Lead Partner: Government of South Africa - Eskom (South Africa National Electric Utility)
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Africa Summary: A primary requirement to assist in the electrification of Africa is to complete the interconnectors between the various countries and their respective utilities, so that Africa has one interconnected transmission grid. The transmission interconnectors are predicated on the basis that, while some countries and/or regions have excess generation capacity, others are experiencing shortages, with serious consequences for their economic and social development. While it is technically possible for each country to develop sufficient energy resources to meet their needs in the medium to longer term, this approach ignores the economic and environmental efficiencies possible through regional co-operation. This is viewed as an important first step, as it allows undersupplied countries, or countries supplied primarily by hydro-electricity, who are subject to fluctuations in supply during drought cycles, to have immediate access to a pool of electricity when required, and to contribute to such a pool when water levels are high. This facilitates uninterrupted power supply throughout Africa.
The initiative supports the diversification of electricity sources and socio-economic development. Apart from supporting NEPAD and adhering to best environmental practice, detailed design of the project will take into account synergies with existing sustainable development initiatives, such as the Peace Parks initiative, eradication of land mines and improvement of local infrastructure. The partnership aims include improving capacity for regional and sub-continental electricity trading. [more]
Lead Partner: Environment General Agency - Environment General Agency - Environment General Agency
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Africa Summary: The main objectives of the initiative are:
♦ To critically assess successes and failures in implementing Rio decisions in each member AU country
♦ To focus on the identification of accomplishments and areas where further efforts are needed to implement Agenda 21.
♦ To ensure that all members of African Union must have a safer more prosperous future by dealing with environment protection economic development and social development issues inbalanced manner.
♦ Accelerated economic and social development of Africa with better care for environment
♦ Awareness raising at regional, national and local level and further promote Agenda 21 in Africa. [more]
Lead Partner: Agua Tuya
Geographical Scope: Local Summary: The main objective of the partnership is to give people from poor suburban areas around the City of Cochabamba-Bolivia access to low cost potable water. We have developed a very novel model in water distribution systems. Using this model we can:
Give access to a large number of people in a very short time, at a very low cost and with incremental investments instead on one big investment.
A complete description of the project if provided in the section of Mechanism of Implementation (below).
[more]
Lead Partner: The High Institute of Tourism, Hotels and Computer
Geographical Scope: Local Summary: The Alexandria Academy Association For Science (AAAS) is a non-profit non-Governmental organization registered in Alexandria- Egypt for educational and charitable purposes. AAAS is the owner of the High Institute for Tourism, Hotels, and Computer ( HITHC), which was established with the objective of promoting education in community sustainable development. The Institute activities include: education, development of model training programs, applied research, seminars, workshops, academic programs, and university partnerships.
Both AAAS and HITHC are concerned with activities that promote the following aspects:
a) Individual and community social and economical development.
b) Community Service
c) Community self -determination
d) Sustainable Tourism development.
e) Effective natural sources management
f) Poverty eradication
g) Rural development through introducing and promoting countryside tourism. [more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), BIOTRADE Initiative - Andean Community (CAN) - Andean Development Corporation (CAF)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Andean region Summary: The general objectives of the Andean Programme are:
* To promote trade and investment in biological resources in the Andean region with the aim of supporting the objectives of the Andean Biodiversity Strategy and contribute to sustainable development in the region.
* To support the development of 'biotrade' in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela through regional actions that complement the national BIOTADE programmes.
The Andean BIOTRADE programme has the following specific objectives:
* Support the establishment of an adequate institutional economic environment for the development of products and services derived from biodiversity;
* Develop regional activities that promote and facilitate access to bio-businesses to finance;
* Promote the exchange of experiences and good social and environmental practices in bio-businesses within the Andean region and with other regions;
* Coordinate the activities of different partners under the Andean BIOTRADE programme. [more]
Lead Partner: Children and Mothers Welfare Society
Geographical Scope: Regional
- West Asia Summary: The Arab Civil Union for Waste Management Initiative aims to Initiate community - based projects in the field of waste management through the transfer of appropriate technologies, public awareness, initiating and implementing successful pilot projects, the exchange of information and good practices [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Australia - National Oceans Office
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Arafura and Timor Seas Summary: The Arafura Timor Seas Expert Forum (ATSEF) provides opportunities to improve information-sharing arrangements between the littoral states of the Arafura and Timor Seas. It provides an opportunity to identify cooperative research agendas and arrangements to enhance the capacity to sustainably manage the Arafura Timor Seas. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Japan - Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Asia and the Pacific Summary: CDM projects potential in Asia need to be realised through institutional streamlining, wide spread expertise knowledge, national strategy on promising areas, and support by industrial sector. CDM-related capacity building program is to address these agenda by utilising Japanese experience and tools of international co-operation and energy policy.
Expected results are:
Smooth start of CDM projects will be foreseen/encouraged and green house gas emission reduction will be achieved. As a result, it will contribute host countries' sustainable development. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Indonesia - Ministry of Forestry - Government of Japan - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan - The Nature Conservancy (TNC) - Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Asia and the Pacific Summary: Asia Forest Partnership(AFP) promotes sustainable forest management in Asia through addressing the following 5 urgent issues;
- Good governance and forest law enforcement
- Developing capacity for effective forest management
- Control of illegal logging
- Control of forest fires
- Rehabilitation and reforestation of degraded lands
The partnership acts as a catalyst for already existing initiatives by increasing synergies and reducing duplication between programs and ongoing efforts. At this stage the AFP provides a formal framework for the exchange of information and experiences. Beyond strengthening existing programs this will facilitate joint identification of new programs and research needed.
[more]
Lead Partner: Government of Japan - Ministry of the Environment
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Asia and the Pacific Summary: The main objectives of APEIS include:
* To develop scientific knowledge-based tools and innovative strategy options to promote informed decision-making for sustainable development, for the use of policy makers in the Asia-Pacific region as a common asset in the region
* To promote regional cooperation and capacity building, so as to enable Asia-Pacific countries to formulate and implement their own policies for environmental management and protection that take into account their national circumstances, making use of the developed scientific tools and options, through participation and collaboration in the Project.
APEIS is a concrete regional initiative to realize the following part of the World Summit on Sustainable Development Plan of Implementation:
104. Assist developing countries, through international cooperation, to enhance their capacity in their efforts to address issues pertaining to environmental protection including in their formulation and implementation of policies for environmental management and protection, including through urgent actions at all levels to:
(a) Improve their use of science and technology for environmental monitoring, assessment models, accurate database and integrated information systems;
(b) Promote and, where appropriate, improve their use of satellite technologies for quality data collection, verification and updating and further improvement of aerial and ground-based observations, in support of their efforts to collect quality, accurate, long-term, consistent and reliable data;
Expected results include the development of:
* Monitoring methodologies and networks that cover environmental disasters and degradation, and make full use of satellite technologies
* A set of assessment models to assess and predict the trends of environmental emissions and natural resources, and subsequent impacts
* A strategic database and innovative strategy options for practical use of policy makers enabling informed decision-making [more]
Lead Partner: LEAD Japan Program - LEAD Japan Program
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Asia and the Pacific Summary: LEAD Japan, in association with a consortium of partner institutions, is proposing to instigate a range of activities in the Asia-Pacific Region (and in the South-East Asia, in particular) in order to promote collaborative and policy-oriented research, education and capacity development.
The proposed initiative will encourage extensive cooperation between universities and research institutions in the region with support from diverse funding sources including foundations, international financial organizations and overseas-aid agencies. The focus of these collaborative efforts will encompass issues related to environmental sustainability and multi-level governance (i.e., fostering stronger links between regional, national and local manifestations of governance).
The main objectives of the partnership/initiative include 3 pillars including:
(1) a joint masters degree programme to be developed through a coalition of universities in Asia and Pacific, with a strong online education dimension;
(2) joint research projects with a strong policy orientation to be supported by participating universities, research institutions, NGOs, and international organizations; and
(3) next generation broadcasting to disseminate the outcomes of the joint masters degree programme and joint research projects. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Australia - AusAID - UNAIDS/South East Asia and Pacific Inter-Country Team (SEAPICT)
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Asia and the Pacific Summary: The goal of the APLF is to minimise the impact of HIV/AIDS in the Asia-Pacific through increased political leadership for effective national and regional action against the epidemic. It will seek to involve leaders and decision makers from government and civil society in countries in Asia and the Pacific. In line with the UNGASS Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, the APLF will be part of the collective efforts to strengthen the momentum building in the region to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. [more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (DTIE)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: To improve the skills of decision-makers to implement sustainable consumption and production policies.
The initiative will create practical training materials (hardcopy and web-based), organize regional and national training courses, monitor results, and provide individual advice for participants. The training is directed at decision-makers in:
- Governments - in particular in developing countries and economies in transition;and
- Civil society.
The project will build upon the results of both UNEP's and Consumers International's ongoing programmes in the area of sustainable consumption and production. It will build on the regional networks of both organisations to implement national and regional training for capacity building for sustainable consumption and production.
Ongoing UNEP programmes in this area include the UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative, UNEP's Advertising and Communication Forum, the joint UNEP/UNESCO YouthXChange project, the UNEP SCOPE project (Sustainable Consumption Opportunities for Europe), UNEP's Environmentally and socially responsible procurement programme (ERSP) and the UNEP/CDG (Carl Duisberg Gesellschaft) initiative on Eco-design for small and medium-sized companies in developing countries.
Consumers International programme outputs on sustainable consumption include product testing, green claims and awareness raising activities. [more]
Lead Partner: Velo Mondial / Afribike Nederland
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Africa Summary: The Partnership/Initiative will develop a working model in South Africa and in Europe / USA. to establish a Bicycle Refurbishing Industry target of realizing more cycling, contributing to:
* CO2 emission reduction / climate change control /improving air quality
* Road safety & overall traffic management
* Poverty relief
* Sustainable economical development
* Accessibility and Emancipation
* Health promotion
The key action objectives of the Partnership/Initiative are to enhance sustainable development and improve the quality of life in urban rural communities. The Partnership/Initiative contributes to these objectives, by facilitating the implementation of a more sustainable transport system with a significant share of cycling.
The bicycle is a clean, non-polluting mode of transport that consumes no fossil fuels and little space, but still, as an alternative to the private automobile, ensures mobility and accessibility. Facilitating cycling is essential in combating poverty, since it saves time and increases income generation opportunities. The Partnership/Initiative presents a broad practical framework for the facilitation of cycling.
Cycling policy directly relates to the Agenda 21 objectives. Its cross sectoral benefits for the World Summit on Sustainable development relate to the quality of life, economic growth and social equity in urban and rural areas. It promotes economic independence.
It is foreseen that a successful program, once working in Africa, could be replicated in other regions if interest is forthcoming. [more]
Lead Partner: Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Caribbean Summary: The main objective of this partnership is the effective protection of the natural heritage of the Caribbean region through the conservation and sustainable management of their natural biodiversity. This will be done through partnerships - a priority component of this initiative is the partnerships between regional organisations, national government agencies, international and national NGOs, local communities and wider civil society with interest in strengthening and upscaling initiatives that have shown to be successful. Objectives for the partnership include:
* Building capacity to provide support for the recording, compilation, and dissemination of traditional knowledge in order to maximising the benefits accruing to the countries and communities that own this knowledge, as well as focus on the application of this knowledge for the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources.
* Significantly increasing regional population awareness of the importance of biological resources, and what is required for protection of this vital resource. Public education and outreach is necessary to help increase public awareness and lay the foundation for community level participation. Awareness programmes will also be directed to traditional owners and potential users of traditional knowledge.
* Assist in the development of capacity at different levels for the identification, conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity.
* Protecting traditional knowledge and IPR, enhancing income, and increasing the value of biological resources and local communities' traditional knowledge.
* Build capacity for the management of protected areas.
* Re-institutionalisation of traditional knowledge systems and traditional use of biological resources in the science, history and social components of formal and informal education curricula in the region. [more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Volunteers (UNV)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Caribbean SIDS Summary: The main objective of this initiative is to build the organisational management capacity of NGOs and CBOs engaged in Sustainable Development activities in the Caribbean region through providing technical support with National United Nations Volunteers.
The programme ultimately aims to strengthen regional collaboration among the SIDS (where organisational representation may not be found on each individual island), and where it is critical for international partners to coordinate their efforts, while at the same time placing emphasis on building local ownership/partnerships.
The initiative aims to lead to increased participation of civil society and government counterparts in sustainable development initiatives leading to improved conservation management in the areas of biodiversity, international waters, climate change and ozone depletion, together with improved quality of life and opportunities for local communities. [more]
Lead Partner: International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Development objective: To increase the productivity of water for food and livelihoods, in a manner that is environmentally sustainable and socially acceptable.
The immediate objectives of the Challenge Program on Water and Food:
1. Food security for all at household level.
2. Poverty alleviation, through increased sustainable livelihoods in rural and peri-urban areas.
3. Improved health, through better nutrition, lower agriculture-related pollution and reduced water-related diseases.
4. Environmental security through improved water quality as well as the maintenance of water related ecosystem services, including biodiversity.
These form the four key dimensions in which progress towards the overall goal is measured. [more]
Lead Partner: International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Development Goal: To increase food security and improve livelihoods in developing countries by unlocking the genetic potential and enhancing the use of public genetic resources in plant breeding programs through the concerted generation, management, dissemination, and application of comparative biological knowledge.
The Problem: The rate of increase in potential and realized productivity of keystone crops is leveling off. Rural and urban populations continue to grow. Chronic environmental stresses continue to limit productivity, while catastrophic events, such as floods, sustained drought, and fire, cause nearly total losses in crops, which in most countries are not buffered by food reserves. The development of state-of the-art (bio)technologies has been primarily a private initiative, and owing to access and ownership issues, this technology may never be fully available to help those who need it most.
The Opportunity: The genomics revolution is contributing unprecedented quantities of information about biological systems, while the information age is are providing unprecedented abilities to store, access, and process data; together they offer the ability to uncover new biological phenomena at the gene level. New molecular-based as well as traditional approaches will be developed and used to identify plant materials with superior genetic characteristics, in particular drought tolerance, to allow plant breeders to easily transfer these genes to crops for resource-poor farmers, especially farmers in marginal agricultural environments, to alleviate chronic and acute deficiencies in food production and quality. [more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Capacity 2015 is a new and important initiative. It will build upon experience gained during the ten years since UNCED to help countries to move from strategic planning for sustainable development to effective implementation.
Capacity 2015 is timely and necessary, as it will:
* Help countries to reap the benefits of globalization;
* Ensure that processes of sustainable development put in place during the 1990s are utilized to face the challenges of the 21st century;
* Strengthen the capacities needed to achieve or exceed the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The MDGs are a set of integrated and inter-related goals that contribute to sustainable development. Capacity 2015 will provide the enabling capacities to help countries progress towards the MDGs. [more]
Lead Partner: UNEP-UNCTAD Capacity Building Task Force
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Enhance human and institutional capacity of developing countries to deal with issues arising at the intersection of trade liberalization, environmental protection and economic development. The overall aim is to assist beneficiary countries in developing mutually supportive policies that would maximize the net benefits of trade for sustainable development. It also seeks close correlation with the Doha Work Programme as well as the related technical assistance programme administered by the WTO secretariat.
CBTF II is meant as the main vehicle for capacity building activities by UNCTAD and UNEP in trade, environment and development in support of the decisions to be taken by the WSSD. It has a regional emphasis, which accords with the expected outcomes of WSSD with regard to implementation of its work programme. [more]
Lead Partner: Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Carribbean Summary: The overall goal for the partnership is "increased and strengthened capacity of regional tertiary institutions to provide skills for the sustainable manage their island environment and natural resources".
This partnership initiative is intended to further advance the development of graduate education in the area of environment and natural resources management. Previously completed training needs assessments and strategies provide the basis for continued development of University of the West Indies and specifically the Centre for Environment and Development to further capacity building as well as to strengthen collaboration and information sharing amongst training institutions and organizations across and beyond the Caribbean..
The proposed strategy for capacity building is based on promoting synergies, partnerships and collaborative delivery at all levels. It will encompass agreed levels and types of training activities and programmes derived from the Training Needs Assessment finding from the 1999/2000 UWICED regional survey recommendations, include training pathways, strategies to supporting research work, competency levels, train-the-trainer strategies and post-graduate level training delivery mechanisms, and ongoing education. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Australia - National Oceans Office
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Pacific Islands Summary: This initiative will be closely linked to the Pacific Islands Oceans Initiative (2003-2007), which aims to "assist with the implementation of the Pacific Islands Regional Oceans Policy, to harmonise and build upon ongoing oceans-related programmes implemented within the region, and to identify and implement coordinated programmes of action that will address all priority aspects of the policy".
Australia is also engaged in implementing a broad oceans policy, Australia's Oceans Policy, which provides the framework for integrated ecosystem-based planning and management for all of Australia's marine jurisdictions. The policy is currently being implemented, primarily through the development of regional marine plans.
Australia, through its National Oceans Office, would like to learn from and offer advice and guidance to CROP and the Pacific island countries and territories in relation to the implementation of the Pacific Islands Regional Oceans Policy. Australia recognises that many of the lessons learnt and challenges faced in the development and implementation of regional marine plans and other elements of Australia's Oceans Policy would be of interest to the Pacific. [more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (UNCHS) - United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) - International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) - Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) - South Pacific Applied Geoscience Comm (SOPAC)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Main objectives:
To provide technical assistance and build the capacities of SIDS to manage vulnerability and build their resilience through integration of a comprehensive hazard and risk management approach into sustainable development planning. This will include development and operationalisation of measures of vulnerability, hazard identification and assessment, disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness as well as strengthen disaster response and recovery actions. [more]
Lead Partner: Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Caribbean SIDS Summary: The main objectives of the partnership are to:
1) Strengthen the capacity of Caribbean SIDS sanitation systems to provide basic sanitation and health services in an efficient, affordable and accessible manner;
2) Prevent, control and treat related sanitation health problems;
3) Reduce environmental health threats through effective transfer, access and use of environmentally sound technologies;
4) Integrate the sanitation and health concerns of the most vulnerable populations into strategies, policies and programs for poverty eradication and sustainable development;
5) Protect sensitive ecosystems from pollution. [more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) - International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Africa Summary: In preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), and in the framework of the New Partnership for Africa's Development, the partners of this initiative have agreed to jointly develop a capacity building programme on the applications of Information and Communication Technologies for the establishment of Environmental Information Systems for Sustainable Development in Africa.
This partnership aims at initiating a national and sub regional capacity building programme, on the applications of the new information and communication technologies for the establishment of environmental information management and monitoring systems in Africa. It aims at generating adequate conditions for the establishment of a coherent and efficient institutional framework, and the development and appropriation of technological tools for the accessing, exchange and circulation of useful information.
Significant efforts are being made to manage natural resources and the environment, involving scientific and technical research, the implementation of appropriate programmes and projects in the field, and the harnessing of local know-how. The results, in the form of products, information and data, represent a unique scientific, technical and cultural heritage for sustainable development and the fight against poverty in Africa.
However, it has to be recognized that this information heritage is often dispersed on account of sectoral compartmentalization at the inter-institutional level, resulting of an apparent lack of information at the local level which contradicts the existence in reality of an information heritage within national and international institutions or bodies specializing in Africa throughout the world. This loss of "institutional memory" is now recognized as being one of the major obstacles to sustainable development in Africa.
The general objective of this initiative is to provide countries and regional organizations with systems for the validation, circulation and harnessing of relevant environmental information with a view to strengthening the participative approach at the different decision-making and operational levels and thereby promoting enlightened decision-making.
Specific objectives of the partnership are to respond to the needs expressed by a large number of environmental stakeholders in developing countries. As well as being a technological tool, it seeks to encourage the environmental community to share experiences and information heritage, balancing information supply and demand.
This approach aims to create a synergy of both human and financial resources, establishing environmental information systems within national programmes such as national development plans, national environmental action plans, poverty eradication plans, etc. It will also catalyze the development of National and Regional Spatial Data Infrastructures (NSDI and RSDI) for use in planning and decision making for sustainable development [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Japan - Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Africa Summary: This initiative will contribute to expansion and enhancement of science and mathematics education in Africa, and strengthen and expand the network already formulated by JICA and African Countries. Also by the participation of ADEA (Association for the Development of Education in Africa), recommended by BEGIN (Basic Education for Growth Initiative) which introduced by Japanese Government. [more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Drylands Development Centre
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: To reduce poverty in drylands areas by 50% over the life of the project.
Secondary objectives
To strengthen the capacities of drylands communities to manage their natural resources and farming systems.
To improve livelihoods and food security of drylands communities.
To review and revise the legislative basis for access to land and other resources.
To improve access to markets.
To create the enabling environment needed to improve rural livelihoods.
To improve the access of communities to information through the media (print, radio and television).
To bring about legal and institutional reform to support the socio-economic development of rural communities. [more]
Lead Partner: Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Caribbean SIDS Summary: The overall goal of this Partnership/Initiative is to boost the capacity of the poor to satisfy the basic needs within a sustainable livelihoods framework.
The secondary objectives include:
* To strengthen the capacity of Caribbean SIDS sanitation systems to provide basic sanitation and health services in an efficient, affordable and accessible manner;
* Preventing, controlling and treating related sanitation health problems;
* Reduction environmental health threats through effective transfer, access and use of environmental sound technologies;
* To integrate the sanitation and health concerns of the most vulnerable populations into strategies, policies and programs for poverty, eradication and sustainable development;
* To protect sensitive ecosystems from pollution. [more]
Lead Partner: Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM) - Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Caribbean Summary: Overall goal of the initiative is "to catalyse action and strengthen partnerships at all levels to enable increased understanding and capacity by the region's population to respond to climate change, climate variability and sea level rise".
Primary objectives for this initiative are:
* Strengthening or developing, in partnership with the wide array of stakeholders in each country, national capacity to provide oversight of adaptation initiatives proposed in response to climate change and sea level rise in support of sustainable development and vulnerability reduction.
* Support the introduction of graduate scholarship and research, specialised diploma and certificate training by the tertiary institutions across the region.
* Mainstreaming climate change and adaptation into planning at all levels.
* Mobilisation of resources for national and local level adaptation measures, including the transfer of technology. [more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Volunteers (UNV) - United Nations Volunteers (UNV)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Volunteerism can play an important role in the development of cities and towns. It adds to the overall economic output. It is also closely related to the formation of social cohesion and capital. In addition, volunteering has important contributions in regard to the social aspects of urban development - e.g. as a basis for participatory processes.
However, contributions by volunteers are still largely overlooked and under-utilized. They are seldom fully recognized, promoted and supported by local authorities and by other urban decision-makers. For example, there are only very few cases of local authorities in developing countries that strongly and widely bring volunteerism on board of their policies and that explore fully its potential. Equally, the local volunteer sector is seldom organized in a fashion that would make the best of itself.
The initiative recognizes the aforementioned facts, and aims at helping to expand the contribution of volunteerism to urban development.
Its objectives are the following:
* To raise the awareness of urban policy- and decision-makers and other local stakeholders about the untapped potential of volunteerism in urban development and to motivate them to concretely explore ways to realise such potential.
* To support interested cities to concretely explore ways to increase the contribution of volunteerism to urban development.
* To support the establishment of links between different cities to exchange experiences and mutual support to further explore the contribution of volunteerism to urban development [more]
Lead Partner: Central Asian Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development (ICSD CA), Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (CAREC)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Central Asia Summary: The Central Asian Initiative (CAI) main goal is building favorable political, institutional, economical, information and other conditions for achieving the sustainable development goals in Central Asia.
The major objectives of the Central Asian Initiative are focused on addressing the problems of poverty, ecosystem degradation, other issues of Agenda 21 and Millenium Declaration.
To address priority environmental, social and economic problems in the sub-region through establishing partner relations between governments and sectors in the process of development and implementation of the Central Asian Sustainable Development Strategy and Convention.
Expected results:
To facilitate resolution of environmental, economic and social problems, including transboundary issues, through joint activities aimed at situation analysis, prioritizing, sub-regional projects and programs, institutional capacity building and training programs. [more]
Lead Partner: Royal Institute of International Affairs (RIIA) - Royal Institute of International Affairs (RIIA)
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Africa Summary: The objectives of the partnership will be discussed and agreed at the initial partnership workshop, to be held in the last quarter of 2002. The overall objective of the partnership is to bring together universities and governments from Africa and other countries, along with intergovernmental organisations, businesses and civil society groups to design and establish a network of Centres of Excellence for Technological Innovation for Sustainability in Africa (CETISA).
The work done by the centres is expected to include world-class sustainable development related scientific and technological research, collaborations with the private sector to bring technologies to market, and the development of integrated technological innovation strategies for meeting the needs of the poor. African stakeholders will lead the process of setting the specific objectives and identifying the priorities for the individual centres, with strong input and support from universities and other institutions with expertise in technological innovation from both Northern and Southern countries.
Building on existing initiatives and networks, the specific objectives of the partnership are to:
Develop a shared analysis of the potential roles that African universities can play in supporting the development and implementation of effective strategies for technological innovation to meet sustainable development needs;
Develop a shared analysis of the current capacity of African universities to contribute to the development of such strategies;
Develop proposals for strengthening the capacity of African universities to support the development and implementation of effective strategies for technological innovation to meet sustainable development needs, through establishing centres of excellence for technological innovation for sustainability in Africa, drawing on best practice models from around the world, and based on participative assessments of technology needs and opportunities;
Improve African universities' access to world-class expertise and best practice on technology research and policy making through creating strong linkages with universities in both developed and developing countries;
Facilitate the development of research partnerships and other collaborations (e.g. staff and student exchanges, joint implementation projects etc.) between African Universities and other universities and expert institutions in both developed and developing countries;
Engage host and donor governments in the design of the centres of excellence, and encourage investment in building the technological capacity of African Universities. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of United States of America - U.S. Enivronmental Protection Agency (USEPA)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Child survival hinges on having the basic needs to support life; among these, a safe and healthy environment is fundamental.However, children everywhere are negatively affected by adverse environmental conditions. Each year, at least 3 million children under age five die due to environment-related illnesses. Acute respiratory infections annually kill an estimated 2 million children under the age of 15 and as much as 60% of acute respiratory infections worldwide are related to environmental conditions. Diarrheal diseases claim the lives of nearly 2 million children every year; 80 to 90 percent of diarrhea cases are relates to environmental conditions, especially contaminated water and inadequate sanitation.
The United States is committed to improving children's health through increased collaboration among governments, non-governmental organizations, inter-governmental organizations, the private sector, communities, and UN agencies to protect children from environmental health threats. These environmental health threats include early childhood exposure to chemicals and toxic substances, unsafe and inadequate quantity of drinking water, lack of sanitation infrastructure and inappropriate hygiene, polluted indoor and outdoor air, and vector-borne diseases.
Such threats may lead to health effects ranging from developmental disorder and perinatal diseases, diarrhoeal diseases, respiratory diseases (e.g. asthma), insect-borne diseases (e.g. malaria) and unintentional injuries.
The goal of this multi-year initiative is to develop and use children's environmental health indicators to improve children's environmental health at global, regional, national and local levels. These indicators are similar to economic indicators and their development and reporting will help fill gaps between information on environment and information on health, putting into focus the special vulnerabilities of children. Ultimately, these indicators will help guide environment, health and development policy. Global children's environmental health indicators are effective tools to:
- Improve the quality of information available in order to facilitate the ability of policy-makers to improve environmental conditions for all children;
- Assess children's environmental health and monitor the success or failure of interventions to address children's environmental health problems; and
- Measure progress and contribute towards the achievement of the Millennium Development goals.
[more]
Lead Partner: Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia) Center, Inc.
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Asia and the Pacific Summary: The CAI-Asia Partnership is a multi-sector forum on urban air quality in Asia where partners from different sectors can meet, exchange experiences and engage in dialogue on urban air quality with the aim to promote better urban AQM in Asian cities.
The main goals of the CAI-Asia Partnership are:
(i) Encourage the development and adoption of sound science as the basis of urban air quality management (AQM);
(ii) Stimulate the development and implementation of policies, programs and projects on urban air quality;
(iii) Review progress in urban AQM in Asia and outline future priorities for urban AQM; and
(iv) Foster coordination and cooperation with other regional programs and initiatives on urban air quality management in Asia.
[more]
Lead Partner: Fondation pour la Protection de la Biodiversité (FoProBiM)
Geographical Scope: National Summary: This project will strengthen sorely needed environmental programs in the poorest and most environmentally degraded country in the Western Hemisphere and will empower previously voiceless and resigned community groups and individuals with the needed education and training in order to begin to defend their environmental and economic interests. Through cross-sectoral educational classes (basic marine sciences and conflict resolution), visits between stakeholder groups to strengthening the bonds between various stakeholder partners so they may begin to understand their commonality of interest in protecting and sustainably using area resources, and field activities it will link coastal community stakeholder groups (women¿s groups, farmers, fishers, hoteliers), scientists, and concerned public sector institutions in joint educational and stewardship activities in order to promote the improved management and protection of local watersheds and coastal and marine resources. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of United States of America - U.S. Agency for International Development - The Coca-Cola Company
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have created a unique partnership to address community water needs in developing countries around the world. In conjunction with local USAID Missions and Coca-Cola system partners (foundations and bottling facilities), and with support from the Global Environment and Technology Foundation (GETF), the “Water and Development Alliance” (WADA) has committed $14.3 million (2005-2010) thus far to achieve the following objectives in countries where both partners work:
- Establish participatory, sustainable management of water and watershed resources for domestic and productive use and conserve the ecosystems and biodiversity they support;
- Increase the level of access to sustainable, improved sources of water and sanitation services in communities around the world;
- Increase institutional capacity and investments in basic infrastructure;
- Foster improved behaviors in human sanitation and hygiene for positive health impacts.
WADA makes a conscious effort to maximize its impact by aligning multiple goals and pooling diverse resources in creative ways. The alliance makes strategic value-added investments that complement existing long-term development programs of USAID in collaboration with other donors and host country governments. Through engagement with WADA, TCCC also promotes long-term changes in water stewardship within the production facilities of Coca-Cola, as local bottlers are increasingly engaged and demonstrate their commitment to corporate principles by making their own investments to improve water use and management. Building on this, Coca-Cola foundations are able to enhance the positive benefits of their charitable contributions by aligning their community development efforts with WADA projects. The result is a combined partnership impact that is far more than the sum of the parts. [more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Capacity 21
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The main objective is to offer University postgraduate courses, through on campus tuition and distance tuition, on matters of direct relevance to SIDS, including environment, public policy, international trade, education, marine studies, international diplomacy and energy. [more]
Lead Partner: The Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean (CATHALAC) - The White Water to Blue Water Initiative (WW2BW)
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Latin America and the Caribbean Summary: The development objective of this project is to promote sustainable water and environmental management and human sustainable development. This will be achieved through capacity building, organizational strengthening, direct public participation, decentralized local governance, and small business development. Thus, the project proposes a participatory and bottom-up methodological framework to jointly address the water and environmental management issues, find feasible solutions and suggest new environmentally sound economic activities. Furthermore it is conceived as a project belonging to the local governments with which a protocol of cooperation has been established with CATHALAC. The application of participative strategies is expected to contribute to the strengthening of democracy and give a prominent role to achieving sustainable development, improving the quality of life of the population as a whole and especially the weaker strata including the indigenous Emberá tribe and women, and empowering them as stakeholders of their own destiny. [more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Water Governance Programme
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The CWI will support activities that ·
Protect natural resources and the environment while promoting the sustainable use and management of water resources in poor rural and peri-urban areas, and·
Improve quality of life and livelihoods for poor people through improved water supply and basic sanitation for poor communities and households in rural and peri-urban areas.
· Contribute to more effective management of local water resources to ensure long term availability of good quality water to meet needs for poor people¿s survival, health and economic activities. ·
Give priority to affordable improvements of existing systems, demonstrating innovative solutions, building local capacity; raising public awareness.
· Emphasize sustainable community-based water supply and sanitation activities and dissemination of affordable, sustainable, environmentally-friendly technologies and measures throughout a community. ·
Build local capacity; raising public awareness and demonstrating and disseminating appropriate technologies and measures.· Give priority to sustainable household-based sanitation activities dissemination of affordable, sustainable, environmentally-friendly technologies and measures throughout communities·
Develop financing mechanisms that will emphasize local service delivery for activities in water supply, sanitation and water resources management. [more]
Lead Partner: WIP Renewable Energies
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Africa Summary: The objective of the Competence Platform on Energy Crop and Agroforestry Systems - Africa (COMPETE) is to stimulate bioenergy implementation in Africa. COMPETE will establish a platform for policy dialogue and capacity building in the major multi- and bi-lateral funding organisations and key stakeholders throughout the bioenergy provision and supply chains.
As global fossil energy resources become constrained, bioenergy is emerging as a major potential resource to supply the energy services currently provided by these fossil fuels. Africa and Latin America have, in theory, very large areas of land resources ‘available’ for bioenergy production. However, the production of biomass for energy on the scales necessary to supply significant shares of national and global energy provision, will result in very substantial impacts (positive and negative) on the ecosystems and cultures of these target regions. The protection of biodiversity, rural livelihoods and management of scarce water resources are critical considerations in any analysis of the potential for sustainable bioenergy provision.
Therefore, a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary, assessment of current land use, energy demand and technology innovation focused on Africa, will be carried out to identify pathways for the sustainable provision of bioenergy, which will:
• improve the quality of life and create alternative means of income for the rural population in Africa
• aid the preservation of the critical functions of arid and semi-arid regions in Africa as intact ecosystems
• enhance the equitable exchange of knowledge between EU and developing countries
[more]
Lead Partner: Government of United States of America - U.S. Department of State - Government of United States of America - U.S. Department of State
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Central Africa- Congo Basin Summary: The Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP) aims to promote the sustainable management of the Congo Basins' forests and wildlife by improving communication, cooperation, and collaboration among all the partners. It does not intend to create new institutions, but through the partnership forum and transparency and information sharing to assist partners and their associates to work better. Principal objectives include the preservation of the biodiversity and ecology of the forest and wildlife, placing their protection and use on a sustainable basis for the long-term benefit of the region's inhabitants. Examples of support contemplated or extended by partners include support for community-based sustainable forest and wildlife management, better timber harvesting and processing technologies, ecotourism, increasing capacity in public and private sectors, improvement of law and law enforcement infrastructures, realizing their contributions to the alleviation of poverty. Target themes are provided by an updated regional master plan being developed by the Conference of Ministers of Forests of Central Africa (COMIFAC).The Congo Basin forest is the second largest intact tropical forest in the world. It purifies the air and it catches, cleans, and sends to the ocean the waters from millions of hectares of pristine forests upon which the Congo Basin's inhabitants depend for their livelihood and survival. Within their forests are an incredible number of species of plants, trees, animals, and insects. The forest is a global treasure whose resources must be protected and conserved for the environmental and economic good of the citizens of the Congo Basin, of Africa, and for mankind. The forest is concentrated in six countries in the Congo Basin Region.
The framework for the Congo Basin Forest Partnership is the Yaounde Declaration which was agreed to in 1999 by central African heads of State. That framework aims to protect forests through the harmonization of forest policies, protected areas, regulations against poaching and the adoption of practices for sustainable forest use. It recognized the ecological significance of key mixed landscapes which are critical to longer term forest conservation and sustainable management
[more]
Lead Partner: Government of Australia - Department of Environment and Heritage - Government of Japan - Ministry of the Environment - Wetlands International
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Asia and the Pacific Summary: This partnership provides a cooperative framework for conservation of migratory waterbirds and their inland and coastal habitats across the region. The partnership is guided by the Asia-Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation Strategy and associated Action Plans for conservation of Anatidae (Ducks, Swans and Geese), Cranes and Shorebirds. Each of these Action Plan calls for recognition of internationally important habitat for the relevant species group through inclusion in 'Site Networks'. The site network concept links internationally important sites across country boundaries and provides for exchange of information and training opportunities. It provides a powerful tool for cooperation to ensure that the chain of sites required by migratory birds along their migration route is conserved.
In order to achieve their potential, the site networks need to include at least 25% of internationally important sites across the migratory flyways. At present the networks include approximately 10% of internationally important sites. The WSSD partnership provides for expansion of the site networks across the region. [more]
Lead Partner: The World Conservation Union (IUCN), Invasive Species Specialist Group - The World Conservation Union (IUCN), Invasive Species Specialist Group
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional South Pacific Summary: The ultimate goal of the Cooperative Initiative on Invasive Alien Species (IAS) on Islands is to facilitate cooperation in key areas of invasive alien species management on islands. As a result managers, practitioners and policy makers will have increased capacity to define IAS problems, design solutions and implement them, at community, national and subregional level. This in turn, will generate a significant improvement in the conservation of island biological diversity.
Islands and other geographically and evolutionary isolated places are particularly vulnerable to the threat posed by IAS to biodiversity due to high levels of endemism and high numbers of threatened species. The rate of extinctions of native species has been higher on islands than anywhere else in the world. Threats to biodiversity also affect the ecosystem functions, and the cultural and economic use made of biodiversity by local communities. However, while islands are more vulnerable to invasions by alien species, they also present special opportunities for preventing new alien invasions and for eradicating or controlling existing IAS.
The development of this initiative will facilitate further progress on an international scale,
starting in the South Pacific sub-region and then expanding to a global approach by applying this sub-regional experience more widely. It will eventually encompass all islands that have significant biodiversity, including small island developing States, other island countries and any countries with islands.
* Objectives of the initiative are
* Build local, national and sub-regional capacity
* Systematically develop better techniques
* Share knowledge, skills and techniques internationally
* Make better use of existing information [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Japan - Ministry of the Environment - Conservation International (CI) - The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) - World Bank Group - Global Environment Facility (GEF) - MacArthur Foundation
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Latin America and the Caribbean - Africa - West Asia - Asia and the Pacific Summary: The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) advances the global conservation agenda on several fronts. The objective of the Fund is to serve as a catalyst to create strategic working alliances among diverse groups, combining unique capacities and eliminating duplication of efforts for a comprehensive, coordinated approach to conservation challenges. Investments support such projects as managing of protected areas and coordinating biodiversity corridors; training; transboundary planning; encouraging local dialogue with extractive industries; engaging in conflict resolution; priority setting and consensus building; strengthening indigenous organizations and facilitating partnerships between the private sector and protected areas. [more]
Lead Partner: UNEP - Dams and Development Project (DDP)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: To promote improved decision-making, planning and management of dams and their alternatives building on World Commission on Dams (WCD) core values and strategic priorities and other relevant reference materials. Through supporting multi-stakeholder dialogues at country-level, regional and global levels on improving decision making on dams and their alternatives with the aim of engaging all stakeholders with emphasis on governments,and producing non prescriptive tools drawing on all relevant existing bodies of criteria and guidelines for planning and management of dams and their alternatives, which can help decision makers. [more]
Lead Partner: International Sri Deep Madhavananda Ashram Fellowship - Sri Vishwa Deep Gurukul Maheshwarananda Ashram
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The Desert Rainwater Harvesting Initiative aims to provide a sustainable source of fresh water for rural communities through a number of innovative strategies designed to promote traditional rainwater harvesting technologies. Through the creation of culturally appropriate rainwater harvesting technologies for rural village communities throughout Rajasthan, the Desert Rainwater Harvesting Initiative will provide a global model for other semi-arid and drought affected regions of the world.
The Rainwater Harvesting activities started as a small scale project to construct a basic rainwater reservoir and provide water delivery via tanker to a few drought affected communities near one of the lead partners "Education and Research Centre's" in the Jadan region of Rajasthan. With the drought extending into its fourth year, it was soon realised through discussion with villagers and from increasing requests for water solutions in communities throughout the wider Rajasthan region that this was an issue on a much larger scale in urgent need of attention.
Objectives:
- Providing a sustainable source of clean drinking water - Water for agriculture to guarantee reliable locally produced food - Improved community health, (by reducing the level of waterborne diseases) - Industry (stimulate sustainable economic growth through a revival of the water dependant agricultural industries) - Improved local environment - (Reforestation, soil conservation, ground water recharge, protection of biodiversity) -
- The combination of providing a range of culturally appropriate rainwater harvesting technologies together with a Village Water Action Plan can be used as a model for drought affected communities throughout India and in other parts of the globe. The Desert Rainwater Harvesting Initiative will form part of a global sustainable development initiative that includes:
- To promote an awareness of the unique challenges faced by rural desert communities in developing nations that stimulates active support from Western countries including financial support, manpower, and the provision of expert advice. Partner organizations will hold regular fundraising initiatives to raise funds for this and related projects. [more]
Lead Partner: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Geographical Scope: National Summary: The main objective of this partnership is to design and demonstrate the application of a systematic and comprehensive approach for developing Country Profiles on Sustainable Energy Development (CPSEDs). Country leaders, policymakers and energy analysts are faced with the major challenge of assessing their energy systems within a sustainable development framework. Projects, plans, programs and policies need to be developed in a comprehensive manner taking into consideration not only economic issues but also social and environmental impacts as well as institutional and infrastructure requirements. The assessment represents a dynamic exercise in which country experts review past and current energy development and trends while exploring, at the same time, consistent images of future scenarios consonant with their specific sustainable development criteria and goals. This partnership initiative is a first attempt to produce such a comprehensive assessment.
While the CPSED approach could be applied to any country, the initial demonstration phase is being conducted in Brazil, Cuba and South Africa. In Brazil, the IAEA is working with CENBIO from the University of Sao Paulo and COPPE from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. In Cuba, the IAEA is working with CUBAENERGIA and in South Africa with the Energy Research Center of the University of Cape Town. International organizations cooperating in this partnership include UNDESA, OLADE and ECLAC.
At the national level, the partnerships are resulting in an overall assessment of the energy systems of participating countries, a review of potential future energy demand and supply scenarios and the definition of a comprehensive set of sustainable energy strategies specifically designed to help policy makers pursue their sustainable energy development objectives. Indicators for sustainable energy development (ISED) are being used to monitor each country's progress towards meeting national development goals.
Research and governmental organizations will have increased expertise in using energy planning tools and evaluation methodologies for the integrated assessment of energy systems and corresponding strategies and programs. The modelling framework and guidelines developed will permit other countries to construct systematically their country profiles on sustainable energy development.
[more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Assisting requesting countries to elaborate national rural energy development strategies. This activity will include the formulation of the strategy, discussions at multi-stakeholder workshops, and identification of national and international partners [more]
Lead Partner: Gender & Water Alliance
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: This partnership will be starting off with the development of modules, which will be tested in the regions before finalisation. Once finalised we will continue with Training of trainers in 4 language regions (English, Spanish, Portuguese and French) who will then in turn continue these services at the regional and country level. In the beginning, experts will develop the various modules. The partnership shall include organisations who would like to participate in the Training of trainers and continue as resource centres for the GWA when the trainings move to the countries and regions.
Goals
* Build capacity of GWA members and their partners for mainstreaming gender in IWRM
* Introduction and use of new methods, tools and materials for gender mainstreaming
* Building partnership with other stakeholders to mainstream gender
* Adjust and tailor make new methods, tools and materials for specific use of other stakeholders - e.g. local governments, private sector, TU, industry etc. for mainstreaming gender [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Indonesia - Directorate of Mineral Resources Inventory - Government of Indonesia - Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional ASEAN region Summary: The DAMD program is a government institutions capacity-building program, which will rovide a technical and financial assistances from developed countries to the ASEAN member countries in providing of mineral resources data, regulations and policies for sustainable development on mining and minerals utilization (sustainable mineral production and consumption).
The partnership would stimulate and promote:
a. Benefit of having an Integrated ASEAN Mineral Database as well as Mineral Data Base of member countries for sustainable mining and mineral utilization.
b. High efficiency of data management by using sophisticated technology of communication for exchange of information on mineral resources.
c. Synchronize a strategic regional cooperation on trade and investment of mineral commodities in ASEAN countries.
d. Strengthening cooperation of related and competent institutions on mining
and minerals in formulating regulations and policies of mineral resources
management. [more]
Lead Partner: Future Harvest Foundation - Future Harvest Foundation
Geographical Scope: Global 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]
Lead Partner: Kent State University
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Middle East: Euphrates-Tigris Basin 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]
Lead Partner: Government of European Community - European Commission, Directorate General Environment
Geographical Scope: Global 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]
Lead Partner: EVE-olution Foundation
Geographical Scope: Global 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]
Lead Partner: European Space Agency (ESA)
Geographical Scope: Global 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]
Lead Partner: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) - European Space Agency (ESA)
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Africa 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]
Lead Partner: Government of Sweden - Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) - Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)
Geographical Scope: Global 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]
Lead Partner: Eco Idea
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Europe and North America 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]
Lead Partner: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) - Uppsala University
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional The Baltic Sea region (Europe) and the Great Lakes region (USA & Canada) Summary: The goal is to develop a new educational package on Ecosystem Health and Sustainable Agriculture and transfer knowledge on sustainable agriculture, land use, rural development, ecosystem health and management to teachers, students and professionals in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR in Europe) and in the Great Lakes Region (GLR in USA & Canada). The Baltic Sea is affected by many different environmental problems from different sources. Discharges of nutrients from agriculture and waste-water treatment plants, as well as discharge from industries, and waste facilities leads to eutrophication and other forms of pollution. It is important to increase the knowledge of and improve the management of land and land use to prevent pollution from agriculture from reaching the Baltic Sea or the Great Lakes. It is also of great importance to use the whole ecosystem health concept to understand and prevent problems for the future. As the need of knowledge regarding ecosystem health, sustainable land use in rural areas, rural development and sustainable agriculture will be a precondition for our future, it is of great importance that this knowledge can be offered to students, teachers, experts and people working in government offices, ministries, municipalities and as agricultural advisors and agricultural managers in the Baltic Sea region and in the Great Lakes region.
The goal of the project is to transfer knowledge through a series of seminars and training courses and at the same time to develop a new educational package on sustainable agriculture, land use, rural development, ecosystem health and management to teachers, students and people working in government offices, ministries, municipalities and as agricultural advisors and agricultural managers.
This partnership cooperation is unique, as it not only represents the Baltic Sea region (Europe) and the Great Lakes region (USA and Canada) but it also represents a cooperation between agronomists, veterinarians, nature geographers, biologists, chemists, animal scientists, wildlife biologists, public health professionals, economists, business and policy experts etc. It also elaborates a new concept on sustainable agriculture and its part in the rural ecosystem. In this course package not only will sustainable agriculture from the different aspects represented by the above mentioned professions be covered, there will also be substantial knowledge on such subjects as land use and rural development, climate change, ecosystem health and the interactions between the wild and domestic animal populations, as well as public health components and poverty alleviation.
The EHSA project contributes to the implementation of the Baltic 21 Agricultural sector action programme, where education, training and information for farmers, future experts and advisors, policy makers and consumers figure as one of the most important actions. It is also a Baltic 21 Lighthouse project since March 2007. [more]
Lead Partner: Earth Charter Center on Education for Sustainable Development
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: General goal
"To provide education and training for local leaders and communities regarding the fundamental principles of sustainable development, and how to incorporate these principles into decision making processes. The Earth Charter will be employed as the primary educational instrument in this process. Toward this end the Earth Charter will be integrated into professional training and community development programs as a guiding framework for implementing sustainable development."
Specific objectives
Train community development leaders in utilising the Earth Charter as an educational tool for educational reform towards a more just, sustainable and peaceful world;
Integrate the Earth Charter into the curriculum of education systems;
Develop new curricular and educational materials that use the Earth Charter as the framework for understanding and promoting sustainable development. [more]
Lead Partner: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: - Building awareness on the importance of Education for rural people as a crucial step to achieve the Millennium goals of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education , gender equity and sustainable natural resources management
- Contributing to achieve the Education for All goals,
- Overcoming the urban/rural gap in education.
- Increasing access to basic Education for Rural People
- Improving the quality of basic Education for Rural People
- Fostering the national capacity to plan and implement ERP as part of National Education for All and Rural Development Plans.
- Building awareness on the importance of ERP as a crucial step to achieve all the Millennium Development Goals, and particularly, eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education and promoting gender equity.
[more]
Lead Partner: Government of Indonesia - Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Asia and the Pacific Summary: Energy is endowed with reasonable amount of energy resoures both non renewable and renewable energy. However most of our community has poor access to energy information which may lead to inefficient use of energy sources. Thus, it is necessary for Indonesia to seek all possible measures to enhance energy education in urban and rural areas. Accordingly, the main objective of this program is to promote energy education which we believe can improve energy literacy that may lead to better understanding on the energy situation and in turn will support our energy plicy especially that related to energy conservation program.
The project is expected to support the establishment of local, national and international networks on energy education related matters in order to encourage the better understanding of the role of energy for our national sustainable development. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Finland - Ministry for Foreign Affairs - Sistema de la Integracion Centroamericana (SG-SICA)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Central America Summary: The main objective of the Partnership is to promote the use of renewable energy sources and clean technologies in Central America in a sustainable manner, and to make energy services more accessible to the poor, particularly to those in rural areas.
Increased utilisation of renewable energy in the national and local energy mix, introduction of new energy and environmental technologies, utilisation of CDM potential, better energy sector management and increased access to energy services are the expected results of the Partnership. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of France - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Western Africa Summary: In Rio, the concept of sustainable development renewed this general-interest idea. It added the environmental variable to those of economics and social concerns. The regional integration of energy systems is a factor in sustainable development and in regional political stability.
This is especially true for the ECOWAS countries. In these countries, reforms in the energy sector, carried out within the framework of liberalization programmes, have ensured the autonomy of businesses and, because of this, have deprived governments of their means of supervising and directing the market. Several of these countries also have shortfalls in their capacity for electricity production. This may be structural (a lack of investment) or due to conditions (the effects of drought on the water levels behind dams).
Joined together in the West African Power Pool (WAPP), these countries are planning to reinforce the interconnections between their networks in order to optimize the use of their installed capacities, eliminate emergency purchasing of thermal units, make the most out of their regional resources, and increase energy efficiency.
Called upon to support the WAPP project, France intends to participate in order to:
- Help restore to the Member States a capacity for the design and coordination of energy policy;
- Assist the ECOWAS in acquiring the institutional and technical capacity needed to enable it to stimulate a regional policy, with complete independence;
- Contribute to setting up a legal infrastructure, which is an indispensable prerequisite to any physical investment;
- Promote, by means of investment programmes of any type that may emerge from the initiative (electricity production, especially those utilizing water or gas resources, transport and regulation equipment, etc.), an approach that respects the role of the Member States in environmental, social, and territorial development terms. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Australia - Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional South Pacific Summary: This partnership developed from the SPREP Pacific Meteorological Services Needs Analysis Project. project aims to strengthen the capacity of Pacific island countries in climate prediction. It includes Fiji, Tonga, Cook Islands, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Solomon Is, Kiribati and Niue. The project aims to upgrade the National Meteorological Services of participating island countries to enable them to provide better climate prediction support to industry government and the people of the Pacific island region. It will provide PC-based stand-alone statistical climate prediction services that are tailored to clients planning needs. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Japan - Ministry of Environment
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Asia and the Pacific Summary: Greenhouse gases emissions from the Asia-Pacific region are increasing while climate change can have serious impact on some countries in the region. In order to implement the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol, which is a first step for addressing climate change, the region requires fruitful policy dialogues among countries. Further, it needs to develop and implement a regional strategy addressing climate change. The Asia-Pacific Network on Climate Change (AP-Net) aims to facilitate policy dialogue, exchange of experiences, data, and information among all relevant actors in the region to build institutional capacity. The AP-Net has been operational since 1998, as both a gateway website and an individual website. The partnership will be formed to elaborate the AP-Net cooperatively and utilize it for implementation of joint activities among participant countries and organization. [more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Division of Technology, Industry and Economics - United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Division of Environmental Policy Implementation - Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The Partnership goal is to reduce the frequency and severity of environmental emergencies through more effective and integrated preparedness, prevention and response.
There are three main Partnership objectives within the overall Partnership goal of reducing environmental emergency frequency and severity:
* Engaging a broader range of stakeholders in emergency preparedness, prevention and response, and ensuring more effective means of co-ordination between existing stakeholders. This includes, for example, greater engagement of the private sector, and harmonizing efforts between stakeholders where appropriate.
* Developing and more effectively sharing knowledge related to environmental emergency prevention, preparedness and response. This includes, for example, understanding, sharing and using the `lessons learned¿ from disasters and emergencies.
* Building capacity, particularly in developing countries. This includes, for example, training and building the capacity to share and use information related to environmental emergencies.
[more]
Lead Partner: The World Conservation Union (IUCN), Environmental Law Programme
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Effective implementation will not occur without capacity building and 'good governance'. This initiative provides a framework for environmental law capacity building for sustainable development at all levels, one that serves to forge links between existing institutions and processes, and to facilitate 'good governance' for sustainable development.
The long term objective of this initiative is: 'In every country governments and stakeholders have the capacity to actively participate in the international policy debate, to implement what is agreed through co-ordinated policies, laws and institutions that respect the rule of law and to ensure effective compliance.'
To be effective, such a programme requires global coordination, regional and national delivery and effective collaboration through a partnership of leading international, regional and national organizations.
IUCN's Environmental Law Programme is the world's oldest and largest environmental law network. It has the ability to mobilise and co-ordinate the efforts of the best environmental lawyers and organisations from countries all over the world. This includes a rich network of partners drawn from UN agencies, IGOs, NGOs and academic instiutions, in addition to the 900 volunteers in 130 countries who comprise the IUCN Commission on Environmental Law.
The development of this co-ordinated programme provides a context within which to develop and promote specific projects, including ECOLEX, the web based access to FAO, IUCN, and UNEP environmental law and policy information, the IUCN International Academy on Environmental Law, and targeted publications and training projects.
This partnership programme for capacitiy building integrates the broad suite of partnerships that comprise the IUCN Environmental Law Programme, with a view to achieving maximum leverage and to get resources 'on the ground' as effectively and efficiently as possible. Identified partners (other than the IUCN CEL, ELC and Academy) are involved in specific projects rather than the entire initiative ie FAO, IUCN and UNEP re ECOLEX.
[more]
Lead Partner: ICLEI International Training Centre (ITC)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The program aims to build capacity at the local government level for implementation / application of Environmental Management Systems (EMS) as effective and strategic tools for improving the (local) environment in order to achieve tangible impacts and improvements through municipal activities.
The partnership comprises a middle- and long-term strategy for motivating, training and supporting local governments to use and implement EMS. The focus is given on making implementation happen. In addition, this program supports good governance, local sustainable development and stakeholder involvement.
* Initiate a global strategy for implementing Environmental Management Systems in local governments.
* Support local governments world-wide to succeed in implementation and application of Environmental Management Systems.
* Set up a global training and guidance program that offers support throughout the entire process of EMS implementation i.e. accompanying measures over a longer period of time ('handhold approach'). [more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The new five-year program of the Equator Initiative is based on seven core activities:
1) sponsoring the biennial Equator Prize that recognizes sustainable community innovation in the tropics and which will next be awarded at a high-profile ceremony in Malaysia in early 2004, 2) offering learning exchange grants so that grassroots practitioners can share their best practices with other communities in the tropics, 3) eco-entrepreneur mentoring to provide business and financial advice for small sustainable business startups, 4) assisting people and protected areas where communities balance generating sustainable livelihoods with conserving the biodiversity in or near World Heritage Sites, 5) making the community to policy connection by linking local sustainable development innovations with policies that affect them, and advocating to ensure these communities have the input, political support and funding that their contribution warrants, 6) fostering research and learning by enlisting networks of scholars and experts to use community best practices to inform policy and development priorities, and 7) mounting a global public awareness campaign to raise the profile of sustainable communities in donor countries and encourage adoption of community best practices in developing regions. [more]
Lead Partner: Secretariat of the 3rd World Water Forum (WWF3)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The 3rd World Water Forum is a golden opportunity for governments, experts, and NGOs to exchange knowledge, experiences and information on proven ¿Actions¿ to solve water problems in the world as well as to discuss wisdom, experiences, and information from each country.
Therefore, making use of this Forum can result in making a ¿commitment¿ to networking partnership among activities which have been conducted separately so far, building networking partnerships regarding water in the world, and establishing the framework for cooperation and collaboration.
In terms of technology, sharing experiences and knowledge can facilitate capacity building of each other. In terms of financing, sharing information can realize the investment effectively and intensively. Furthermore, this initiative will build the networking partnership, which will make it possible to use the initiatives as a means to disseminate, communicate and share information. [more]
Lead Partner: Global Water Partnership (GWP)- Mediterranean
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Mediterranean Summary: The majority of the population in the Mediterranean countries (particularly in the South and East) lives in rapidly expanding cities, with considerable proportions being at the lowest income brackets. In their everyday life, a large part of the urban population suffers from water quality and quantity inadequacies, serious sanitation problems and their dwellings are frequently endangered by natural disasters (e.g. floods). These problems are in turn responsible for improper livelihood conditions, serious deterioration of their health as well as the social and natural environment.
However, at present, many major water programmes fail to consider the needs of the poor and their contribution to poverty alleviation is by far less than it could be if proper provisions are build in during the design phase.
The Euro-Mediterranean Water and Poverty Facility (WPF) aims to:
- Assist in improving the livelihoods of poor people in urban areas of the Mediterranean, particularly in relation to water and sanitation
- Contribute in designing guidelines on social performance of water pricing
- Develop guidelines and expertise in order to facilitate the integration of poverty reduction components in major water projects of the region
- Develop functional tripartite initiatives to facilitate regional and national investment on water and poverty.
Key dimensions to be addressed by the WPF are: improving livelihoods, improving health, mitigating vulnerability of the poor under extraordinary conditions and events such as disasters related to water (e.g. floods).
The WPF will not handle or manage funding but it will elaborate, in collaboration with both donors and recipient partners and the competent authorities and bodies, common strategies and action plans and will support implementation mechanisms with the participation of a wide range of stakeholders. In addition, it will act as a multiplier for sustainable investment in the water sector securing, in parallel, to the extent possible, the introduction of poverty reduction components in water projects -particularly those financed by European sources. Finally, it may act as a match-maker between the supply and demand side in projects targeting water supply and sanitation for the urban poor. [more]
Lead Partner: Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) - Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Southern Africa Summary: The Expanded OUZIT Project is an integrated tourism development strategy aimed at establishing a comprehensive tourism and resource development zone in SADC.
The agreed project roll out would see the Expanded OUZIT project proceed on two parallel tracks:
a) As an integral part of the WSSD - focused on presenting SADC's TFCA's (Transfrontier Conservation Areas) - proposed and existing, as a unifying theme demonstrating the region's commitment and leadership in the preservation of bio-diversity, the conservation of two of the region's last remaining and largely untapped river systems (i.e. Okavango, and Zambezi), and as a vehicle for the upliftment and sustainable development for the rural poor.
b) The second track for progressing the Expanded OUZIT will be project driven and draw upon the TFCA scoping study.
Accordingly the agreed project roll out will:
1. Identify and prepare documentation for at least three (3) new large-scale investments in Resort Hubs around which to network TFCAs.
2. Support Capacity Building in the management and expansion of Gateway/Resort Hubs in participating member states.
3. Identify high profile and active global investors (including airlines and major tour operators) and organize a programme to engage them.
4. Address bottlenecks (infrastructure, policy, financial, load factors) impeding the provision of long haul and inter-regional air transport services. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Australia - Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources - Government of Mexico - Secretaria de Energia
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Asia and the Pacific Summary: The United Nations Economic and Social Councils notes that:
"Access to energy is crucial to economic and social development, and alleviation of poverty. Improving accessibility of energy implies finding ways and means by which energy services can be delivered reliably, affordably and in an environmentally sound and socially acceptable manner, particularly in meeting the energy requirements of developing countries, including their rural areas."
"Furthermore, accessibility of energy is conditioned by security of supply and demand as well as by market stability, all of which need to be addressed in terms of their regional and international dimensions, which include cross-border energy transport infrastructure, storage and shipment by tankers."
The EWG has long noted that ongoing initiatives must demonstrate added value in the context of the World Summit. As such, new partnership initiatives to be undertaken by the EWG, in the context of its ongoing activities, are particularly influenced by the need to improve accessibility to energy and the security of energy supplies.
In consideration of the challenges to improving accessibility to energy, and in response to the directives of APEC Energy Ministers, the EWG will pursue new initiatives to:
(a) Undertake longer-term actions to improve regional energy security
(b) Advance regional energy security through short-term actions
(c) Improve access to energy by addressing the barriers to the interconnection of power grids between APEC member economies
(d) Address sustainability through practical responses that encompass burning fuels more cleanly, capture and geological sequestration of carbon dioxide, the use of new and renewable energy technologies, and improving energy efficiency
(e) Explore new mechanisms for working more closely with international financial institutions to facilitate infrastructure development within the APEC region.
These activities will complement the EWG's ongoing efforts to diversify its energy mix, improve energy efficiency, deploy new and renewable energy technologies, promote clean energy, facilitate energy business and trade, improve data collection and information sharing and encourage private investment through policy and regulatory reform. [more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Europe and CIS - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Danube - Black Sea Basin Summary: The Global Environment Facility Strategic Partnership on the Black Sea and Danube Basin is an initiative aimed to address the root causes of environmental degradation in this region and promote investments and capacity building to return the Black Sea/Danube Basin environment to its 1960s condition. The GEF funded Partnership has been established with the cooperation of the World Bank, UNDP, UNEP and other multilateral and bilateral financiers and basin countries.
The elements of the Partnership are two UNDP Regional Projects and the WB Investment Fund:
* The Danube Regional Project (DRB): Strengthening the Implementation Capacities for Nutrient Reduction and Transboundary Cooperation in the Danube River Basin
* The Black Sea Ecosystems Recovery Project (BSERP): Control of eutrophication, hazardous substances and related measures for rehabilitating the Black Sea ecosystem
* World Bank Investment Fund for Nutrient Reduction in the Black Sea/Danube Basin
[more]
Lead Partner: Global Alliance - Global Alliance for Building Sustainability
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The Global Alliance for Building Sustainability was formed to accelerate the achievement of sustainable development in the land, property, construction and development sectors. The focus of GABS' work is on building and strengthening partnerships between policy makers and practitioners to promote participation and learning amongst the many stakeholders involved in these sectors.
Our shared vision is:
To create an operating environment throughout the four sectors of land, property, construction and development in which practitioners are enabled, and able, to implement partnerships, processes and practices that deliver sustainable development.
Key Objectives
* To bring together a truly global alliance of organisations committed and signed-up to actions for sustainable development. GABS members will sign-up to a Charter document.
* To provide a platform and communications hub for GABS members:
o To enhance their ability to work in partnership and promote their efforts with other stakeholders.
o To facilitate wider access to existing information, research, guidance, tools and best practice publications developed by member organisations and international agencies
o To create a global learning network through building partnerships that contribute to sustainable development across the 4 sectors
* To develop a set of tools and guidance material aimed at policy makers and practitioners to enhance working environments and partnership practices across the 4 sectors
* To develop a compendium of good practice examples of stakeholders working in partnership
* To establish performance benchmarks relating partnership practices and sustainable development to performance indicators for business, environment, government and communities
* To provide a platform for practitioners in land, property, construction and development to contribute to the World Summit for Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, 26 August - 4 September 2002)
* To provide a mechanism for ongoing progress to be monitored and reported to international agencies, national, regional and local governments, communities and business
* To develop a business plan for self-reliance in 18 months through a series of activities [more]
Lead Partner: International Maritime Organization (IMO)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: GloBallast Advanced, A programmatic framework for the sustainable continuity of the Global Ballast Water Management Project- Building regional partnership for the effective implementation of international arrangements for ballast water control and management in developing countries
Main objectives of the Partnership/Initiative
The ultimate goal of this Initiative is to assist developing countries to reduce the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens in ships' ballast water and to establish regional, integrated strategies to address the threat posed by invasive marine species.
This initiative is a logical extension of the initial project 'Global Ballast Water Management' (GloBallast) executed by IMO since March 2000 and will have a greater regional focus and more emphasis on integrated ocean and coastal zone management.
The development objectives of the Initiative can be summarized as follows:
* To build regional partnership towards effective implementation of global regulations on ballast water management and control;
* To develop and implement national and regional, integrated invasive marine species strategies and action plans; and
* To integrate regional ballast water and invasive marine species programmes with other marine and coastal environmental management arrangements.
This Initiative provides a framework to accomplish the above objectives ensuring that maximum benefits accrue from the foundation work achieved since March 2000 [more]
Lead Partner: The Global Conservation Trust
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The Global Conservation Trust is a public-private partnership whose goal is to establish an endowment fund that will provide a permanent source of funding for ex situ conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture around the world.
The goal of the Trust is also to assure the availability of genetic material that underpins the global food supply to all researchers and scientists in perpetuity. The Trust will permit international institutions and governments to keep three promises:
* In 1994, the International Agricultural Research Centres of the CGIAR made a commitment to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to hold the plant genetic resources collections housed in the Centres in trust for humanity;
* In 1996, 150 countries adopted the Global Plan of Action for the Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, pledging to develop and support a rational system of ex situ genetic resources conservation;
* In 2001, 140 countries adopted the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, a promise to promote the development of an efficient and equitable global system of genetic resources exchange. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Italy - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Directorate General for Development Cooperation (DGCS) - Government of United States of America - U.S.A - The World Conservation Union (IUCN) - I.A.O. - Istituto Agronomico per l'Oltremare
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Main objectives: To make geo-referenced data and projects on the environment and natural resources worldwide more accessible, with emphasis on developing countries, as a contribution to consolidating the capacities of both institutional and private decision-makers to effectively and sustainably address their development pursuits. This important objective focuses on relevant planning and management challenges which emerge within the framework of current sustainable development constraints, as summarized hereafter.
Global concerns about food security for the growing populations in developing countries, environmental degradation, and climate change or variation, and civil unrest have underscored the need for consistent and timely biophysical and socio-economic geo-information. Technological approaches are now available to quantify, document, and disseminate information on fluctuations and trends in the environmental parameters and natural resources, climate, changes in vegetation cover, surface waters, wetlands, land quality (including degradation), desert margins, settlements and other land cover features at local, national, regional and global levels.
A number of land cover classification projects have been developed to provide for the growing demand for information at global and regional levels. For example, recent products include the global land-cover dataset (IGBP-DIS for coarse resolution information) and Africover in East Africa for detailed high-resolution assessments. These and other more localized projects produce potentially valuable information on the current status of the environment and natural resources which could help assess trends through time or predict and model future development scenarios. This information from diverse sources, however, can be applied more effectively toward meeting sustainable development needs especially relative to capacity building and applications.
There is a great need to bridge the digital and knowledge divide by consolidating the capacity of both institutions and local-level users to actually manage the technical implications of accessing, integrating, up-dating, and adding local value to geo-information that is used in decision-making. Specific regard must be given to the local and sub-national as well as regional and/or global levels in the provision of on-the-job training, the development of integrated databases, model development, networking, and remote sensing testing and interpretation. [more]
Lead Partner: Sustainable Development International (SDI) - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)/Iraq
Geographical Scope: National Summary: Goal: To have a sustainable, stable and prosperous Iraq where all present and future generations can live in peace and harmony with other nations and where all resources are utilised in a sustainable manner catering to the well-being of Iraq’s current and future generations and ecosystems.
Objectives:
1. Promotion of the formulation of Iraq National Sustainable Development Strategy (INSDS) document for Iraq.
2. Effective cooperation mechanism among relevant stakeholders, including public authorities, intergovernmental organisations, private sector, including small and large businesses; local and international NGOs, children, youth and women's groups, labour organisations, UN agencies, and others working in the field of sustainable development.
3. Promotion of knowledge building, awareness, networking and partnerships among relevant groups of Iraqi Society about sustainable development;
4. Promotion of a problem-solving applied research programme at the national and local levels;
5. Promotion and contribution to the formulation, development and implementation of a National Sustainable Development Strategy Framework (NSDSF) for Iraq,
6. Promotion of Sectoral Sustainable Development Strategies (SSDS) at the national and local levels;
7. Development and Implementation of Poverty Alleviation Strategy;
8. Promotion of an Environmentally Sound Technology Plan for Iraq,
9. Establishment and promotion of an Integrated Pilot schemes package for the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Iraq that could be funded by donor countries, including education, health, clean energy, agriculture, housing, and capacity building;
10. Establishment of a Sustainable Iraqi Community Fund (SIrCoF) to contribute to the sustainable reconstruction and development of Iraq;
11. Establishment of intensive sustainable development capacity-building activities, including a comprehensive capacity building/development programme that should complement the on-going similar activities undertaken by public and private agencies in Iraq, as well as benefiting from other programmes such as the UNDP Capacity 2015.
[more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The Global Land Tool Network’s (GLTN) main objective is to contribute to poverty alleviation and the Millennium Development Goals through land reform, improved land management and security of tenure. The GLTN originates from requests made by Member States and local communities world-wide to the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), who initiated the network in cooperation with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the World Bank, in 2006.
The core values of the GLTN are pro poor, governance, equity, subsidiarity, affordability, and systematic large scale approach as well as gender sensitiveness.
Lead Partner: Velo Mondial - Velo Mondial
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The Partnership/Initiative will execute a 10 year program on each continent, to be evaluated mid term in 2006 and finally in 2012, aiming at the development, promotion and implementation of Cycling Master Planning in countries and cities all over the globe with the aim to contribute to:
* CO2 emission reduction / climate change control /improving air quality
* Road safety & overall traffic management
* Poverty relief
* Sustainable economical development
* Accessibility and Emancipation
* Health promotion
The key action objectives of the Partnership/Initiative are to enhance sustainable development and improve the quality of life in urban communities. The Partnership/Initiative contributes to these objectives, by facilitating national and local authorities to develop and implement a more sustainable transport system with a significant share of non motorized modes.
The bicycle is a clean, non-polluting mode of transport that consumes no fossil fuels and little space, but still, as an alternative to the private automobile, ensures mobility and accessibility. Facilitating cycling is essential in a pro-poor policy, since it saves time and increases income generation opportunities. The Partnership/Initiative presents a broad policy framework for the facilitation of cycling.
Cycling policy directly relates to the Agenda 21 objectives. Its cross sectoral benefits for the World Summit on Sustainable development relate to the quality of life, economic growth and social equity in urban and rural areas. [more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The objective of the Global Network on Energy for Sustainable Development (GNESD) is to make it easier for Members to contribute to the provision of environmentally sound energy services underpinning sustainable development. The Network does so by supporting amongst its Members information exchange, learning, analysis and study, policy support, and capacity building.
Results expected include:
1. A network of energy/development/environment institutions in developing, transition, and industrialised countries that increases contact and co-operation between relevant institutions/agencies and financing bodies, and national and regional experts on a range of energy for sustainable development topics.
2. A general strengthening of all Members in their ability to acquire, assimilate, and apply existing knowledge and experiences made available through the Network.
3. Provision of quality advisory services by Network Member institutions to public and private sector decision-makers on a range of energy for sustainable development issues, resulting in better, more informed energy policies and decisions that support the wider goals of sustainable development.
4. Improved understanding of the links between sustainable energy and other development and environment priorities, and technology and policy options, leading to better articulation of practical policies that can be adopted, so as to promote energy for sustainable development, and
5. Changes in policies and programmes of governments and their development co-operation partners, and private sector investments, so that these favour energy for sustainable development approaches. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Australia - Bureau of Meteorology Research Centre
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: To establish and sustain ocean data gathering, analysis and predictive systems for the marine environment, accessible to all nations, providing safer and more efficient ocean operations, improved safety and risk management in the marine environment and coastal seas, as well as an improved scientific and information basis for marine and ocean policy development.
The Project will establish a practical and effective approach to providing routine ocean services, supported through the initiatives and technology of developed nations, but delivering products that are widely accessible and of benefit to all coastal states. Products for the open ocean and coastal regions will contribute to and benefit marine ecosystem management, coastal ocean services and warnings, and safety and risk management for the oceans. GODAE will demonstrate the benefits of a cooperative, integrated approach to development of sustained infrastructure that can be shared and exploited by all nations. Coastal states will have immediate access to data and model interpretations of ocean currents and ocean conditions, much as is the case for weather prediction. Through 2003-2005, GODAE will demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of an integrated approach to oceans issues and provide a framework for informed decision-making and policy development. Ongoing and timely access to relevant information will enable early detection of environmental changes and reduce the uncertainties associated with management of the marine environment. [more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) - United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) -Technical Focal Point
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The goal of the WSSD GHS Partnership is to mobilize support and catalyze partnerships for coordinated activities at the global, regional and national levels to strengthen capacities in developing countries and countries in transition towards effective implementation of the GHS. In the medium and long-term, the Partnership is expected to lead to a decrease in environmental and human health related effects attributable to the use of hazardous chemicals. It thus makes a direct contribution to important objectives of sustainable development including protection of marginalized groups, protection of water supplies and drinking water, and poverty eradication.Specific objectives of the Partnership include mobilization of resources for:
* awareness raising, capacity assessment and GHS implementation at the regional level;
* awareness raising, capacity assessment and GHS implementation at the national level; and
* development of GHS guidance, training and resource material. [more]
Lead Partner: Energy Sector Management Assistance Program - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: GVEP brings together developing and industrialized country governments, public and private organisations, multilateral institutions, NGOs, civil society organizations, consumers, and others to increase access to energy services for those unserved and underserved in a manner that enhances economic and social development, and reduces poverty.
GVEP objectives are fourfold:
· To catalyse country commitments to energy for poverty reduction projects and programmes, and to guide policies and investment in this area.
· To bridge the gap between investors, entrepreneurs, and customers in the design, installation, and operation of replicable rural and peri-urban energy projects.
· To serve as a one-stop-shop for information, best practices, and lessons learned on the effective development and implementation of energy for poverty reduction projects and programmes.
· To create and maintain an effective Global Village Energy Partnership organisational structure.
[more]
Lead Partner: Global Water Partnership Secretariat
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The Global Water Partnership is a working partnership among all those involved in water management: government agencies, public institutions, private companies, professional organizations, multilateral development agencies and others committed to the Dublin-Rio principles.
Today, this comprehensive partnership actively identifies critical knowledge needs at global, regional and national levels, helps design programs for meeting these needs, and serves as a mechanism for alliance building and information exchange on integrated water resources management.
The mission of the Global Water Partnership is to "support countries in the sustainable management of their water resources."
The GWP's objectives are to:
- Clearly establish the principles of sustainable water resources management,
- Identify gaps and stimulate partners to meet critical needs within their available human and financial resources,
- Support action at the local, national, regional or riverbasin level that follows principles of sustainable water resources management,
- Help match needs to available resources.
Although it is widely understood that water should be holistically managed, it was not until the Dublin Conference on Water and the Environment in 1992 and the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 that a more comprehensive approach to water management was judged necessary for sustainable development. This awareness, together with the need for participatory institutional mechanisms related to water, called for a new coordinating organisation. In response to this demand, the World Bank, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) created the Global Water Partnership (GWP) in 1996.
This initiative was based on promoting and implementing integrated water resources management through the development of a worldwide network that could pull together financial, technical, policy and human resources to address the critical issues of sustainable water management. [more]
Lead Partner: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The overall goal of the project is to identify and safeguard Globally Important Ingenious Agricultural Heritage Systems and their associated landscapes, agricultural biodiversity and knowledge systems through catalyzing and establishing a long-term programme to support such systems and enhance global, national and local benefits derived through their dynamic conservation, sustainable management and enhanced viability.
To achieve this goal, the main objectives are to:
1) Leverage global and national recognition of the importance of GIAHS and institutional support for their safeguard;
2) Build capacity of local farming communities and local and national institutions to conserve and manage GIAHS, generate income and add economic value to goods and services of such systems in a sustainable fashion;
3) Promote enabling policy, regulatory and incentive environments to support their conservation, evolutionary adaptation and viability.
The project will be implemented in 10 pilot systems worldwide. The long term programme will build on the experiences and lessons learnt in up to 10 pilot systems/sites.
The project development phase (PDF-B) (18 months 2004-2005) will
- select the 10 initial systems/sites;
- develop a methodological framework and a step by step approach for the participatory development and implementation of the framework strategy and actions for a ¿dynamic conservation¿ of the pilot systems;
- establish participatory mechanisms and processes and design Pilot Frameworks in each pilot system and country
- develop a communication strategy and plan;
- leverage global and national support and co-funding arrangements for the full scale project
- develop the full project executive summary and project document. for the implementation of the programme.
The fullscale project (2005-2010) will develop and test the methodologies for dynamic conservation and sustainable management of GIAHS in 10 pilot systems through implementation of the pilot frameworks. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Indonesia - Ministry of Environment
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Asia and the Pacific Summary: In a global village where we live at present, it is in everyone's interest that any society ideally meets the above-mentioned conditions. However, some societies have difficulties achieving those conditions, despite their best effort to actively seek and work towards these goals. On the other hand, some societies have the capability and means to assist other because of their experience, working knowledge, as well as available resources. Therefore, a proactive effort to achieve such conditions should becomes prime vehicle for global cooperation. The objective of Good Governance in Sustainable Development (GGSD) Program is to assist societies to develop on effective government within a democratic system, and to implement sustainable development principles through global partnership
Objectives:
To enhance local implementation actions of the Rio Resolutions and Agenda 21 for real progress towards sustainable development
To assist societies to develop an effective government within a democratic system and to implement sustainable development principles through global partnerships by way of:
1. Empowering the public to enable them to effectively participate in decision making for public interest and to undertake local initatives;
2. Developing and strengthening good governance at the local level;
3. Developing the capacity of public and the government at the local level to cooperate in increasing welfare of the people. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Canada - International Development Research Centre (IDRC) - The Inter Islamic Network on Water Resources Development and Management (INWRDAM)
Geographical Scope: Regional
- West Asia Summary: Main goal: To legitimize the safe use of treated greywater in urban and peri-urban agriculture and to validate its use as a water demand management strategy
Specific objectives:
- To increase greywater recovery and make it more convenient and safe to handle To expand implementation of greywater treatment and use systems in the region
- To improve gardening/permaculture practices
- To strengthen local capacity to safely and efficiently reuse greywater for urban agriculture
- To promote changes in policies to encourage greater greywater reuse in the participating countries
- To minimize environmental impacts associated with greywater reuse and ascertain whether greywater treatment is necessary and cost-effective
- To strengthen the regional network that is forming between projects
- To evaluate the impacts of the project by conducting post-project evaluations
[more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), GPA Coordination Office
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The H20 Partnership aims to further the environmental, economic and social importance of oceans, coasts, and islands, and to facilitate the realization of the Montreal commitment by governments to mitigate water pollution and resource degradation from the hilltops to the oceans.
The overall objectives of the H20 Partnership include:
* To facilitate Governments and the international community recognition of the linkages between the freshwater and marine environments and to foster closer collaboration and partnerships between river basin authorities and coastal managers since action must be taken on land to reduce, remediate and prevent pollution and degradation of the coastal and marine environment.
* To assist countries and regions in making better use of existing domestic resources and in raising new and additional financing, particularly within the context of the regional seas
* To assist countries and regions in evaluating alternative options for funding projects that address priority problems of river, coastal and marine pollution.
* To assist Governments and intergovernmental organisations in identifying opportunities for effective partnerships, including through the establishment of specific cooperative activities, alliances and networks with financial institutions.
* To assist the public sector in involving the private sector and the civil society in addressing priority problems of river, coastal and marine pollution.
* To involve civil society further in the implementation of the Global Programme of Action Wastewater Emission Targets (WET) [more]
Lead Partner: International Labour Organization(ILO) Programme on HIV/AIDS
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Caribbean Summary: The aim of this project is the prevention of HIV/AIDS among workers and in the world of work, the enhancement of workplace protection and the reduction of the adverse consequences of the epidemic on social, labour and economic development in the Caribbean. This will be achieved in part by:
* contributing to the overall objective of reducing the rate of spread of HIV in the Caribbean;
* developing a comprehensive, co-ordinated, sustained and strategic response to the impact of HIV/AIDS on the world of work in the Caribbean, established through the involvement of the social partners;
* providing a better understanding of the implications of the HIV/AIDS epidemic for the world of work in the Caribbean;
* mobilising and building the capacity of government (with more involvement of Ministries of Labour), employers' and workers' organisations as well as persons living with HIV/AIDS to educate, discuss, raise awareness, develop and implement policies and programmes on HIV/AIDS;
* reducing stigma and discrimination and improving the care and support for those living with HIV/AIDS among job seekers, workers and their families;
* increasing competence to develop proposals concerning the financial costs of the epidemic and to assess the impact of HIV/AIDS for the social security system. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Canada - Environment Canada
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The overall goal of the Health and Environment Linkages Initiative is to facilitate and enhance effective actions to reduce adverse environmental impacts on human health. The goals of the initiative can be defined as:
1) defining the specific requirements of decision-makers in environment and health particularly in developing countries;
2) making the necessary scientific information accessible to decision-makers;
3) adapting existing methodologies that support decision-making, so they are applicable in a range of settings;
4) training decision-makers and their support staff to use decision-support tools
5) carrying out pilot studies to gain hands-on detailed information, and to test and refine the tools developed; and,
6) support all phases of the initiative by communicating HELI's aims, activities and outputs, as well as relevant knowledge and experience gained, via appropriate media and media aids including the production and dissemination of a tool kit in both printed and electronic formats.
The tool kit would provide practitioners with comprehensive and accessible guidelines on how to reach evidence-based decision on issues with a potential health and environment linkage, and how to evaluate relevant outcomes. [more]
Lead Partner: Healthy Environments for Children Alliance Secretariat- World Health Organisation (WHO) - World Health Organization
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: HECA'S DRAFT MISSION STATEMENT: A world-wide alliance to intensify global action on environmental risks to children's health that arise from the settings where they live, learn, play and sometimes work, by providing knowledge, increasing political will, mobilizing resources, and catalysing intense and urgent action.
The aim of HECA is to build a global alliance to tackle key environment and poverty-related risks to children's health that are responsible for the loss of millions of healthy years of life each year. The Alliance will focus on, and catalyse action within the environments where children spend their time (i.e., the home, the school, and the community). Particular attention will be given to improving the home environment - traditionally neglected - but where children spend a major part of their young lives, and where the most significant health threats converge. In each setting, the alliance will focus on health risks associated with lack of access to clean water, to sanitation and to clean indoor air and outdoor air. It will also act to reduce risks associated with disease vectors, hazardous chemicals, and non-intentional injuries. Addressing the multiple risks in each setting will necessitate taking a holistic, integrated approach, as health risks are complex, and often interconnected. This approach also provides a framework to highlight the links between issues, and to facilitate action, in an integrated fashion, on the range of health risks in a given setting.
The Alliance will catalyze action that is both participatory and effective, stimulating a world-wide movement. It will concentrate initially on areas where it can add the most value - broadening in scope as it develops.
The Alliances core functions include:
* Ensuring advocacy and awareness raising;
* Providing knowledge, information exchange and expertise for decision-making;
* Promoting effective policies and action, at all levels, in all sectors;
* Supporting countries and communities in creating and maintaining healthy environments for children;
* Monitoring and evaluating progress. [more]
Lead Partner: National Disaster Management Institute (INGC)
Geographical Scope: National Summary: The overall goal is to strengthen the institutional capacities in Mozambique in the field of Disaster Preparedness and management. The country's weak economic infrastructure is aggrevated by the frequent natural disasters such as floods, cyclones, droughts, bush fires, and various epidemics etc. and Mozambique has to deal with complex emergency situations.
The primary aim of this partnership is a capacity-building program for prevention and management of natural disasters with the aim to strengthen the institutional capacity of INGC and its cooperating authorities by identifying the training needs of the different target groups and develop awareness-raising programs, knowledge transfer, and training skills for multiplicators. This regional pilot project is based on three pillars: strengthening the coordination and management capacities in terms of awareness, knowledge and skills of national institution; enhancing the existing cross-border cooperation and in the long-run reduce the obstacles and difficulties imposed by different political and administrative cultures ; lead to closer cooperation within the region and contribute to disaster management and prevention; support and strengthen regional assistance such as, information and communications systems with respect to early warning and alert; and mapping risk areas, raising awareness and organizing population, training multi-disciplinary rescue teams, technical assistance and logistical resources for preventing and fighting disaster as well as good network of database centres to analyse pertinent information and act as the source for disseminating information related to impending disasters. [more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The overall goal of this initiative is to increase provision of sustainable energy services for SIDS over a ten-year period, in order to reduce the outflows of foreign exchange and to protect the environment, in keeping with the Millennium Development Goals.
Secondary Objectives:
The secondary objectives are as follows:
* Transfer of appropriate technology.
* Develop new technology based upon indigenous know-how.
* Promote sustainable energy use through improved sustainable development policies.
Expected results include:
* Reduced dependence by SIDS on imported energy sources, in particular fossil fuels.
* Increased availability of reliable cost effective and sustainable energy supplies.
* Increased development of adequate human and institutional capacity to plan and manage the energy sector in SIDS.
* Realization of cost savings in the medium- to long-term (5-10 years), from investments made in environmentally safe technologies resulting in more efficient use of national resources for social and economic development.
* Inter-regional cooperation and collaboration among SIDS, building on experiences, expertise and indigenous know-how.
* Increased focus on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as established in National Communications on Climate Change, submitted by the majority of SIDS, as obligations under the UNFCC. [more]
Lead Partner: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The project on Indicators for Sustainable Energy Development (ISED) has three major objectives: (1) to fill the need for a comprehensive and consistent set of energy indicators that can be used in an effective manner to assess progress towards a sustainable energy future, (2) to assist countries in energy and statistical capacity building necessary to induce energy sustainability and (3) to supplement the general indicators effort being undertaken by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development.
The project consists of two phases. The major objective of the First Phase was to identify and define a set of indicators for sustainable energy development applicable worldwide.
The Second Phase of the project aimed to demonstrate the practical applicability and utility of the ISED set as a policy tool in a variety of analytical cases. The objectives of this phase include: (1) to test the original set of energy indicators in a number of countries; (2) to provide assistance to countries in the implementation and use of the ISED for the formulation of their energy strategies in conformity with their sustainable development criteria; and (3) to incorporate the ISED into the relevant databases and analytical tools so that energy indicators can be used in on-going statistical analyses (capacity building). [more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The main objective of the programme will be to provide significant opportunities and scope for the deployment of energy efficiency technologies in developing countries.
Expected results include:
That developing countries and economies in transition integrate energy efficiency strategies for can GHG emissions reduction and control in a way it enables their participation in CDM and JI. [more]
Lead Partner: International Association of Hydrogeologists
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: WIDER OBJECTIVE
To contribute to the multifaceted efforts in global cooperation through providing for the planets needs in sustainable environments, economy, social and political security, based on integrated water resource management, including internationally shared aquifers.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
To establish a network of multidisciplinary experts for identification and definition of internationally shared aquifers
To promote scientific, legal, socio-economic, institutional and environmental assessment of internationally shared aquifer resources
To identify several Case Study internationally shared aquifers and support experts teams of multidisciplinary experts to conduct detailed projects
To learn, from Case Studies, the issues relevant to good management of internationally shared aquifers resources
To raise the awareness of policy and decision makers of the significant and importance of transboudary aquifer resources, forming a critical component of the world freshwater resources
To disseminate the lessons learnt from Case Studies and encourage policy and decision makers to incorporate appropriate internationally shared aquifer management
To promote cooperation among nations that share internationally shared aquifers, through making available scientific tools, water resource management options and methodologies that apply to such aquifers [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Italy - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Directorate General for Development Cooperation (DGCS)
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Asia and the Pacific Summary: General Objective: to contribute to social and economic development of the populations of the Hindu Kush - Karakorum - Himalaya mountain complex and to the environmental conservation of the region by consolidating institutional capacity for systemic planning and management of the territory, focusing on:
1. reduction of poverty
2. conservation of biodiversity
Specific Objective A: provide instruments (knowledge of the territory, the populations and the technologies for systemic data management) to facilitate the consistency of various national-level actions in area-based planning and management, within the framework of regional level systemic planning and monitoring.Specific Objective B: establish a process of application of the acquired capacities and Decision Support System (DSS) by individual countries in systemic planning and management of mountain areas at a local/national or transboundary level, within the framework of sustainable mountain development.Individual components of these objectives include:* Create a coordinated system for collection and analysis (monitoring) of natural resource data;* Provide decision makers of competent national and local administrations with an instrument (DSS) for systemic territorial planning and management;* Build local institutional capacity to study, analyze and manage natural resources, favoring local community involvement in these processes. [more]
Lead Partner: International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) - United Nations Inter-agency Secretariat for the International Strategy
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The main objective of the Partnership Initiative is to strengthen existing early warning systems as an element for disaster risk management strategies at global, regional and national levels and to highlight their important relation to sustainable development.
There is a growing recognition among many countries that natural disasters increasingly constitute a threat to sustainable development. The impact of natural disasters on increasingly vulnerable societies not only deprives gains in development but also constitutes a significant obstacle to the attainment of key goals identified in the UN Millennium declaration in 2000, in particular those related to environmental protection and poverty reduction.
Throughout the process of preparing for the upcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) early warning has received significant attention and the references are many. In general, the WSSD has called for the inclusion of disaster and risk reduction, especially the development and strengthening of early warning systems and information networks, within the ongoing dialogue of sustainable development. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Canada - Natural Resources - Government of South Africa - Department of Minerals and Energy
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The objective of the Intergovernmental Forum is to enhance and promote the contribution of the mining, minerals and metals sector to sustainable development.
The functions of the Intergovernmental Forum are consultative and advisory based on the principles of voluntary partnership. The Forum provides governments with a framework in which to discuss the opportunities provided by mining, minerals and metals and to respond to the challenges they pose. The Intergovernmental Forum will meet to share experiences and information, to consider and to provide advice and, where appropriate, make recommendations for consideration by governments, intergovernmental bodies and others. The Intergovernmental Forum will meet at high level or officials level, as appropriate. [more]
Lead Partner: Partnership for Environmental Management of Seas East Asia (PEMSEA)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional East Asia Summary: Main objectives of the Partnership/Initiative
The overall objective of the partnership initiative is to implement the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA). The objective will be achieved with the accomplishment of the following:
1. Endorsement of the SDS-SEA by national governments;
2. Development and adoption of complementary national coastal and ocean strategies and policies;
3. Formulation and implementation of national action programs, putting national ocean and coastal strategies and policies into operation; and
4. Creation of a sustainable financing mechanism to support the implementation of action programs focusing on transboundary concerns at the sub-regional and regional levels.
The main result of the partnership initiative will be the establishment of a non-convention, partnership arrangement among governments of the East Asian Seas region for the implementation of improved coastal and ocean governance of their shared sea areas and resources. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of United States of America - Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Improves the care of people living with HIV/AIDS in heavily affected countries by increasing the capacity for training of HIV/AIDS care providers, including physicians, nurses, clinical administrators, and other key personnel. The IAETP enhances training capacity in the areas of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of HIV disease, including the prevention of perinatal transmission and the prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections, including TB. The IAETP also develops training and provides technical assistance on the planning, design, and management of regional or national HIV/AIDS training programs and HIV/AIDS care facilities and programs. Long-term technical support is provided by the IAETP to assist partners in the development of a highly trained cadre of healthcare providers and trainers. [more]
Lead Partner: Pro-Natura International
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Many carbon sequestration initiatives, both public and private, are being implemented with the involvement of a wide spectrum of solutions. They nonetheless suffer from being scattered, difficult to access, and uneven in terms of quality. Overall access to proper scientific and technical information is also difficult and there is a lack of clear norms for carbon assets certification and verification. New R&D studies as well as pilot projects are proliferating world-wide; but there is no common platform where information relating to these activities can be gathered, organised and made accessible to interested parties including financial sources to support new pilot projects.
To solve this problem, Pro-Natura International and Eco-Carbone have joined forces. They are now proposing to create the International Centre for Carbon Sequestration (ICCS). This initiative is already supported by companies from the oil industry and other industrial sectors that are high emitters of GHGs, together with Trade Associations. Support has also been mobilised from the agricultural and forestry sectors as well as from public and private financial agencies.
The main objective of the ICCS is to provide and share information on carbon sequestration and biomass energy at an international level. All forms will be covered, whether physical, chemical or biological (forests and agricultural land). More specifically, the ICCS will constitute a platform where interested parties will find the overall information on R&D, pilot projects, best practices, and financial and economic aspects, including risk assessment. A special emphasis will be put on meeting the needs of developing countries, particularly African ones. [more]
Lead Partner: Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL) - International Development Law Organisation - International Law Association Committee on ILSD
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: This initiative focuses on implementation significant legal development in the field sustainable development. The main goal is to strengthen sustainable development governance at the international, regional and national levels, laying the foundation for policy implementation by facilitating access to, compliance with, and enforcement of coherent, integrated economic, social and environmental law. This project is geared to both lawyers and non-lawyers in developing countries and countries with economies in transition. The objectives are:
- To found a user-friendly web-based legal resource centre, based on links to networks and databases of experts and contacts, engaging developed and developing country jurists, to assess, promote and implement international law for sustainable development.
- To carry out legal research and experts workshops, and develop a series of new legal briefs and capacity building manuals on intersections of social, economic and environmental law. These shall be made widely accessible to scholars, decision-makers and civil society, in particular those in developing countries (and countries in transition).
- To undertake capacity building and training in international sustainable development law (ISDL), so as to assist developing country governments, IGOs, judges, parliamentarians, local communities and the media to effectively address inter-linked environmental, economic and social challenges. [more]
Lead Partner: Cap-Net - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - Global Water Partnership (GWP)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Many developing countries have not yet been able to develop and integrate the requisite suite of human and institutional capacities into an effective water management regime.
What is urgently needed is a new water paradigm, one of integrated, holistic capacity development based on country ownership, adaptive homegrown policies, inclusive stakeholder participation and greater equity in the North-South development relationship.
Through partnership with national and regional capacity building networks in integrated water resources management, and as GWP's spearhead for capacity building, with support of IHE, UNDP/Cap-Net supports the establishment of networks and facilitates their access to global information. It also facilitates the exchange of information between the regions and responds to demands from regional and country networks. It aims to improve access to capacity building materials and in partnership with the networks to develop new tools and materials based on capacity building needs analysis. UNDP/Cap-Net strongly advocates local ownership of networks and capacity building activities and materials being developed for integrated water resources management. At the global level Cap-Net takes the role of ensuring access to information and experience for local practitioners. Local adaptation must then take place to ensure cultural and technical relevance to specific country situations. This way local ownership and responsibility is being enhanced. In collaboration of specialized international agencies, UNDP/Cap-Net develops adequate tools and materials to be put at the disposal of regional and country networks based on their demands and to improve their capacities in addressing capacity building for integrated water resources management. [more]
Lead Partner: International Coastal and Ocean Organization (ICO) - International Coastal and Ocean Organization (ICO) - Coastal States Organization (CSO)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: There is a need to:
Provide a technical support network for ICM, by identifying best practices, model program efforts, by encouraging "lesson-drawing" and interaction between practitioners and academics
Identify areas of mutual cooperation among academic institutions for research, exchange of faculty and students, "lesson-drawing" of successful ICM experiences, and organization of cooperative initiatives with governmental partners at both national and local levels to assist in the implementation of local coastal plans and in the formulation and implementation of national ocean/coastal policies in Exclusive Economic Zones.
Organize and carry out a program of exchange among subnational authorities in ICM to improve local practice
Monitor international treaty/agreement negotiations and other international fora relevant to ICM and identify issues impacting subnational ICM programs.
Influence key international treaty/agreement negotiations and other international fora through development of joint recommendations on the part of subnational ICM authorities [more]
Lead Partner: UNEP DTIE
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The Partnership's objective is to provide coherent and authoritative scientific assessments on the environmental impacts of resource use over the full life cycle. This will contribute to a better understanding of how to decouple economic growth from resource use and resource use from environmental degradation, and in particular of ways to increase resource-efficient economic growth, of ways to reduce the identified impacts, and of ways to stimulate sustainable innovation. [more]
Lead Partner: International Solar Energy Society
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The goal of IREA is to foster collaboration, removing market barriers, identifying and promoting successful implementation strategies, enhancing business conditions and developing markets. This is to be achieved by the provision of reliable and up to date facts and considerations for more informed decision making at all levels of national and international policy and to further the principles and goals declared in the 2004 Bonn Declaration on Renewable Energies. [more]
Lead Partner: The World Conservation Union (IUCN)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The Johannesburg Climate Legacy (JCL) will measure the CO2 emissions of the Summit (from aircraft flights to electricity used at the event itself), and then offset them by investing in carbon-reducing, sustainable projects across South Africa, (e.g. solar power, energy efficiency initiatives etc.) The JCL is a flagship project of the Greening the Summit process, which is being managed by IUCN in South Africa. [more]
Lead Partner: World LP Gas Association (WLPGA) - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: This initiative is designed to support the achievement of critical energy-related sustainable development goals, specifically poverty reduction, environmental protection, and economic growth. This partnership addresses concrete barriers to meeting the thermal energy needs (heating, cooking, and heat using productive processes) of rural and peri-urban populations in developing countries through expanded use of a clean-burning, readily-available fuel: liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Over 2 billion people in developing countries depend on traditional fuels including wood, animal and crop residues, and charcoal, to meet their heating, cooking and industrial needs. This has adverse health effects on women and children, degrades the local natural resources base and contributes to global environmental degradation through the emission of unburned hydrocarbons. Social and economic limitations for women, low quality energy services in heat using industries due to fuel inefficiency, and lost opportunities for agricultural product processing, are all directly related to traditional fuel use patterns.
The LPG Challenge will bring LPG to rural populations by linking UNDP's knowledge and experience in rural development and community consultation together with industry suppliers of LPG and the appliances required for its utilization. The key issue is to address market and technical barriers to the expanded use of LPG and to design local partnerships, business models and financing mechanisms to overcome these barriers. This will be accomplished through local dialogue processes and partnerships involving government officials, consumer representatives, current LGP market participants (local and international business), local entities that operate in rural communities, UNDP and other multilateral and bilateral funding agencies committed to bringing modern energy (electricity and clean fuels) to rural communities. [more]
Lead Partner: International Land Coalition
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Land Alliances for National Development, or LAND Partnerships, constitute a global initiative to alleviate rural poverty by strengthening country-level collaboration between state, civil society, bilateral and international stakeholders. This collaboration is needed to: a) achieve participatory dialogue; b) improve policy formulation; c) establish joint action to secure resource tenure for households with user rights; and d) increase access to land by the landless and near-landless.
While the resource poor seek a more active role in decision-making, many governments are also recognizing the benefits of robust, stakeholder discussion and, in some cases, collective decision-making. In many countries, this requires new arenas and mechanisms for dialogue. LAND Partnerships respond to this challenge by helping countries to create new ways and means for both those affecting and those affected by decisions about land to work together. LAND Partnerships will help to widen participation, foster open debate and facilitate negotiation at both the national and the community levels.
Furthermore, LAND Partnerships are a means to replicate the best practices learned in one community to other communities for wider benefit. Also, where scaling-up is accomplished, it may be more likely that this experience can be validated as a basis for national policy consideration. More importantly, LAND Partnerships are an opportunity for all parties to move from individual to collective roles, and thereby capture potential synergy.
Since the launch in 2002, the Coalition has been actively promoting LAND in the over 35 countries where it has programmes. The initial goal is to establish LAND Partnerships in a geographically balanced range of pilot countries. These pilot LAND Partnerships are envisioned as focal points to stimulate extension of the concept into surrounding countries.
LAND Partnerships will be developed in response to invitations from governments together with an expressed interest by civil society. The Coalition will support local implementation capacity for all stakeholders involved ¿ civil society, governments and intergovernmental partners. LAND Partnerships will build upon existing and emerging initiatives and activities.
In addition, the Coalition's role will be to foster collaboration and the sharing of lessons with other countries in order to either launch LAND Partnerships in these countries, or to help create the conditions conducive to the subsequent establishment of LAND.
[more]
Lead Partner: The Resource Foundation
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Latin America and the Caribbean Summary: The Latin American Clean Water Initiative seeks to facilitate sustainable water solutions and improve the health and well being of individuals living in extreme poverty in 13 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. The project seeks to: 1) Provide access to potable water and sanitation systems, 2) Improve sustainable water supplies for productive activities and train individuals to manage the water systems effectively, and 3) Offer educational workshops in water conservation, hygiene and water-related illnesses.
The program will be implemented in 13 countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela. The partner agencies are local private development organizations which are well respected in their fields and have extensive expertise in installing water systems, providing water systems management training, and engaging beneficiary communities in the process by requiring active participation in construction and training activities. The Resource Foundation partners with local non-profit agencies because it believes that local solutions are highly sustainable and effective.
The specific objectives of the proposed Latin American Clean Water Initiative include: 1) Construct complete and functioning potable water systems including taps, outdoor washbasins, water tanks, and latrines, etc. 2) Improve irrigation systems for farming and other productive purposes, 3) Improve degraded water systems, 4) Involve all beneficiary families in the construction and/or repairs of water systems, 5) Train beneficiary communities to manage and administer potable water and sanitations systems in order to ensure long-term sustainability, 6) Offer training in health issues related to water-borne illnesses, water resource management, and environmental conservation, 6) Monitor and evaluate program impact, 7) Share best practices for managing water resources at a seminar, and 8) Communicate impact to the public.
Lead Partner: Danish University Consortium for Environment and Development
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The universities of LUCED-I&UA partnership cooperate through a partnering arrangement with the aim to increase and link teaching and research capacity in environmental management at the universities with environmental management practices in environmental administrative units, organisations and the private sector in the participating countries. The main cooperating activities are human resource development through exchange of students, researchers and teachers; course and curriculum development; improved teaching methods; research networking; continued education, and joint research. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Italy - Ministry of Foreign Affairs - The World Conservation Union (IUCN) - CESVI- Working for Water
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Limpopo Corridor Summary: This partnership supports participation of communities living in areas adjacent to the Great Limpopo Trans-frontier Park (GL-TFP) in the TFP establishment process. The TFP is being establishment by the Governments of Zimbabwe, RSA and Mozambique as a first step in the process of developing a broader TFCA: this in its broad concept encompasses a vast area of almost 100.000 km2, including two National Parks and a Reserved Hunting Area in Mozambique (Banhine NP, Zinave NP and Limpopo NP), Kruger NP in South Africa and Gonarezhou NP in Zimbabwe.
This partnership programme focus on poverty alleviation and the conservation of biological diversity and ecosystem functioning through institutional capacity building, and the involvement and livelihood enhancement of local communities. Its components target selected rural areas mediating nodal ecosystemic and economic fluxes (e.g. wildlife and commercial corridors and buffer zones) within the programmed large scope multipurpose cross-boundary conservation area. the Great Limpopo Trans-frontier Park (GL TFP). Ecosystem management in these areas holds the potential to make or break the GL TFP and, at the same time, to make or break the economic future of its own rural communities. With appropriate land use planning and development, the target areas can act as links between the components of the Transfrontier Park, can enhance their ecological and economic values and can provide an ecologically sound economic engine for the disadvantaged target areas.
The partnership programme will be based on two components:
1. Foundation component: this will build on a pilot project implemented in the southeast lowveld of Zimbabwe (1998-2003) by CESVI in cooperation with the Rural District Councils of Beitbridge, Chiredzi and Chipinge: this pilot component has promoted community-based natural resource management in communal lands in the Limpopo and Save valleys, along the border with South Africa, Mozambique and Botswana. The target areas of the project include, inter alia, rural areas bordering the Gonarezhou National Park which have strong historical and social links with neighboring areas in Mozambique and South Africa.
2. New partnership component: this component will comprise two projects (sub-components), which will address country specific issues in a coordinated manner:
* The South African sub-component, to be implemented in cooperation with the Department of Water Affairs and SANP in areas adjacent to Kruger NP.
* The Mozambican sub-component, to be implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism to address the requirements of a vast rural area between the Limpopo NP, Banhine NP, Zinave NP and the border with Zimbabwe. [more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) - United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Developing local capacities and mechanisms for adapting and implementing global principles and norms of sustainable urbanisation (including related MEA¿S e.g. on climate change; air quality; water management, biodiversity);Strengthening the capacities of local (and national) actors for contributing local experiences and expertise to the formulation of global principles and norms. [more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The Decentralized Cooperation Programmes (DCP) objective is to encourage lasting South-South city-to-city cooperation for sustainable and economic development. For this purpose, DCP has established a global network of 11 associated training centres (as of Feb. 2006), which are located in Atlanta / United States; Barcelona and Bilbao / Spain; Curitiba / Brazil; Divonne-les-Bains and Lyon / France; Durban / South Africa; Kuala Lumpur / Malaysia; Ouagadougou / Burkina Faso; Plock / Poland and Shanghai / China. Each of these International Training Centres for Local Authorities and Local Actors is a hub for capacity building and knowledge sharing between local and regional authorities, international organizations, the private sector and civil society to enhance local public services. The training sessions for local authorities focus on four main areas:
- Environment and sustainable development
- Urban services
- Economic development and local governance
- Human security.
[more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), DPDL - United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Strengthening the capacities of local authorities and their public, private and community partners to achieve more sustainable urban development, socially, economically and environmentally;Reducing poverty by working on sustainable urbanisation through more efficiently and equitably use of environmental resources and control of environmental hazards in urban development planning. [more]
Lead Partner: International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The development of management tools that integrate resource management is a crucial step in helping local government achieve sustainable public administration. The official Local Government Dialogue Paper for The World Summit on Sustainable Development Accelerating Sustainable Development: "Local Action Moves the World", published by the UN Economic and Social Council, 14. December 2001, (E/CN.17/2002/PC.2/6/Add.5) identifies Integrated Resource Management as a key "strategy for the future" to strengthen local government by public mechanisms for local sustainable development.
The partnership will support a global pilot program of Integrated Resource Management, starting from concept and program development through to pilot implementation in various municipalities throughout the world. The programme shall be driven by local government in partnership with supranational and intergovernmental organisations and support from national governments. The partnership will bring together skills, experience and capacity from the full spectrum of environmental management and from the other resource management fields, namely financial and human resource management. Being international in scope, the IRM concept will be implemented under different regional and national conditions. The main objectives of the Implementation Partnership "Piloting Integrated Resource Management" are to:
* demonstrate the applicability of IRM at the international level, as identified in the official UN Local Government Dialogue Paper.
* support the integration of resource management approaches which facilitate sustainable development
* demonstrate the value of IRM as an implementation tool to support "Local Action 21"
* develop a management tool which enables sustainability to drive priority setting
* establish capacity world wide in IRM by launching a network of regional hubs/centres of excellence
* exchange experiences in resource management approaches at an international level. [more]
Lead Partner: ICLEI European Secretariat
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Governments spend some several thousand billion Euro every year on public purchasing, adding up to 12-25% of respective gross national products (GDP). Products and services bought include transport machinery, construction and IT equipment, but also food for canteens, energy and cleaning services. Depending on the government structure, local and regional authorities spend up to 90% of this amount. Spending this money responsibly, governments have the opportunity to foster sustainable development with money they have to spent anyway.
Public Procurement has been used as a policy tool often in the past and present. Although the conflict between policy objectives and market principles is often raised and subject to committed discussion, practical implementation and regulatory frameworks have shown, that in reality win-win situations for policy implementation and market efficiency can be found.
In recent years, environmental objectives have become a major topic in procurement, many public administrations have implemented "green purchasing policies", mostly in the Northern Hemisphere (Europe, Japan, North America). In this context it is often requested, but only partially implemented, to take all dimension of sustainable development into account in purchasing. Among others, purchasing could include are social considerations such as labour conditions and international market prices, and economic considerations such as protection of Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and domestic suppliers, quality or life-cycle costing.
Within this context, the partnership has two key objectives:
* Integrate all dimensions of sustainable development in procurement policies and by this contribute to better living and healthier working conditions, ensure social standards and protect the environment
* Accelerate penetration of sustainable products in export and domestic markets in order to foster an economic development that helps overcome poverty as well as over-exploitation of human work-force, economic assets and natural resources.
The partnership will lead to:
* A breakthrough for eco-efficient domestic supply in developing countries: Four well-documented examples of implementing responsible procurement policies under difficult economic framework conditions of emerging economies.
* A breakthrough for integration of sustainable development in all its dimensions to the procurement agenda: Well documented examples and national policies to integrate global concerns in (Northern) public procurement (for selected economic sectors) [more]
Lead Partner: International Maritime Organization (IMO)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Straits of Malacca and Singapore Summary: Development of a Regional Marine Electronic Highway (MEH) in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore - Demonstration Phase: In partnership with the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners and the International Hydrographic Organization
The ultimate goal of this initiative is the use of innovative maritime and environment management technological tools to create network and maintain a marine information infrastructure for enhancing maritime services, improving the safety of navigation and integrated management of the coastal and marine areas of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.
The Marine Electronic Highway (MEH) is an innovative marine information and infrastructure system that integrates environmental management and protection systems and maritime safety technologies for enhanced maritime services, higher navigational safety standards, integrated marine environment protection and sustainable development of coastal and marine resources. The backbone of the MEH is precision navigation and will utilize a network of electronic navigational charts (ENCs) in conjunction with Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS), Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) and other maritime technologies.
This initiative is part of a two-stage MEH Project for the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. This initiative, which is a demonstration project, will cover parts of the Straits, mainly the area of the Traffic Separation Scheme. The second stage or full-scale project, which will follow after this initiative, will cover the whole Straits including the coastal waters of the littoral States.
The general objectives of this initiative are to delineate options for the implementation of the MEH system in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore and assess the technical, financial, economic, social, institutional, political and legal aspects of the identified options, assess the integration of marine environment protection system with precision navigation, and develop sustainable financial mechanisms and a managing tool to operate, manage and administer the MEH system. The implementation will also cover the evaluation on the benefits of the system and financing requirements to implement the identified activities leading to the establishment of the MEH system in the Straits. Overall, the development objectives of this initiative are the following:
* Establish the MEH and demonstrate its technical functionalities on maritime safety and marine environment protection for the Straits of Malacca and Singapore;
* Facilitate the integration of marine environment systems and data flow and information exchange through the MEH system;
* Develop the operational and administrative mechanisms for the sustainable management of the MEH system;
* Evaluate the financial, social and economic benefits and legal aspects of the MEH system;
* Promote awareness and participation of relevant stakeholders to support the MEH system; and
* Strengthen national and regional capacity in maritime safety and marine environment protection for the sustainable management of the MEH system; [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Germany - Federal Ministry for Econ. Coop. and Devt (BMZ) - Government of Germany - Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMU)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: This Partnership was founded during the "International Executive Conference on Expanding the Market for Concentrating Solar Power" on 19 -20 June 2002 in Berlin. The presentations and discussions resulted in the following common understanding about the qualities of concentrating solar power (CSP) :
CSP provides sustainable, clean, affordable and reliable energy supply over a range of sizes from 10 kilowatts to 200 megawatts.
CSP plants have proven in more than 100 accumulated operating plant years to be the most efficient technology for direct use of the inexhaustible solar energy.
CSP plants can provide dispatchable power with back up via thermal storage and/or the hybrid mode.
CSP helps to minimize climate change impacts by replacing fossil energy sources.
CSP is an appropriate technology for supporting independence from fossil resources, in particular for developing countries.
A promising base of more than 10 CSP power project opportunities was reviewed by the members of the partnership at the conference. Realising these projects will allow a significant reduction in power generation costs. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Netherlands - Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries - Government of Netherlands - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The objective of the initiative is to improve market access of food and agricultural products from developing countries to the European market by enhancing cooperation in the field of quality standards related to health, the environment and veterinary and phytosanitary measures. This will contribute to increased global competitiveness of farmers, food processors, retailers and traders in developing countries. The cooperation will also improve mutually understanding on both the need to effective address both poverty in developing countries, as well as on consumer concerns related to food safety and the environment.
The Doha and Johannesburg programmes commit to improve market access, in particular for developing countries. The Doha Development Agenda puts a strong focus on reducing tarief barriers to trade. While reiterating that the Doha-agreements will have to be fully implemented, it will be pertinent to additionally respond to difficulties for particular developing countries to meet quality standards for food and agricultural products. Those standards have been agreed upon in multilateral for a, such as the Codex Alimentarius, WTO-SPS, IPPC, Biosafety Protocol, and CITES. Recently, those fora have started capacity building activities in order to assist parties to cope with the multilaterally agreed terms.
There are however additional challenges countries are facing if they would like to be competive on markets such as of the EU. Specific EU standards been developed, in order to translate the multilaterally agreed standards to the regional contextn or in response to consumer concerns in Europe. Furthermore, food processors and retailers are often using stricter criteria themselves, in order to sell high quality products with the highest competitiveness possible. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of United States of America - City and County of Honolulu - Government of United States of America - City and County of Honolulu
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Asia and the Pacific Summary: The APUI Mayors' Commitments Program is a leadership capacity-building program. It will provide a comprehensive capacity-building service to local political leaders (e.g., Governors, Mayors) and city management executives (e.g., Municipal Commissioners, utility executives) in the Asia-Pacific region who wish to implement more sustainable, pro-poor development (SD) and service strategies for their jurisdictions. The APUI aims to work as a parallel and complementary partner to other programs and institutions, such as Local Agenda 21 and City Development Strategies, that are assisting city administrations in developing SD strategies.
A biennial, regional Summit of participating Governors, Mayors and city executives will be held to report and reward achievements, build new implementation partnerships, and prepare recommendations for policy reforms to provide a better enabling environment for Commitment implementation
The APUI believes that leadership to implement SD strategies involves more than individual skill and will. Leadership is the mobilisation of a community's diverse resources to address a common challenge or to achieve a common strategy. Leadership, therefore, is the product of both personal/professional abilities and an operating environment that enables innovation and sustained collaboration.
Partnership results would include:
- Improved local input into the design of infrastructure, housing, and service systems for their communities, including better consideration of long-term financial sustainability;
- Stronger involvement of sub-national and local political leaders in the preparation and implementation of local strategies and initiatives for sustainable development;
- Development of a tradition, within in the regional community of local government, to base political leadership on clearly defined commitments, objectives and reportable results;
- Improved national-level support and enabling conditions for bottom-up sustainable development initiatives;
- Identification and clarification of policy barriers to the effective participation of local communities in the implementation of Agenda 21 and related sustainable development agreements;
- Stronger representation and voice for sub-national and local government in national and regional processes for pro-poor sustainable development;
- Improved co-ordination of capacity-building support for sub-national and local leaders in the region;
- Increased partnerships between local authorities and national/regional/international NGOs and Major Group organisations to support implementation of local sustainable development strategies. [more]
Lead Partner: International Center of Resources and Innovation for the Sustainable Development-CIRIDD (former Association Agora 21) - Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (IEPF - Institut de la Francophonie Numérique - Unité Jeunesse)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The aim of the project is to create an information and discussion platform for sustainable development that is accessible to the various groups concerned (States and public administrations, local governments and international bodies, associations, the economic sector, scientists and the academic community, and ordinary citizens) by facilitating exchanges and integration of the available data on a network of Internet sites distributed throughout the French-speaking world.
The second objective is to develop the use of French regarding these topics for the sake of linguistic plurality at the international level, thereby helping to reinforce the capacities of French-speaking participants, especially in the organization of preliminary debates for major conferences. This platform is also an experimental ground for research and development into new tools and approaches that will be transferred to the partners. It will be an extension of various projects and actions. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Italy - Ministry for the Environment and Territory - Italian Agency for the Protection of the Environment and for Technical Services (APAT)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Mediterranean Summary: The availability of more reliable information concerning GHG emissions will enable countries with economies in transition and developing countries to comply with their obligations under the UNFCCC, namely the preparation and submission of GHG inventories and national communications, and to actively participate in Joint Implementation and Clean Development Mechanism activities.
This partnership aims therefore at supporting the preparation of consistent and reliable GHG inventories in Mediterranean countries, through exchange of information on activity indicators and emission factors, identification of QA/QC procedures and development of common methodologies.
It builds on the work of the MeditAIRaneo project, currently financed by APAT, which involves government agencies responsible for the preparation of air emission inventories in the northern shore of the Mediterranean. The expertise and the tools developed in the frame of this project (experts' network, web-site, know-how concerning Mediterranean specificities about atmospheric emissions) will be used for the development of this partnership. [more]
Lead Partner: Observatoire Méditerranéen de l'Energie (OME)
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Africa Summary: The Southern Mediterranean region is facing high demographic and socio-economic development growths. In this context, energy demand is expected to increase. Presently, 83% of TPES in the region is satisfied by hydrocarbons. According to the OME BAU scenario, this will continue (annual increase of about 4.3% during 2005-2020). Consequently, CO2 emissions are expected to rise by 240% over the same period. This is unsustainable and many options do exist allowing the region evolving in a more sustainable energy development path. The region is indeed endowed with high potential of energy efficiency and renewable energy that need to be better exploited. Indeed, in addition to security of supply concerns, SEMCs need to address urgently climate changes as recent studies (GIEC…) confirm the vulnerability of the region and the important damages of their effects on their economies and development.
The aim of MEDITEP, a think tank on energy in the Mediterranean region, is to pursue and deepen the work already initiated within the “Summer Mediterranean University” (UMET) on the shared concerns adopted from the start: how can energy scenarios in the Mediterranean be followed up and evaluated? How is the situation evolving, how is it placed with respect to the initial and alternative scenarios? Are these scenarios acceptable and what are their impacts? and then to continue exploration of more specific topics: territories and sustainable development, globalization and new energy markets, investments & financing tools, technological innovation, technology transfer, research and development, regional cooperation, climate change, etc.
Several organisations and initiatives already work on these issues, but link and dialogue are missing. These are very important and need to be established in a stable way in order to allow better cooperation and facilitate convergence of efforts and achieve a sustainable development in the region.
Thus, the objectives of MEDITEP are to:
- Create a common framework for dialogue among all stakeholders from decisions makers to civil society on sustainable energy prospect in the region with particular focus on energy efficiency, access to energy and renewable energy;
- Investigate emerging concerns that need to be addressed and promote the dialogue and research on them;
- Make proposals to decision makers, international organizations, etc. on how to enhance sustainable energy in the region and to continue to instill a sense of urgency as to the decisions to take;
- Exchange experiences, knowledge and best practices;
- Promote networking on specific topics to be defined;
- Foster research, training, expertise and capacity building;
- Broad dissemination of information and awareness;
- Provide a single window information as a strong tool allowing update and exhaustive information on energy and sustainable development in the Mediterranean region, linking together institutions and initiatives working on these issues on the region. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Italy - Ministry for the Environment and Territory
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Mediterranean Summary: The two principal objectives of the programme are:
- to provide modern energy services particularly to rural populations;
- to contribute to the climate change mitigation by increasing the share of renewable energy technologies in the energy mix in the region.
In this perspective, the programme aims at developing a sustainable renewable energy market system in the greater Mediterranean Region, removing project, policy and trade barriers.
With a view to linking capabilities and market between developed and developing Countries throughout the Region and beyond, the program is built on three main sub-projects:
- tailoring of financial instruments and mechanisms to support projects;
- strengthening of policy frameworks and removing barriers to projects development;
- building a stronger private sector infrastructure, considering the positive role of ¡§Tradable Renewable Certificates¡¨ and ¡§Certified Emission Reductions¡¨.
These sub-projects aim to strengthen existing networks while favouring the creation of new relations between stakeholders.
Specific objectives:
delivering electricity to isolated rural populations, based on village-scale mini-grids;
accelerating the integration of REs on the national electricity grids with the objective of reaching grid stabilisation and meeting supply-demand balance;
addressing the global approach of REs introduction (mainly solar but also geothermal energy) in the building sector in coherence with the energy efficiency policy (the results of the MEDA/Solar thermal technologies Dissemination programme in the building sector will be integrated);
desalinating sea water, in order to increase drinking water supply and water availability for irrigation;
increasing agricultural water pumping by solar, wind and biomass powered water pumps;
disseminating cooling systems for the food conservation, powered by renewable, in farms and fisheries;
addressing, in the grid-connected urban and tourist areas, the household and the community demand for lighting, food and drugs cooling, access to the communication networks, using solar home systems, small wind turbines, biogas and biomass power technologies;
creating joint ventures and other manufacturing, assembly and distribution/installation capabilities in developing countries, so that they gain the maximum economic benefit from the Initiative; promoting certification / standardisation programmes for RE equipments.
These objectives will be reached by the implementation of innovative pilot projects to be considered a catalogue of best practices to be replicated, increasing the share of RE options available through already feasible RE power plants like wind farm, biomass co-combustion and hydro plants.
[more]
Lead Partner: Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The Methane to Markets Partnership is an international initiative that advances cost-effective, near-term methane recovery and use as a clean energy source. The goal of the Partnership is to reduce global methane emissions in order to enhance economic growth, strengthen energy security, improve air quality, improve industrial safety, and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
The Partnership currently focuses on four sources of methane emissions:
- Agriculture (animal waste management)
- Coal mines
- Landfills
- Oil and gas systems [more]
Lead Partner: Government of France - Ministère des Affaires Etrangères - Government of France - The French Geological Survey (BRGM)
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Africa Summary: Mineral resources are one of the essential components of the natural capital of numerous African countries, and one of the key components of their economies. The complex linkages existing between this economic sector and sustainable development still remain poorly understood and subject to numerous controversies. The sustainable development of this sector is a considerable stake, for the mineral producing countries as well as for the consumer countries, like those of the European Union, the largest minerals importer in the world. If the investments necessary to put these resources into production are to be made by the private sector, there is a need to reinforce the capacity of the sectoral institutions to better regulate and promote the sustainable development of the sector. The range of actions to be supported is wide, from training to infrastructure.
The objective of the partnership is to strengthen the contribution of geological and mining activities to sustainable development.
To start with, it is proposed to organise a Forum with the concerned African countries to raise the awareness of the various actors concerned by the sustainable development of the mineral resources, on the issues and on the conditions to implement to improve the sector's promotion. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Canada - Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Andean region Summary: The current project was made possible as a result of the strong institutional bonds created by a previous four Andean country multi-national initiative (funded through CIDA and NRCan, 1996-2002). The Project goal is to improve the quality of life for peoples of the Andes by reducing the negative impact of natural hazards (volcanoes, earthquakes and landslides). Through the project, updated and integrated geoscience and geospatial information on natural hazards will be provided for: 1- land use planning and, 2- natural hazard mitigation.
The Project will transfer technologies to the National Andean Geoscience Institutions of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela to enhance their capacity to efficiently and effectively provide on a continuous basis the required services:
1. To provide to the governments, communities, and planners geoscientific information fundamental to good decision making with respect to the placement of public works (infrastructure), and human settlements;
2. To contribute to mitigation of the effects of natural hazards on the local population and public works (infrastructure), to support sustainable development with more disaster resistant communities;
3. To increase the capacities of the Geoscience Agencies in the evaluation of geological hazards; and
4. To assist other government organizations such as Civil Protection agencies to incorporate geoscience information into emergency plans. [more]
Lead Partner: Association of American Geographers
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The general goal of My Community, Our Earth -- Geographic Learning for Sustainable Development is to build geographically literate generations able to use this knowledge in their everyday lives to bring about true sustainable development. In particular, the Program seeks to provide students and international leaders with the opportunity to discover and address real issues in their communities and their regions with respect to sustainable development issues, particularly Agenda 21, WSSD topics, UNCSD themes, and the Millenium Development Goals. [more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Building nationally the capacities of local and central governments, associations of local authorities, and training institutions to routinely integrate the lessons of experience from local demonstrations into national sustainable urbanisation and poverty alleviation policies, up-scaling strategies, and associated legal frameworks. In other words: Developing institutional frameworks and national networks for sustained EPM support. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Italy - Ministry of Foreign Affairs - University of Trieste - Southern African Development Community Forestry Sector Technical Coordination Unit (SADC-FSTCU)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional SADC Summary: Building upon regional development potentials and institutional consensus of the SADC Secretariat and its member states, the capacity building and development contribution of the previous DGCS_SADC cooperation project (SECOSUD I) represents a solid foundation for the present partnership initiative.
The general aim of this partnership is to produce and establish a network of management oriented spatial decision support systems (SDSS) to promote the sustainable use of natural resources by private and public stakeholders while ensuring the durable social and economic development of rural areas situated in the SADC region affected by strong growing human pressure. The SDSS will be addressed specifically to Sustainable Management of Biological Resources (SMBR) by promoting the conservation of native plants economically useful compatibly with the long-term equitable economic growth and enhancement of productive capacity in rural areas. The network will comprise informatics tools with nodes located at selected Institutions that will:
- help understand the interactions between economically useful plants and the environment where they spontaneously grow and where they are cultivated,
- provide services to improve plant productivity without compromising the biological diversity of the region. [more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), BIOTRADE Initiative - United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), BIOTRADE Initiative
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Andean and Amazon region Summary: Smallholder producers and SMEs active in products and services derived from biodiversity frequently have difficulties attracting long-term finance. Obstacles are greatest for enterprises seeking debt and equity financing to conduct feasibility studies; start up businesses; secure patents and legal rights; develop/test new products; expand; convert to sustainable practices; or move into value-added products.
Although a number of initiatives have already been launched to address these needs, experience so far shows that many companies are not able to fully benefit from these initiatives, due to the small amount of capital required, the nature of the products, and the type of the enterprises involved (i.e. community-based enterprises or start-ups). Many enterprises still lack managerial capacity to scale up their business without compromising the environmental and social components, to introduce products to new markets, and to develop strategic partnerships.
In order to cater for these needs, CAF, WRI, and the BIOTRADE Initiative of UNCTAD have entered into a partnership to organize a Investor Forum entitled 'New Ventures Biodiversity Investor Forum - for the Andean and Amazonian regions'. The objective is to support existing and start-up small and medium sized bio-businesses from the Andean and Amazonian regions to access credit and venture capital to overcome their difficulties in obtaining long-term finance. The three organizations have designed an approach comprising three stages:
1) A technical assistance track to up-grade biodiversity-based businesses and business plans.
2) Organization of investor forums - i.e. New Ventures Forum - introducing special measures to cater for some of the financial needs of biodiversity-based businesses.
3) Facilitation of access to credit from national financial institutions for promising business proposals that were nevertheless not selected for the investor forum.
The aim of this partnership is to promote concrete bio-businesses to set examples of successful sustainable use initiatives and attract additional investments for sustainable development.
Expected results:
* An increased number of bio-businesses will have received credits, equity capital and technical assistance grants to finance business activities that support sustainable development.
* An increased visibility for the bio-business sector and the opportunities generated for sustainable local development and biodiversity conservation.
* Increased priority for bio-business development in agendas of Government, private sector, local and indigenous communities, donors and other relevant stakeholders.
* A methodology that can be replicated in a cost effective way in other regions. [more]
Lead Partner: Earth Rights Institute - Earth Rights Institute - Earth Rights Institute - Center for Geoclassical Economics
Geographical Scope: National Summary: Due to corruption and poor governance, oil royalties have not been distributed to the people of the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. Our project will work with NGOs and ethical government officials to form and implement the Niger Delta Fund, similar to the Alaska Permanent Fund, which will be a transparent legal mechanism whereby oil royalities will be distributed directly to the people as dividend checks and/or made available as low interest revolving loan funds for sustainable development. Additionally, this project will assist in the development of a sustainable development plan for the Niger Delta, with an initial focus on the eco-restoration of the town of Odi and Bayelsa State.
Our partnerships began in June, 2002, and in February, 2003 and as of November 2003 we are planning to hold a conference in early 2004 to develop a strategy for implementation. [more]
Lead Partner: Nile Basin Initiative Secretariat
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Nile Basin Summary: (Vision); To achieve sustainable socioeconomic development through the equitable utilization of, and benefit from the common Nile Basin water resources.
Objectives;
1. to develop the Water resources of the Nile in a sustainable and equitable way to ensure prosperity, security and peace for all its people
2. to ensure efficient water management and the optimal use of the resources
3. to ensure cooperation and joint action between the riparian countries, seeking win-win gains
4. to target poverty eradication and promote economic integration
5. to ensure that the program results in a move from planning to action
[more]
Lead Partner: Government of Canada - Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)
Geographical Scope: National Summary: To transfer and adapt modern technologies that will improve the way the groundwater resources of the crystalline terranes of the semi-arid northeast of Brazil are developed and managed, which in turn will translate into more abundant and better quality water for the population. To enhance awareness in the population in regards to environmental protection and water conservation issues by providing appropriate education programs. Improve the plight of women in the community through gender equity programs aimed at enhancing their role in the decision-making process regarding management of the water resources. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Australia - Government of Australia
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The key OneCoast objective is to create a coastal management knowledge ecosystem. Thorugh an integrated framework of leading technologies, OneCoast will provide the infrastructure in which ideas, information and the sharing of knowledge will facilitate capacity building and in turn foster the sustainable development of the world¿s coasts.
A key outcome for OneCoast is the establishment and ongoing support of sustainable communities of users. In the context of OneCoast `community of users¿ applies equally to collectives of interested individuals interacting through actual local communities and to communities where related groups of individuals and organizations involved in common goals interact online through OneCoast.
Furthermore, where geographically related or unrelated groups come together with specific subject expertise to solve problems - they in turn define a community of practitioners and through their interactions a common practice. OneCoast seeks to diffuse capacity from the context of local communities of coastal management practice using existing knowledge and creating new knowledge through experience.
Coastal management practice has expanded rapidly around the world over the last decade, with growing involvement of the private sector, civil society, and local governments. Donors have diversified their partnerships, increasingly working together with international NGOs, the private sector, governments and foundations. As a result new challenges have surfaced, including:
¿ Uncoordinated, overlapping, and sometimes ineffective use of available donor and governmental resources;
¿ Inaccessible, fragmented coastal management knowledge;
¿ Limited opportunities for participation by civil society;
¿ Untapped opportunities for the private sector;
¿ Untapped knowledge transfer benefits between professional coastal managers; and
¿ Untapped potential for using Internet technologies for sustainable coastal development.
Through OneCoast there are opportunities to help provide answers to the above challenges. Opportunities such as the need to create linkages between projects that will sustain investment in coastal management projects and, most importantly, opportunities to link the many stakeholders, into one integrated knowledge-based environment.
[more]
Lead Partner: International Association of Scientific Technical and Medical Publishers - United Nations Environment Programme - Yale University
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Through Online Access to Research in the Environment (OARE), a new international public-private partnership, the world’s most prestigious scientific publishers, societies and associations are now offering one of the world’s largest collections of peer-reviewed natural and environmental science literature to more than 1500 national institutions in 106 least-developed nations of Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and Eastern Europe.
Launched October 30, 2006 in New York, OARE has a mission to improve the quality and effectiveness of natural and environmental science research, education and training in low-income countries. In doing so, OARE will help achieve four primary development objectives:
• Growth in the number of national scholars and experts who will, through their knowledge and reputation, integrate into and facilitate the development of more progressive science-driven policy development processes, regulatory frameworks, and governance structures.
• Strengthen the intellectual foundation of universities and research institutions so as to enable faculty to perform research on a par with peers in industrialized countries, develop their own publishing record, and enable students to conduct research and seek education in new and emerging subjects.
• Build the capacity of independent national organizations to gather, interpret, and disseminate and use global scientific research. Local rather than foreign organizations will engage/empower end-users of information.
The average annual US institutional subscription fee of each title provided through OARE is approximately $1,500. Each institution enrolled in OARE will receive access to more than 1200 serial titles and search engines with a US annual retail subscription value of more than $1 million. The total US annual retail subscription value of scholarly literature and scientific search engines to be provided through OARE to all enrolled institutions is more than $200 million per year.
Research is provided in a wide range of disciplines, including biotechnology, biology, botany, climate change, wildlife conservation, ecology, energy, environmental chemistry, environmental economics, environmental engineering and planning, environmental law and policy, environmental toxicology and pollution, forest and fisheries sciences, geography and population studies, geology, meteorology, natural disaster prevention, natural resource management, oceanography, urban planning, water and hydrology, zoology, and many others. In addition to obtaining direct access to vast quantities of scientific findings, developing countries will be provided access to the world’s most powerful scientific abstract and information databases and indexes, critical intellectual tools the scientific community uses to identify information located in tens of thousands of articles across thousands of international publications.
[more]
Lead Partner: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Government facilities and services -- national and local -- are often the largest energy users within a country, and government "leadership by example" can be a powerful driver for a national energy efficiency strategy. Every country has important opportunities for more efficient energy management in government facilities and operations such as roads and transit, water and wastewater, and other public services and infrastructure. Government, as a large buyer of energy-using equipment and services, can also lead the entire economy toward greater energy efficiency, creating entry markets for domestic suppliers and stimulating competition in providing high-efficiency products and services. PEPS aims to help spread the concept of public sector energy management to developing countries, encourage new or expanded initiatives, and promote information exchange among countries. The overall goal of the program is to achieve direct energy and cost savings in these countries, and to play a key role in sustainable development by harnessing governments purchasing power to create or expand domestic markets for energy-efficient products and services. [more]
Lead Partner: Partnership for Observation of the Global Oceans (POGO)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: To promote intelligent and sustainable use and management of the oceans through
(i) Promotion of collaboration and co-ordination among major oceanographic institutions committed to ocean science;
(ii) Development of capacity in the weaker countries for using and managing their ocean space under UNCLOS intelligently;
(iii) Advocacy for sound use and management of the oceans [more]
Lead Partner: South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Pacific Summary: The overall goal of this initiative is "to catalyse action and strengthen partnerships at all levels to enable the Pacific Island's region understand and respond to climate change, climate variability and sea level rise". The primary objectives for this initiative are:
* Effective coordination of adaptation initiatives in support of sustainable development
* Support for enabling activities in accordance with the UNFCCC
* Mainstreaming climate change and adaptation into national and regional planning
* Mobilisation of resources for national level adaptation measures
The Pacific Island Adaptation Initiative is intended to implement the Pacific Island Framework for Action on Climate Change, Climate Variability and Sea Level Rise (2000) in the area of response measures. This Multistakeholder Framework outlines urgent action required within the Pacific region to enable PICs to understand and respond to climate change, climate variability and sea level rise. [more]
Lead Partner: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) - South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Pacific Summary: The main objectives are:
* Increased availability of adequate, affordable and environmentally sound energy for the sustainable development of all Pacific islanders.
* Accelerate the transfer and adoption of clean and renewable energy technologies.
* The partnership is to assist with the implementation of the Pacific Island Energy Policy (PIEP. [more]
Lead Partner: World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), South Pacific Program - Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) - South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Pacific Summary: The initiative aims to achieve its objective through the mainstreaming of biodiversity at all levels, including such issues as:
* Methods (both scientific and traditional) and field activities for the identification, protection, conservation and sustainable use of Pacific biodiversity access and equitable benefit sharing from the use of genetic resources protection and strengthening of traditional knowledge, practises innovation and management systems putting real economic value on biodiversity.
* A complementary and participatory approach to conservation will be promoted, including both ex situ and in situ strategies, developed on the basis of both scientific and traditional knowledge.
* A key strategy will be to protect and strengthen traditional knowledge on the use of biodiversity - including agricultural, forestry, wildlife and marine resources - for food, medicine, fibre, shelter and ceremonial purposes - and other relevant expressions of culture in the Pacific Islands. [more]
Lead Partner: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Pacific Summary: To provide access to information and communication technology in support of sustainable development for every Pacific islander.
Expected results to be determined by countries on the basis of national assessments and stakeholder consultations undertaken for WSSD. These could include:
* Pacific Tele-health Project
* Community Telecentres Project
* Human Resources Capacity Building
* National Strategy Development [more]
Lead Partner: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) - South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) - The University of the South Pacific (USP)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Pacific Summary: The overall vision for this initiative is ¿Increased and strengthened capacity of Pacific Islands people to manage their island environments and achieve sustainable development, poverty reduction and sustainable livelihoods¿.
The Initiative will establish:
i) A Regional Training and Capacity Building Framework.
ii) A Regional Education Framework.
The Regional Training and Capacity Building Framework will identify and use the synergies between organisations and individuals actively engaged in capacity building in the region. The already completed training needs assessments and strategies provide the essential building blocks to strengthen collaboration and information sharing amongst training institutions and organizations through this
co-ordinated framework.
The Framework shall promote the synergies, partnerships and collaborative delivery at all levels. It will encompass agreed levels and types of training activities and programmes derived from past Training Needs Assessment recommendations, include training pathways, strategies to supporting research work, competency levels, train-the-trainer strategies and post-graduate level training delivery mechanisms.
A Regional Education Framework will also be developed in parallel to the Training and Capacity Building Framework to provide a strong foundation for the implementation of proposed activities in the latter framework. The Education Framework will focus on strengthened basic education and delivery systems with guidelines for an education programme that promotes sustainable environmental management and education for sustainability. A review/evaluation of past environmental education programmes in the Pacific and delivery systems will form the basis for these guidelines. The Education Framework will also be linked to initiatives under the proposed ¿Decade of Education for Sustainable Development¿ under the Johannesburg Programme of Action.
An aspect of the education framework will include a feasibility work on the development of distance education curriculum and delivery systems to increase access of children and youth to primary, secondary and vocational education. [more]
Lead Partner: South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Pacific Summary: The main objective of the Initiative is to achieve sustainable water and wastewater management in Pacific island countries through:
* the establishment of a regional water network of persons and organisations, inclusive of country governments, development agencies, professional associations and donors, that work in the different fields of water resources management and service delivery in the region, to improve regional coordination and collaboration;
* the implementation of the Pacific Strategies for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene that aim to build and increase the capacity in Pacific Island Countries to deliver sustainable management of water and wastewater as a means to contributing to poverty alleviation. Sustainability has to be achieved in the technical, institutional, financial, environmental and social-cultural areas. SOPAC Member Countries have endorsed these strategies during the 30th SOPAC Annual Session (Majuro, October 2001), which are complimentary with the efforts towards the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the 3rd World Water Forum;
* implementation of the ¿Regional Action Plan for Sustainable Water Management¿, as agreed upon by Ministers, Heads of Delegation and representatives of civil society groups with responsibilities for water affairs from 16 small island countries in the Pacific, as well as East Timor and the Maldives as part of the regional consultation and preparation for the ¿Water in Small Island Countries¿ and ¿Dialogue on Water & Climate¿ themes of the 3rd World Water Forum, during the ¿Pacific Regional Meeting on Water in Small Island Countries¿, held in Sigatoka, Fiji from 29 July to 3 August 2002. The consultation process included the identification of national priority actions as determined by the participating countries on the basis of their national water strategies, national assessments and stakeholder consultations undertaken for WSSD and the 3rd World Water Forum, and the development of agreed regional actions through the consultation meeting process of plenary discussion, working group review and delegation approval.
[more]
Lead Partner: South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) - University of South Pacific (USP)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Pacific Island Countries Summary: Main objective: Provide long-term community based capacity-building activities to fully integrate environmental and development needs, using people and customs as the central parameters for decision-making, management, fostering social cohesion and the promotion of sustainable community livelihoods.
Principles:
- People are at the core of the pursuit of sustainable development;
- Sustainable community lifestyles for Pacific Island communities and nations are dependent on the sustainable use of terrestrial, freshwater and marine biodiversity and the protection and application of traditional knowledge of this biodiversity.
- Traditional and local knowledge enhances scientific knowledge and can guide future directions to ensure pragmatic and mutually beneficial efforts;
- Environmental and sustainable development are for the people and communities and therefore their aspirations and needs should dominate policies, plans, decision making, management and practice;
- Sustainable development requires Environmental justice, and preservation of human rights.
- Early community involvement and partnering with government in the development and project pipeline presents the best means to suit people¿s aspirations, values, issues and priorities to socio-economic progress.
- Integrating environment and socio-economics in the development process provides the means for better decision making for sustainable development;
- Ensuring equity in development processes and environmental management, with social justice and empowerment through community development frameworks - will assist poverty eradication and improve people¿s quality of life.
Purpose: To develop local and national capacity to institute community development frameworks to assist with partnering, prudent anticipation and decisions regarding the planning for environmental change, as well as the pursuit of sustainable development to enhance the quality of life for all communities. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia Summary: Mission statement: To contribute to the protection and improvement of the environment, an improvement in quality of life, and the promotion of sustainable development in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia, through partnership projects involving the public and private sectors and civil society.
[more]
Lead Partner: Partners for Water and Sanitation (PAWS) Secretariat
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Africa Summary: Partners for Water and Sanitation's aim is to help improve access to safe water and sanitation for people in four African countries, using expertise from the UK water industry.
PAWS is a not-for-profit partnership whose members come from government, private sector and civil society. PAWS uses the wide range of skills from these partners to provide advice and support to projects on the request of our partner countries.
PAWS works on projects that aim to build capacity through knowledge transfer in the water and sanitation sector to help to provide a sustainable solution.
Mission Statement: Helping others, in partnership, to promote sustainable water and sanitation provision through our sector expertise.
Lead Partner: Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)
Geographical Scope: National Summary: The Belgian partnership with the CGIAR includes an important part devoted to the education and training of young scientist of the South in highly specialised laboratories for agricultural research in Belgium and in other developed countries.
The main objectives of the agricultural research activities for development, in the frame of this partnership and of the CGIAR in general, are to contribute to food security and poverty eradication in developing countries through research partnerships, capacity building, and policy support, promoting sustainable agricultural development based on the environmentally sound management of natural resources.
Expected results:
* contribute to the promotion of sustainable agriculture and rural development through an increase of the food production and a better organisation of local and regional markets
* contribute to the well being of poor farmers in the South so that they take part, effectively and in a socially acceptable way, in the economic development of their countries while conserving biodiversity and the environment
* strengthening the involvement of all the partners in international agricultural research for development especially those of the Southern countries
* capacity building and participatory approaches to sustainable development [more]
Lead Partner: Government of United States of America - U.S. Enivronmental Protection Agency (USEPA)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The Partnership for Clean Indoor Air is bringing together governments, industry and non-governmental organizations to increase the use of affordable, reliable, clean, efficient, and safe home cooking and heating practices. More than 147 Partner organizations are contributing their resources and expertise to improve health, livelihood and quality of life by reducing exposure to air pollution, primarily among women and children, from household energy use. The Partnership for Clean Indoor Air is focusing on four priority areas: addressing social/cultural barriers to adopting improved technology; supporting the development of local business models and markets for improved cooking and heating techniques; improving the design and performance of improved fuels and technology; and demonstrating reduced exposure to indoor air contaminants. [more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: This initiative will tie together several ongoing and new initiatives through a comprehensive knowledge management system. It will link and harmonise databases, case studies, casebooks, training tools and materials, technical cooperation tools and instruments, and policy and partnership endeavours of global programmes and technical advisory services.
The initiative is also designed to work closely with other Level 2 partners' commitments for WSSD in, inter alia, Water for African and Asian cities, City-to-City Cooperation, and Training local authorities for sustainable urban development.
The initiative aims to mainstream lessons learned from successful practices, policies and legislation in pro-poor, gender-sensitive urban development and in decentralisation and the empowerment of local authorities.
The initiative aims to learn from Best Practices, good policies and enabling legislation: aimed at feeding the lessons from best practices into the capacity development of local authorities, supported by UN-HABITAT, research & training institutions and individual cities.
Expected results include -
(a) More socially-inclusive and environmentally-sound urban development, particularly in developing countries, through the adoption of pro-poor, gender-sensitive urban policies;
(b) More sustainable urbanisation processes and urban governance frameworks through decentralisation and the empowerment of local authorities. [more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: To promote cohesion and collective efficiency in the international support available to the development of local capacities for sustainable urbanisation. This will be accomplished by facilitating joint policy formation between leading international associations of local authorities, international support programmes, and funding agencies on the basis of a systematic information service.
Key Objectives
1. To improve international support to local authorities and their partners in the area of local capacity development for sustainable urbanisation
2. To provide an effective framework for developing city-to-city cooperation ideas, practices and dialogue among the key partner sectors (local government associations, support programmes, donors)
3. To provide an information service on city-to-city cooperation practice promoting a better match between capacity development demand and supply as well as permitting the analysis of trends and policy issues, with ready access by practitioners to all relevant information
4. To facilitate a dialogue on policy and co-ordination issues arising in this field [more]
Lead Partner: World Resources Institute (WRI)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The Partnership for Principle 10 seeks to improve national public participation systems to ensure access to information, public participation, and justice in decision-making that affects the environment. Improved public access to information, participation, and justice in decision-making makes decisions more fair, legitimate, and sustainable. At the national level, a working public participation system enables individuals and groups to make informed choices and integrate social and environmental objectives in decisions on economic policies and specific development activities. As such, a public participation system is an essential mechanism for sustainable development.
National systems for public participation have many common elements, including policies, supporting legislation, institutional infrastructure, methods of dissemination, and timing of participation. Diverse national systems of public participation share areas of achievement as well as weaknesses and gaps. Recent assessments conducted by The Access Initiative of national public participation systems in nine countries, including Chile, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa, Thailand, Uganda, and the United States, provide a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation of the strengths in these countries as well as specific needs for improvement in both policy and practice.
The Partnership for Principle 10 will work to address these implementation gaps and strengthen public access in areas identified as weaknesses. Based on independent assessments of national public participation systems, the Partnership will provide a vehicle for stakeholders to work together to strengthen areas of weakness.
The Partnership for Principle 10 is built around a set of common commitments, to which all partners agree. These common commitments serve as a statement of the Partnership's values and principles. The common commitments set the parameters for the scope of work of the Partnership. All partners, by joining the Partnership for Principle 10, commit to support the accelerated implementation of Principle 10 in their country and in their own practices. They also:
* Recognize that national public participation systems have common elements, and should be regularly and independently assessed by civil society organizations using a common framework of indicators-such as those developed by The Access Initiative-to identify strengths and weaknesses in implementation.
* Commit to collaborate across sectoral boundaries to identify implementation gaps, prioritize needed actions, and implement programs to strengthen capacity and improve performance.
* Commit to promote implementation of Principle 10 internationally through engagement with regional and international organizations, international trade agreements, and financial institutions, as appropriate. [more]
Lead Partner: UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The mission of the Partnership for Water Education and Research (PoWER) is to combine the strengths of all partners and enhance the capacity of each partner in order jointly to:
- Deliver capable professionals in the water and environment sectors.
- Find innovative solutions for water and environmental challenges.
- Build up the capacity of institutions and communities with respect to better management of water and environmental resources.
In the process of combining strengths and levelling the capacities of the individual partners (visualized in the figure below), joint products in the field of education, training and collaborative research will be developed in a multi-disciplinary manner. These shall be demand-responsive, duly accredited and approved through UNESCO-IHE.
By stimulating global connectivity for life-long learning through the generation and sharing of knowledge a partnership will be created that will address priority educational and research issues.
The PoWER partners will be an integral component of the UNESCO-IHE operating environment, and as such, collaborating partners keep ensure that organisational processes are redesigned in alignment with the mission and objectives of this partnership. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Mexico - SEMARNAT: Subsecretaría de Fomento y Normatividad Ambiental - Rainforest Alliance - United Nations Environment Program - DTIE
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Sustainable tourism works to protect the environment and the rights and livelihoods of local communities. Tourism businesses – including hotels, lodges, and tour operators -- can demonstrate their commitment to sustainability by meeting the standards for social and environmental practices that have been created by leading national and international certification programs. These objective, third-party organizations offer an authoritative “seal of approval” to those businesses meeting standards that conserve biodiversity and promote the well-being of workers and communities. There are more than 50 certification programs worldwide that have created national and international standards for sustainable tourism and ecotourism, and more are being created every year. However, key questions arise about them:
How can the public tell which of these programs are credible?
How can tourism businesses choose which sets of standards will have legitimacy?
Which programs can show that they are making a difference – that certified tourism businesses have tangible impacts on workers, communities, and the environment and that businesses benefit from being certified?
And how can tourists be confident that the programs audit, certify, and provide continuous monitoring of those businesses that are serious about social and environmental sustainability and accountability.
In response to these challenges, a coalition of tourism industry associations, nonprofit civil society organizations (NGOs), private foundations, and U.N. and government agencies has been working to create a global Sustainable Tourism Stewardship Council (STSC) -- an umbrella organization that would set universal minimum standards for certification programs and accredit those that meet them. This effort is currently being led by a board of directors that includes 17 organizations including representatives from international NGOs and the private sector and a Technical and Scientific Council that with participation of the United Nations Environment Program, the UN World Tourism Organization, and Rainforest Alliance, the international conservation organization that has provided technical and administrative leadership for the effort since 2001.
[more]
Lead Partner: UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs - Asian Development Bank
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Transport in developing countries is the one of the largest, and fastest growing, source of GHG emissions. Transport related CO2 emissions are expected to increase 57% worldwide in the period 2005 – 2030, and it is estimated that transport (passenger and freight) in developing countries will contribute about 80 percent of this increase. At the same time transport is largely missing in climate change mitigation policies and actions worldwide and in particular those aimed at the developing countries. Growing GHG emissions from the transport sector in developing countries are inextricably linked to an overall lack of sustainability expressed by poor urban planning, increased motorization, increased air pollution and noise, growing congestion and decreasing road safety.
Technological improvements by themselves will not be enough for the transport sector to make a significant contribution to mitigation of GHG; a sector wide re-orientation to low carbon sustainable transport is required which combines policies and measures to (a) avoid/reduce the need for travel, (b) shifts to, or keeps transport at the most efficient mode, and (c) improves efficiency of motorized modes of transport.
Developing countries should seize the opportunity to make their transport systems and infrastructure low carbon and more sustainable through a combination of: increased public awareness, low-carbon, sustainable transport policies, supportive policy instruments, institutional capacity development, appropriate pricing mechanisms and mobilization of financial resources.
The Partnership has as its overarching goal to mobilize global support to reduce the growth of GHG emissions generated by land transport in developing countries by promoting more sustainable, low carbon transport. The partnership has four specific objectives:
a. The integration of sustainable, low carbon transport in climate negotiations, as well as national and local climate policies and programs,
b. The integration of climate considerations in regional, national and local transport policies,
c. Mainstream Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport in strategies and operations of international development organizations,
d. Contribute to sustainable development and the millennium development goals especially providing access to or for goods and services by lower income groups.
The thematic scope of the Partnership is on land transport in developing countries and includes freight and passenger transport. Both motorized and non-motorized transport is included. The geographical scope of the Partnership is developing countries. The Partnership will initially focus on Asia, Latin America and Africa.
The Partnership builds on previous work on sustainable transport by UN-DESA within their mandate as defined by Agenda 21 and the CSD and a large series of events on sustainable transport and climate change by the members of this Partnership in both Asia and Latin America.
[more]
Lead Partner: World Agrofrestry Centre
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Asia and the Pacific Summary: Institutional mechanisms will be developed for recognising and rewarding environmental services generated by upland poor communities who implement sustainable production systems. New methods for transfer payments to upland communities will tested and monitored through action research; working models or best practices of successful environmental transfer payments adapted to the Asian context will be built.
The Program will develop an international partnership/consortium of research and development institutions, local community groups, government institutions, national and international NGOs, the private sector and funding institutions to create the knowledge to deploy rewards to upland, poor, communities who supply environmental services. The rewards for environmental services may include: secure land rights, secure resource user rights; access to markets; public infrastructure; revenues from environmental trust funds and carbon credits; financial incentives. Payments for environmental services by beneficiaries may include: payments to trust funds; user fees for recreation, hydropower and watershed protection; payments for carbon credits; budget allocation by national and local governments for environmental protection. [more]
Lead Partner: Partnership for Environmental Management of Seas East Asia (PEMSEA)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional East Asia Summary: Several local governments in the East Asian Sea Region are in the process of developing long-term, vision-oriented coastal strategies and action plans. The strategies and action plans will concentrate local stakeholder actions on sustainable use of coastal resources, improving the health of ecosystems and the lives of people living in the costal area by alleviating poverty, enhancing public health, providing access to safe and affordable drinking water and sanitary services, and creating sustainable development opportunities.
This initiative is primarily aimed at forging a regional partnership among the local governments and ICM practitioners, with the objective of consolidating their efforts, and increasing management effectiveness and efficiency by sharing experiences, good practices, lessons, expertise, approaches and resources through south-south cooperation. Ten local governments in 8 coastal nations of the region will initially participate in the partnership, covering a total coastline length of 1,242 km and a total sea area of 10,565 km2. The partnership will benefit 6 million inhabitants.
Over the life of the project, the total number of local governments implementing ICM will increase steadily to 20 and estimated to benefit at least 12 million coastal inhabitants. The success of the networking will lead to expansion of membership to cover other coastal management initiatives and accelerate ICM practice throughout the region. It will also establish linkages with other coastal management programs in other regions of the world. [more]
Lead Partner: Stakeholder Forum for Our Common Future, ActionAid
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The Population and Sustainability Network is an advocacy group which aims to bring together development, environment and reproductive health NGOs, government departments, academics and others, to increase leverage on population issues. Network Objectives:· To highlight the negative impact of unsustainable population increase on economic development, poverty alleviation and the natural environment (with particular reference to MDG 7: ¿Ensure environmental sustainability¿).· To support others in the campaign for the provision of adequate reproductive healthcare facilities for the 200 million couples who would use them ¿ but are presently denied rights of access because of funding shortfalls or other reasons· To raise awareness of the need for a rights-based approach to reproductive healthcare.· To ensure better opportunity for investment in healthcare and education, especially in respect of women¿s rights and the need for more effective programmes against HIV/AIDS.· To promote better understanding of the problems caused by unsustainable consumption (particularly in the rich minority world) ¿ including pollution and pressure on finite resources.· To provide a constructive forum in which the issues outlined above can be addressed and to increase stakeholder participation in and ownership of the key issues. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Italy - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Directorate General for Development Cooperation (DGCS) - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Goal: improve living standards among islands¿ residents while sustaining conservation of unique biodiversity.
Main challenge: foster the role of residents in setting planning agendas and participating fully in their islands' development.
Objective 1: provide opportunities for horizontal know-how transfer among relevant professional staff from both archipelagos, and to promote the involvement of the islands' residents in planning processes together with their participation in the sustainable development of the islands.
Low levels of awareness on the relationships linking the conservation of ecosystems, natural resources and biological diversity and the generation of concrete and sustainable development opportunities, is an issue to be addressed, at different levels, in both archipelagos. This extends to officials, community leaders as well as the local business community. There is an urgent need to strengthen the capacities of relevant institutions and society to work in a systemic and cross-sectoral fashion to improve the overall management of the island's resources.
Objective 2: contribute to the consolidation of relevant institutional capacities in the systemic planning and management of sustainable development, by promoting inter-linkage and information exchange between relevant institutions and administrations, as well as boosting their capacity to dialogue with local communities, NGOs and the general public. [more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Conservation Monitoring Centre
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Proteus is a public-private partnership established in the spirit of the Johannesburg summit ¿ business, multilateral organizations, governments and NGOs working together to achieve more. Proteus aims to gather and analyze the best available data on the world¿s living resources, such as species and ecosystems, and make it available globally as usable and accessible information suitable for decision-making. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Indonesia - Ministry of the Environment
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Asia and the Pacific Summary: Main objective of the partnership/initiative:
1. Increase the benefit from sustainable tourism resources for the population in the host communities.
2. Enhancing the protection of conservation area by environmental education.
3. Explore and utilize of depth environmental friendly technologies.
4. Develop technology of cleaner production for supporting sustainable tourism activities. [more]
Lead Partner: The Asia-Pacific Regional Technology Centre
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: APRTC's Web-based online eLearning programme agLe@rn - uses modern information, communication and educational technologies to provide individuals working with small holder farmers with the updated knowledge and skills they need to be effective agents of change for sustainable agriculture. The value and feasibility of eLearning is proving itself and has a demonstrated potential to help bridge the knowledge and technology gaps that exist between what is known in centers of learning and what information and knowledge is needed among the millions of the developing world's rural population. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Sweden - Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) - East African Community (EAC) Secretariat - East African Community (EAC) Secretariat
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Lake Victoria Basin Summary: In the Partnership Agreement between EAC and the Development Partners the following objectives are set out:
* To exploit the opportunities for development in the Lake Victoria Basin in a sustainable manner and address the present problems relating to economic and social development, poverty and environment
* To identify and investigate specific aspects of threats and obstacles to sustainable, economic, social and environmental development, and their underlying causes and propose relevant interventions
* To assist in the formulation of policies to guide the various actors involved with activities relevant to sustainable development in the region
* To build capacity through the development and strengthening of local institutions and organizations concerned with these issues
* To promote co-ordination of the development efforts undertaken by various authorities, institutions and bodies established within EAC with an interest in supporting the developments in the Lake Victoria Basin
* To provide consultative fora and focal points for various actors with an interest in the developments in the Basin
* To broaden the co-operation between EAC, the EAC member states and donor agencies
* To identify investment opportunities and work to create a climate conducive to investments
* To mobilize resources for the implementation of identified Programmes
* To promote the involvement of a broad spectrum of actors in the development process [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Japan - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: International trade plays an important role in the promotion of economic development and poverty reduction. From this perspective, we have to make efforts in providing technical assistance and promoting capacity building in order that developing countries may benefit from the multilateral trading system.
* Especially, we confirmed the important role of technical assistance and capacity building in the Doha Declaration. In this regard, we will work actively to ensure the success of the Fifth Ministerial Conference in addition to the above-mentioned strategy.
Expected results include:
To deepen knowledge and understanding of developing countries (especially countries in Africa) related to WTO negotiation in the new issues (investment, competition, trade facilitation, transparency in government procurement), which are supposed to be one of the focuses at the new round. [more]
Lead Partner: COREN asbl
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Europe Summary: This project aims at :
1. Enhancing and spreading knowledge of Eco-Management Systems (EMS) in schools,
2. Building capacity for management of schools, for both theirs environmental and pedagogical effects,
3. Developing a short- and middle term strategy for implementing Sustainable Development Management Systems (SDMS) in schools
4. Creating a school network including multiple stakeholders (ong's, governments, intergovernmental organizations, business) for sustainable development education
The objectives in detail are:
Inquiring into the progress and the innovations dealing with EMS in schools
Comparing the existing tools and experiments aiming at the implementation of EMS in schools
Revealing the interest of EMS on both pedagogical and environmental level
Making recommendations to public authorities (education, environment) to support schools in their efforts
Establishing a common framework for the implementation of EMS in all types of schools
Setting up a training and guidance program and materials to support the implementation of EMS in all types of schools
Developing a common framework for the implementation of SDMS in all types of schools, including the challenges of the Agenda 21 and Millenium Declaration (Climate change, Natural ressources, Health, Citizenship, N/S solidarity,...)
Setting up a training and guidance program and materials to support the implementation of SDMS in all types of schools [more]
Lead Partner: Yachay Wasi - Yachay Wasi
Geographical Scope: Local Summary: Surging from a pressing environmental need, this Partnership was implemented by the Indigenous NGO Yachay Wasi (based in New York City, USA and in Cuzco, Peru) to assess and stop the growing chemical contamination of 4 Andean mountain lakes, one of them affecting the village of Acopia in Peru, birthplace of Luis Delgado Hurtado, Yachay Wasi co-founder and president, who now resides in Cuzco, Peru.
This environmental and educational project is geared to the recovery of the circuit of 4 lakes located in the provinces of Acomayo and Canas, Dept of Cuzco, in the Peruvian Andes (altitude: 3,600 meters (11,811 feet)). There are several Indigenous communities living near these lakes with a 2002 estimated population of 25,518 inhabitants.
Lakes are: Laguna Acopia near the village of Acopia, Lagunas Pampamarca and Asnacocha (Mosoqllaqta) near the village of Mosoqllaqta, Laguna Pomacanchi near the village of Pomacanchi.
The inhabitants of these respective Indigenous villages and many other smaller Indigenous communities rely on these waters. The contamination of these lakes has been a growing problem over the past few years. The lakes waters are not used for drinking, but the fish, a daily staple from these lakes, can become a potential health hazard.
The Project has the goal to clean the waters and banks of these four lakes and to recover the biological diversity, flora and fauna representative of this important site; to educate and assist the communities on ways to prevent future contamination, which will include recycling of solid waste, building/upgrading septic tanks and laundry facilities in some villages.
One way of recovering the biological diversity of this area was initiated in May 2008: planting Native Trees around lakes and communities.
[more]
Lead Partner: International Model Forest Network Secretariat
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Latin America and the Caribbean Summary: This collaborative initiative supports the development and establishment of a Regional Network of Model Forests in Latin America and the Caribbean. Model Forests are about translating higher-level policy goals into achievable and locally relevant models of sustainable use and best practices for the conservation of all forest resources. They use locally-based partnership to find working solutions to forest resource management issues through capacity building, improved decision-making and governance systems, economic diversification, integrated resource management, and poverty alleviation.
The Regional Centre:
- provides technical support to promote and strengthen model forest development in the region;
- documents and demonstrates best practices for sustainable forest management and sustainable economic development opportunities for local communities;
- substantially strengthens the transfer of technology from Canada to the region and among countries and projects in the region;
- secures new country and institutional partners and donors. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Philippines - Partnership for Environmental Management of Seas East Asia (PEMSEA)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional East Asia Summary: The initiative is focused on accelerating investments in environmental facilities and services at the community/local government level, for the protection and sustainable use of the marine and coastal resources of the Seas of East Asia using public-private partnership (PPP) arrangements. The project entails the establishment of partnerships between the public and private sectors, at the local, national and international levels, employing a procedure that was developed and tested by
PEMSEA in Batangas Bay, Philippines. The PPP process will be applied at six pilot sites, to refine, verify and demonstrate the approach under a variety of political, social, economic and environmental scenarios. The pilot site locations include: Bali (Indonesia), Bohai Sea (China), Danang (Vietnam), Klang (Malaysia), Manila Bay (Philippines) and Xiamen (China). Each identified pilot site has already embarked on a program of integrated marine and coastal resource management, and has created a policy and investment climate that is conducive to private sector investment and partnership.
The objectives of the initiative are as follows:
1. To verify the PPP procedure for developing pipeline projects for environmental investments at the local government level;
2. To build confidence and capabilities in public-private partnership (PPP) arrangements as an alternative delivery mechanism for financing and sustaining environmental facilities and services;
3. To establish PPP working models at selected sites in the region; and
4. To develop capacities within and among the public and private sectors to effectively implement and sustain new environmental investments in the East Asian region and elsewhere, using the experience, lessons and good practices derived from this initiative; and
5. To engage local and national governments, the private sector, national and international financial institutions, international agencies, donors, the private sector and civil society in development projects that result in practical benefits to the environment, and the social and economic well-being of coastal communities. [more]
Lead Partner: REEEP International Secretariat
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Accelerate a global market for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficient Systems (REES).
Tremendous financial resources from the private and public sector will be needed to meet developing and transition countries' future energy demand in a sustainable way. Obstacles prohibiting this development include a lack of reliable policies and regulatory measures, and the perceived high risk and low return investments in REES.
The removal of the obstacles to sustainable energy is urgently needed:
- Robust policies and favourable, transparent and stable regulatory frameworks are required to attract private investors and to guarantee affordable energy services to the consumers.
- New forms of financing, risk mitigation and guarantee models will be necessary to make small sized renewables and energy efficiency projects bankable and economically attractive.
REEEP aims to work as an enabler, multiplier and catalyser of institutional change, and to have a real impact over the next decade with the following objectives:
1. Significant global increase of investments in renewable energy
2. Significant global increase of energy efficiency measures
3. Significant increase in access to sustainable energy services for the poor
[more]
Lead Partner: ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The goal of the Resilient Communities & Cities Partnership Program is to support the development of greater resilience in the institutions, infrastructure, and social and economic life of cities and towns worldwide through urban management and participatory governance. A Resilient Community is a city, town or neighbourhood that reduces its vulnerability to dramatic change or extreme events and responds creatively to economic, social and environmental change in order to increase its long-term sustainability.
Guided by the formula "Sustainability=Resilience/Risk," the program seeks to develop a methodology for local resilience management, which will increase the resilience of a city or community to a range of shocks, crises, and disasters including environmental emergencies, industrial accidents, outbreaks of epidemics, economic shocks, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and social conflict. In the Resilient Communities & Cities Partnership Program, the concept of resilience encompasses both the resilience of cities (the natural and built environment, including infrastructure) as well as the resilience of communities (social and political structures).
The program will focus on introducing policies, tools and methods developed in the disaster management community into the established worldwide movement for sustainable communities, thereby linking preventative disaster management know-how with established local methods for participatory sustainable development planning (also known as Local Agenda 21 planning).
The Partnership Program is composed of eight elements: partnership program management and capacity building; documentation and promotion of good policies and best practices; inventory and review of mechanisms for local resilience management; recruitment of pilot cities; methodology, modeling and system development; pilot projects in six municipalities; project learning and experience; and project documentation and products. [more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (UNCHS) - United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) - International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) - Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The main objective of the partnership is to provide technical assistance and build the capacities of SIDS for the integration of comprehensive risk management including disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness into sustainable development planning and help relieve the consequences of disasters, extreme weather events and other emergencies.
Expected results include:
Sustainable Development Plans prepared and implemented to reduce vulnerability to natural disasters generally and in key sectors such as agriculture, tourism and fisheries.
Greater use of financial instruments and incentives for risk reduction.
Necessary legislation, planning, building and development standards and codes established and systematically enforced.
Public education and awareness improved, including the development of participatory approaches to disaster reduction planning and activities.
Regional networks strengthened including sharing data, best practice examples, early warning, coordinated emergency response systems and other co-operation mechanisms.
Enhanced inter-regional co-operation and information and technical expertise exchange.
SIDS vulnerability to hazards fully incorporated into environmental, social and economic vulnerability indexes and indicators.
A special SIDS fund established to support incorporating disaster mitigation, preparedness into sustainable development planning and to ensure better emergency response and co-ordination of donor support to activities. [more]
Lead Partner: Regional Institute for Environmental Technologies - Asian Productivity Organisation (APO)
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Asia and the Pacific Summary: SIGN3-Asias central aim is to promote sustainable investments and to assist in: developing synergies between private capital, institutional investments and Official Development Assistance (ODA). Bringing the broad financial resource streams together is the principal of synergies, which is primarily designed to boost sustainable investments in Asia addressing sustainable development and resource productivity along the global value chain. Shouldering responsibilities between Governments, International Institutions, Transnational Corporation, Local Entrepreneurs will help to leapfrog development and reduce investments risks while addressing the specific needs of each sector developing synergies with existing initiatives in Asia, supported by Asian Governments and interested parties, the UN the EU, USA, International Organisations, i.e., Development Banks, the OECD, Export Credit Agencies, AsRIA and a coalition of progressive business SIGN3-Asia means Sustainable Investment Global Network for Asia. The N3 in the term echoes the need to consider the triple bottom line of sustainable development economic prosperity, social equity and environmental protection in all investment decisions. SIGN3-Asia is a not-for-profit regional network.
SIGN3- Asia's Catalytic Role. There are a number of initiatives aimed at promoting FDI in Asia or affecting the form it takes. No initiative has so far been identified which addresses - sustainable foreign direct investment for a whole region and which attempts to bring the main stakeholders together. SIGN3 needs to build on these initiatives and encourage synergies instead of duplicating efforts. A priority for the initial stages of SIGN 3 is to make contact with the secretariats of all these initiatives and discuss how the synergies between the various initiatives can be exploited. [more]
Lead Partner: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The main objective of this partnership initiative is to facilitate and enhance advanced scientific and technological methodologies such as the Isotopes Techniques to the sustainable use of water resources and coastal zone management.
Expected results include:
* Improved understanding of the groundwater discharge to the ocean and sea water intrusion in the coastal aquifer processes by the application of wide spectrum of isotopes techniques.
* Increased capacity of coordination among experts in hydrogeology, oceanography, coastal resources management
* Improved capacity for efficient water resources and coastal zone management and related policy development achieved by more effective collaboration between the partner agencies.
* Increased capacity of national scientific and technical institutions to use advanced techniques such us Isotopes applications in relation to water resources and coastal zone management.
* Increased capacity for long-term sustained training capability on isotopes techniques applications through development of academic centers. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Japan - Ministry of the Environment
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The Scientific Capacity Building and Enhancement for Sustainable Development in Developing Countries (CAPaBLE) Programme is a concrete initiative introduced by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan and Hyogo Prefecture Government, Japan to specifically realize parts 107 to 114 of the Plan of Implementation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), and was registered as a WSSD Type II Partnership/Initiative by the Japanese Government in Johannesburg, September 2002. The programme was endorsed by the APNâs Inter-Governmental Meeting in March 2003 and launched in April, 2003. The objectives of the Programme are targeted to enhance scientific capacity in developing countries in the Asia-Pacific Region to improve their decision-making in target areas related to climate change, water and food security, and global change that are directly linked to their sustainable development. Of particular relevance to the CAPaBLE Programme is Part 111 of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation: Establish regular channels between policy-makers and the scientific community for requesting and receiving science and technology advice for the implementation of Agenda 21, and create and strengthen networks for science and education for sustainable development, at all levels, with the aim of sharing experiences and best practices, and building scientific capacities, particularly in developing countries. [more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The purpose of UNDP's Shared Rivers Governance Project is to build on and complement existing activities to:
- Support regional dialogue and build political will among decision makers in developing countries to jointly address integrated management and development of shared rivers, and
- Build capacity and provide support for the development of legal mechanisms and associated institutional structures for shared rivers management
The development objective of the Shared Rivers project is to improve natural resource management, improve the livelihoods of poor people, maximize benefits across the basin and promote regional stability. This will be achieved by providing strategic support for improved water governance of international rivers to advance socially equitable, environmentally sustainable and economically efficient management and development of the water resources. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of China - The State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) - Government of Italy - Ministry of the Environment and Territory
Geographical Scope: National Summary: In the year 2000, the Ministry of the Environment and Territory (IMET) launched a co-operation program with the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) of China. The program, financed by the Ministry for the Environment and Territory and co-financed by the Chinese Government and several Municipalities, consists of the implementation of pilot projects and feasibility studies for the development of scientific and commercial projects on environmental protection, including ecological conservation, air quality improvement, and sustainable agriculture development. In the following years, the Cooperation has been enlarged to the Ministry of Science & Technology of China in the perspective of implementing Clean Development Mechanism projects.
China signed the Stockholm Convention in May 2001 and is in the process of ratifying the Agreement. As per requirements of the Convention, China has begun to develop a National Implementation Plan (NIP) for POPs and to undertake enabling activities. To enhance its domestic capacity to meet obligations arising from the Convention, China is working with a range of bilateral partners including the Government of Italy, and with various intergovernmental organizations.
In this respect, the Italian Ministry for Environment and Territory together with SEPA has launched a broad cooperation program directed to the development of the following pilot projects in selected areas aimed at the improvement of air quality and control:
1. Air Quality Monitoring Systems
2. Urban Sustainable Mobility
3. Technology Transfer for the construction of low capacity boilers fed with diesel oil
4. Urban Energy Plans for a Sustainable Environment
5. Strengthening Technology and Capacity of Sustainable Agriculture
6. Control and phase out of POPs [more]
Lead Partner: Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) - Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) - Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR)
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Latin America and the Caribbean Summary: Main objectives:
1) To provide capacity building and transfer of know-how to decision makers and other major groups in the Dominican Republic on: organic agriculture`s principles and practices to foster long term sustainable food production, health, revitalize rural development and conserve natural resources.
2) Sharing lessons learned and promote information exchange on cultivation methods, information on marketing, trade, development or improvement of an appropriate legislative framework, certification and other mechanisms to ensure implementation and enforcement of organic agriculture at the local and country level.
3) Preparatory work: Identifying country's additional interests and needs. [more]
Lead Partner: Youth for Sustainable Development Assembly-Pilipin - Youth for Sustainable Development Assembly-Pilipin
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Southeast Asia Summary: This initiative aims to pilot at the sub-regional level a self-sustaining capacity development mechanism for the continuous and direct involvement of local and national youth organizations in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of community-level (village level) sustainable development efforts (eco-village initiatives) in 10 pilot communities in each of the following target countries in the South East Asia Sub region: Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.
The initiative will link both information and community organizing technologies to facilitate through capacity development interventions, the transformation of existing local community groups supported by national youth networks to self sustaining and politically strong youth cooperatives or enterprises engage in sustainable livelihood in such eco-preneurial (conservation-based) enterprises as: a) community-based coastal resource management, b) community-based forest management, c) community-based sustainable agriculture, d) community based ecological solid waste management and e) community-based eco-tourism.
The information generated and manage through an electronic information system once transformed into non-electronic forms of information sharing tools useful and usable at the community level can then be used both for accessing relevant information and opportunities and as a marketing & promotions mechanism for the products and services that will eventually be developed out of the expected community youth-led eco-enterprises to sustain the respective operations of the target community youth groups. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Australia - Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Pacific Summary: The aim of this initiative is to enable Pacific Island countries to adapt to the future impact of climate change, climate variability and sea-level rise. Consistent with the objectives of the Pacific Island Framework for Action on Climate Change, Climate Variability and Sea Level Rise, the initiative aims to strengthen regional collaboration between relevant multilateral and regional technical agencies and other bilateral donors, and to enlist the support of key government, community and private stakeholders. [more]
Lead Partner: ASEAN Regional Center Biodiversity Conservation (ARCBC)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Southeast Asia Summary: To promote fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources in South-east Asia Region, including by appropriate access to genetic resources and by appropriate transfer of relevant technologies, taking into account all rights over those resources and to technologies, and by appropriate funding.
Expected results include:
* Improve understanding of the issues on access to genetic resources and benefit sharing, including the related intellectual property rights associating with the use of traditional knowledge and transfer of related technology;
* Conservation of genetic resources in ASEAN countries
* People-based genetic resources management based on local/traditional knowledge, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits.
* Trust-building and transparency in order to facilitate the exchange of genetic resources, particularly with regard to the implementation of Article 15 of the CBD.
* Creation of Partnerships and Promotion of Co-Operation in regard to the regional, as well as national interests and also to better take advantage of the international processes in the field of ABS (the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and Bonn Guidelines on Access to Genetic Resources and Sharing of Benefits Arising out of the Utilization of Genetic Resources). [more]
Lead Partner: Southern Caucus Of NGOs For Sustainable Development
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: THE PARTNERSHIP SHALL:
1. Establish Five Multi Regional Centers to assist in recruitment, mobilization and development of human resources and strengthen Southern Major Group NGO Institutions on Local, National and Regional Levels and increase their Capacity to participate in and contribute to the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation Locally, Nationally and Regionally.
2 Seek resources to implement National NGO Action Plans to Eradicate Poverty, complementary to Government Plans
3 Report on the impact of reduction of poverty programs using UN CSD measurements and report on NGO Sustainable Development achievements and obstacles to participation in Local, National and Regional Sustainable Development.
4 Increase participation of Southern Major Group NGO¿s as observers and experts at Government Regional Meetings with feedback to local communities.
5 Replicate to NGOs in the countries served by the Centers best practices and expert programs developed by National and Regional NGO Major Groups that contribute to Sections IV to VIII of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, including the following:5a Reduce digital divide problems through Digital Divide Centers linked to Distance Learning, Technology Exchange, Higher Education, Research, Technical Assistance and Communications Programs,
5b Provide .
5c Participate in Monitoring and Management of Watersheds, Forests and Carbon Exchange programs [more]
Lead Partner: The Global Mechanism of the UNCCD
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Southern Africa Summary: This partnership seeks to link inter-governmental processes in Southern Africa with activities of the Non-governmental Organizations and Community Based Organizations. The partners commit to prepare and implement, disseminate information about, and follow-up to, activities supporting the implementation of the Convention to Combat Desertification. In particular, the partnership is, on a long-term basis, focusing on activities following-up to the WSSD. The partnership will additionally provide a series of constructive input to the process of establishing the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).
Specifically, the partners will seek to engage in complementary activities, joint meetings, enhanced communication, information exchange and co-ordination, which will:
* Enhance the resources available for the implementation of the CCD;
* Promote desertification issues following-up to the Legislators'Conference and WSSD in 2002;
* Create awareness among politicians and legislators about the implementation of the CCD in SADC;
* Establish linkages between the three Conventions of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, 1992;
* Assist communities affected by land degradation and poverty in building capacity for resilience and improved livelihood; and
* Enhance capacity within the NGO community to assist in implementing the Sub-regional and National Action Plans of the CCD. [more]
Lead Partner: International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) - Kenyan National Research Institute
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Africa Summary: Overall goal: Increased household food security in arid and semi-arid areas
1.To promote the development of affordable and low-cost irrigation technologies to ensure the efficient water resource utilisation in agriculture
2.To ensure low-cost irrigation technologies meet the needs of small-scale farmers, by developing research agendas through multi-stakeholder collaboration.
3.To strengthen farmer-to-farmer and farmer-to-researcher information exchange on appropriate, low cost irrigation technologies
Background: Sustainable agriculture and rural development are essential to the implementation of an integrated approach to increasing food production and enhancing food security. Therefore it is vital to encourage and support programmes that enhance, in a sustainable manner, land productivity and the efficient use of water resources in agriculture.
Low-pressure drip irrigation and treadle pumps have presented ways for smallholder farmers to produce high value crops. The technologies are affordable and easy to understand after initial training.
Drip irrigation reduces water use, increases crop yield and gives good quality produce within less time and money as compared to traditional ways of cultivating and irrigating commercial crops.
However the majority of small holders within developing countries are deprived of this technology due to its high initial cost and problems of appropriately adapting it to the specific needs of small holdings. Until recently it has been too expensive to be affordable for poor families and too large for tiny plots of land.
Since 1996, The Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) has worked with low head drip irrigation kits that include a range of small and easy to use, affordable micro irrigation kits to produce high value crops. In addition, a local NGO - Approtec has been promoting treadle pump technology in Kenya since 1998 with good rate of success.
The development of supply chain for affordable drip irrigation kits and treadle pumps through manufacturers, assemblers, dealers, nursery growers and farmers will help in creating small enterprises in particular areas and make the technologies available to smallholder farmers in the arid and semi arid areas.
The main aim of the project is to build upon this initial success in small -scale irrigation within Kenya by initiating a process to up-scale current rates of uptake within pilot areas.
The partnership will employ a multi-stakeholder approach to aaddress the problems faced by farmers in their efforts to use irrigation for food production.
The partnership will enable farmers¿ organisations and research the opportunity to learn, and thus build upon the strengths of this multi-stakeholder approach.
The partnership will also offer the opportunity to transfer knowledge and affordable technology.
Lead Partner: Government of El Salvador - El Salvador National Territorial Studies Bureau
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Central America Summary: The main objective is to contribute to risk reduction in Central America through the effective implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) and the action points of Agenda 21.
Given the frequency, variety and magnitude of the adverse natural phenomena that affect the Central American isthmus, and the vulnerability of its inhabitants, risk reduction is a key prerequisite to achieving sustainable development in the subregion.
Agenda 21 contains significant action points for hazard and risk reduction, particularly in the chapters on Sustainable Human Settlements, Environment and Development, the Planning and Management of Land Resources, Drought, and Protection of the Quality and Supply of Freshwater. The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) can help to systematize the activities underway to meet these challenges and consolidate the many efforts aimed at risk reduction and environmental protection in Central America. [more]
Lead Partner: Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM)
Geographical Scope: Regional
Summary: A major source of economic pressure for the Caribbean Islands, with the exception of Trinidad and Tobago, is the cost of petroleum importation. Among the regions that scientists expect to be most adversely affected by the impacts of climate change and sea level rise, is the Caribbean. The major contributor to the GHG that drives climate change comes from the burning of fossil fuels like petroleum which contributes more that seventy-five percent of GHG. The region therefore seeks partnership for sustainable energy development that would reduce dependence on petroleum and demonstrate the viability of renewable energy to meet development needs.
Main objectives of the Partnership/Initiative
* Accelerate the transfer and adoption of cleaner and renewable energy technologies.
* Implementing pilot energy efficiency projects to help influence energy.
* Increased availability of adequate, affordable and environmentally sound energy for the sustainable development of the Caribbean islands.
* Build capacity for the training of energy sector professionals who will provide the technical guidance to help the region transition to sustainable energy. [more]
Lead Partner: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: This is a civil society led, government supported, FAO facilitated undertaking.The preliminary focus of the SARD Initiative has currently been focusing on three themes, which were discussed in the International Conference on Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in Mountain Regions (Adelboden, Switzerland, 6/2002), in the SARD Electronic Forum (6/2002-present) and in a number of local consultations in different regions of the developing world and among some of the NGOs/CSOs attending the World Food Summit: five years later (6/2002). Sub-Initiatives can be organized around the following or other thematic areas of action, based on the interests, priorities, commitment and resources of specific partners involved:
* Access to resources
* Fair conditions of employment
* Good Agricultural Practices for SARD
Given the critical mass of Mountain Governments supporting the SARD Initiative in the Adelboden Declaration, the relevant sub-Initiatives outlined in the Adelboden Plan of Action, and that 2002 is the International Year of the Mountains, it has been proposed that the Initiative should begin with a mountain focus, subject to the interest and resources of concerned stakeholders. The Initiative may capitalize on other key conferences and International Years, for instance, 2003 is the International Year of Fresh Water. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Canada - Industry Canada
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: By partnering with cities in developing and emerging economies, the SCI helps cities define their sustainable development objectives and implement projects to improve the environmental and human health of their community. Multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder city teams (Canadian private sector, government and NGOs) combine forces and resources with local authorities to develop and implement city sustainable development plans. The SCI's main areas of focus are all priority areas for sustainable urban development: clean water, waste management, clean energy, transportation, housing, capacity-building, urban planning, telecommunications, urban infrastructure projects, and waterfront development. By showcasing Canada's expertise in sustainable development technologies and services, the SCI demonstrates the important role the private sector can play in reducing poverty, enhancing quality of life and promoting the principles of good governance. [more]
Lead Partner: Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Caribbean Summary: The overall goal of this initiative is to develop capacity to address the current threats to the environmental quality of the Caribbean Sea. This growing threat endangers the sustainable provision of goods and services that is the basis of the economy of the majority of countries across the region. A healthy Caribbean Sea is essential to the livelihood and aspirations of Caribbean people.
The special initiative is intended to assist with the implementation of the Plan of Action for sustainable development of the Caribbean Sea. The initiative will help harmonize and build upon ongoing programs being implemented within the region, and to implement priorities identified at the first ever meeting between leading environment and sustainable development actors from government, academia, NGOs and donors from Central America and the Caribbean, at which sustainable development of the Caribbean Sea was identified as the priority for collaboration and partnerships. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Indonesia - Ministry of Environment
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Asia and the Pacific Summary: At present many countries especially developing countries are facing increased growth in the mining industry. One shared issue facing countries having mining activities is the deterioration of its environmental quality such as surface and ground water, air, coastal and sea areas. Countermeasures taken to deal with the situation are the introduction of clean technology in carrying out processing and best mining practices in the mining products. These practices have been applied in developing countries with various results achieved.
Most developing countries have already environmental standards for emission, effluent, groundwater contamination in place as well as hazardous and toxic management guidelines. Nevertheless, mining industry still do not comply due to weak law enforcement, lack of monitoring capability and skilled human resources. One effective tool that can be applied is to improve the mining industries environmental performance and management through harmonization of environment standards within the developing countries.
This partnership aims to improve environmental performance and management of the mining industry through harmonization of environmental standards within the ASEAN countries which produce mining products.
Expected results include:
a. Create a demand from the public for environmentally mining process in complying with effluent, emission standards and hazardous and toxic management;
b. Pressurize mining industries to comply with existing environmental standards;
c. Heightened public awareness on mining industries that pollute;
d. Ensure openness and transparency in the implementation of environmental standards for mining industries;
e. Obtain reliable information on performance of mining industries; [more]
Lead Partner: Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)
Geographical Scope: Regional
Summary: The overall goal of this initiative is "Sustainable Land Resources Management" for the Pacific region. To increase the capacity for sustainable development (including agriculture, forestry, livestock and mining) in the Pacific through a partnership of national, regional, and international organization with particular attention to participatory strategies with rural communities that will focus on appropriate technologies, food security, and poverty eradication & economic development that takes into account the fragile SIDS ecologies.
* Based on the regional and national priorities, the initiative will provide long-term funding for programmes and/or specific proposals to increase the capacity for sustainable agricultural development.
* Based on regional priorities from the UNFF process, the intiative will work in arease of forestry and trees
* In terms of mining, the overall objective will be to develop a mineral policy strategy which would contribute to the sustainable development of PICs by improving the governance in the minerals sector, through national capacity building and the formulation of legislation and policies consistent with national economic, environment and social policies, strategies, plans & guidelines. [more]
Lead Partner: Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM) - University of the West Indies
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Caribbean Summary: The overall goal of this initiative is more sustainable management of land resource across the region in order to reverse land degradation and desertification. Current management of land resources need significant improvement in order to address loss of fertility, reduction in fresh water resources, loss of biological diversity, and degradation of coastal ecosystems that are part of the unintended consequences of current land use and management practices. To increase the capacity for sustainable land use (including agriculture, settlement development, tourism, forestry and livestock) in the region, a partnership of national, regional, and international organisations with farming and forestry communities is being proposed. The components of the partnership will be integrated land use management, appropriate technologies, food security, economic development, and environmental protection. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Burkina Faso - Regional Agency for Support and Consulting on Tourism and Development (ARTODEV)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The project's purpose is to use experiments currently being carried out in various countries in order to analyze the conditions conducive to developing forms of tourism in line with the stated sustainability criteria, and to suggest methodologies for implementing these new approaches as well as for their follow-up and evaluation. This will involve transforming experimentation into development programmes for emerging countries and offering validated methodological tools to national authorities.
The first phase will consist of identifying experiments in progress, selecting the "best practices," and analysing and evaluating them in order to identify the appropriate model-building parameters. This "expertise" will be able to make use of comparative data from similar experiments carried out in developed countries, particularly in fragile rural areas.
The financial and methodological assistance for these experiments will make it possible to verify, during a second phase, the feasibility of their increased use and of their ability to have a greater impact on the diversification and qualitative improvement of tourism in these countries.
The project will directly benefit village communities involved in developing this form of tourism as well as local authorities, who should enjoy an increase in revenues from tourism and a greatly enhanced image abroad. It will indirectly benefit customers, who will have access to better information about the products available and a more diversified offer, and who, because of the labels that can be used, will have greater confidence in the redeployment of monetary flows towards local populations. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Italy - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Directorate General for Development Cooperation (DGCS)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional MAP area ( bordering regions of Madre de Dios (Perù), Acre (Brasil), Pando (Bolivia) Summary: The general objective of the programme is to improve the living conditions of the local communities while ensuring the conservation of biological diversity and other ecosystem resources and services of the Amazon forest. This will be achieved by improving the relationships among the different administrative, scientific, conservation and social groups present in the area toward the sustainable and harmonious development of the three neighbouring countries sharing the same ecosystems and, hence, planning and management problems and development opportunities.
More specifically, this objective will be achieved by jointly designing and carrying out a strategy, commonly agreed upon by, and with the contributions of public and private organizations, and the key groups of the three countries, toward the conservation and the sustainable use of the natural resources and of the biodiversity in the south-western Amazonian forest ecosystems.
The above target will be pursued by establishing a systemic transnational framework in support of the integration of existing relevant inter-institutional and information networks and attracting the involvement also of the international donors focussing on other sectors indirectly related to sustainable development and preservation of the biodiversity, such as the fight against drug production, poverty alleviation and food security, access to basic services like health and education, and the strengthening of equitable systems and processes and of social participation. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Italy - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Directorate General for Development Cooperation (DGCS) - The World Conservation Union (IUCN)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional WESCANA - West/Central Asia and North Africa Summary: This partnership reflects the spirit and supports the endeavours of the EU Water Initiative. It aims at contributing to sustainable, ecosystem-based freshwater management on the basis of an integrated, systemic approach linking two of the core development components related to water. The first component, water resource, refers to aspects such as water supply and storage, and their related technologies, institutional and policy frameworks and networks (e.g. on the development of dams, embankments, irrigation, schemes, etc.). The second component, water quality, pertaining to the maintenance of the freshwater ecological balance, biodioversity, and environmental and human health, etc, and related institutions, policies and networks (e.g. on land use planning, pollution control, biological requalification including biological and chemical monitoring and treatment, etc). The project will contribute to facilitating effective and informed policy and decision-making on integrated freshwater management by supporting the above interlinking through the creation of a strong regional systemic network of networks of national excellence and expertise. Further, this initiativ
Expected results include:
* Regional Water Programme Centre Jordan consolidated as focal point for the regional network of networks of sustainable water management expertise;
* Capacity of network partners built with the support of the Regional Water Programme Centre (including access to on-line information as well as regional training and monitoring), in propping up national systemic planning and management processes and, in turn, providing services to the partner countries of WESCANA;
* Institutional set-ups and legislative foundations analysed and synthesised as a basis for the development of sustainable water management policy in the WESCANA;
* Water conservation and sustainable use techniques inventorised, classified and analysed against sustainable, integrative water management;
* A number of pilot planning and management action implemented, jointly and/or in coordination, by two or more partner countries on transboundary/regionally shared management problems and/or development potentials, such as in water catchments/watersheds, groundwater basins, etc.e will support the implementation of partnership pilot planning and management action at transboundary/regional level. [more]
Lead Partner: National Institute of Public Finance and Policy - Prayas Energy Group - World Resources Institute
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The Electricity Governance Initiative seeks to enhance global understanding of electricity sector governance, and build the capacity of governments and civil society to implement good governance. The electricity sector globally has undergone fundamental transformations over the past decade. With new forms of organization, ownership, and technologies have come new and complicated questions about how decisions in the electricity sector are made and who makes them. Electricity reform has raised questions of governance that are increasingly recognized as important, but seldom answered. The Initiative is a partnership of civil society and electricity sector actors, whose goal is to create space for voices representing social and environmental considerations to be included in electricity sector decision-making, and advance implementation of Agenda 21. We seek to develop a common language for understanding governance and to build the capacity of civil society and governments to practice good governance. The partnership complements the efforts of civil society, governments, and private sector actors to advance public interests in the electricity sector. [more]
Lead Partner: INTERSECT
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: At no time in history has the threat to our human and natural resources been so acute. Also, at no other time has there been such a high level of the awareness, capacity, connectivity and commitment required to shift the social environment to one in which sustainability is possible. INTERSECT sees that as the co-epidemics of HIV and Violence Against Women & Girls rage rampantly out of control across the global landscape, not only are women at critical risk and girls, even baby girls, left to face unimaginable dangers, the impact on all aspects of society and the sustainability of the earth are under threat from these, and a vast array of inseparably related issues. Clearly, innovative, far-reaching and never-before-tried collaborative approaches on a massive scale are called for.
INTERSECT envisions and will provide the catalyst for the creation of Intersect Coalitions across nations worldwide to confront the results of HIV, Violence Against Women and Girls and the blowback into other movements caused in their wake. These multi-disciplined, diverse, broad-based Coalitions will inspire and work towards sweeping changes brought about through a shift in our approach to collaboration. The time has come to harness the existing creative energy of all related movements, coalitions, networks, appropriate governmental and intergovernmental institutions, major groups, NGO's, CBO's, grassroots organisations and individuals on an on-going basis, so that commonalities and intersecting points of vision and concern lead the way while bridging existing divides.
INTERSECT will:
* Bring together the Coalitions Networks, NGOs, CBOs, and individuals working in HIV, Violence Against Women and Girls, and all related fields.
* Facilitate Coalition Building Sessions at which Coalition members will make agreements, set aside differences, plan strategies and outreach, and begin to determine their course.
* Help to translate the outcomes of these dialogues into action
* Connect Intersect Coalitions within a given country so that they can act nationally as well as locally, with great strength, visibility and unity. [more]
Lead Partner: EON Foundation
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Greater Mekong region Summary: Project Goal: Globally communicative high school students able to take individual and cooperative actions for an economically prosperous and environmentally sound future for all societies in and around the Mekong River.
Project Objectives:
1) train teachers at local, and regional levels
2) develop ongoing student English for Sustainability projects in Thailand, Laos,
Cambodia, China and Vietnam
3) link projects through student generated website
4) empower students to develop their local communities through responsible individual and
cooperative actions
5) document projects for schools in other areas to adapt to local needs
Project Educational Themes:
1) poverty reduction through employable skills (English Language / computer literacy)
2) environmental protection through adoption of sustainable business practices
3) capacity building through delivery of English for Sustainability curriculum, pedagogy
and innovative technological transfer
Lead Partner: Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The SEED Initiative inspires, supports and researches exceptional, entrepreneurial, nascent, multi-stakeholder partnerships for locally-led sustainable development in order to contribute to the delivery of the Millennium Development Goals and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.
The initiative focuses on 'business as unusual' - innovative action delivering real solutions through project cooperation among small and large businesses, local and international NGOs, women's groups, labour organisations, public authorities and UN agencies, and others working in the field of sustainable development.
Through an international award scheme, intensive capacity-building activities and a research programme, the SEED Initiative endeavors to stimulate and build the capacity of outstanding start-up enterprises executing action on the ground; create a conduit for investment in partnerships; disseminate good practice and lessons-learned from successful partnerships to inspire further new partnerships; and generate evidence-based research to assist policy makers.
The SEED Initiative aims to:
• support outstanding and innovative start-up entrepreneurs working in partnership in developing countries to improve livelihoods and manage natural resources sustainably
• develop practical tools to help social and environmental entrepreneurs to scale up
• influence policy-makers to create enabling environments for sustainable development businesses
• inspire new entrepreneurial ventures to deliver social and environmental benefits.
Lead Partner: The GAIA-Movement Trust Living Earth Green World Action (The GAIA-Movement)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Southern Africa Summary: The overall goal of the Total Water Programme (TWP) is to improve the livelihood of people by mobilising the communities to greater care of and better use of water and the natural resources influencing the water cycle.
The two year TWP mobilises communities for activities that improve conditions for both people and environment in the project area:
- The land degradation component assists the local communities in reducing land degradation and enables them to safeguard the local resources for sustainable use ¿ also for future generations
- The deforestation component will benefit the ones, mostly women and girls, who collect firewood for household energy. In the long run this also improves local water balances.
- The restoration component starts restoration of selected degraded nature areas, thus reducing erosion and siltation of rivers, increasing the recharge of groundwater so less wells run dry.
- The safe water component reduces the workload of fetching water and reduces water related diseases
- The sanitation component reduces the number of diseases and child mortality. Furthermore the compost produced by the ecolatrines improve tree and food production.
- The component of water efficient farming improves food security and reduces the loss of valuable nutrients. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Japan - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Geographical Scope: Regional
Summary: At WSSD, Japanese Government launched this partnership to contribute to sustainable development by further encouraging the sharing the know-how of Japanese local governments on environmental problems with local authorities in developing countries. This partnership also intended to promote the Kita-Kyushu Initiative adopted at the 4th Ministerial Meeting on Environment and Development held in Kita-Kyushu City in September 2000.
On March 23, 2003, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan announced the "Initiative for Japan's ODA on Water" at the 3rd World Water Forum. In collaboration with the central government, Japanese public waterworks (operated by local governments) have played a significant role in assisting the ownership and capacity-building for planning, management, and control in the fields of water supply and sewage, as well as developing a network among Asian cities. [more]
Lead Partner: Steering Committee on Transport, Environment and Health
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Europe and North America Summary: Transport, Health and Environment Pan European Programme (THE PEP) aims at making progress towards the achievement of transport patterns that are sustainable for health and the environment by focusing work at the Pan-European level on those priorities where further work of the international community is most needed and could make the biggest impact: integration of environmental and health aspects into transport policies and decisions; shift of the demand for transport towards more sustainable mobility; urban transport issues. In addition, special attention will be given to the needs of the Newly Independent States and South-Eastern European countries as well as to areas, which are particularly sensitive from an environmental point of view.
THE PEP streamlines and consolidates the WHO and UNECE activities on transport, environment and health with a view to a more effective use of resources and better co-ordination of efforts at the international as well at the national level. [more]
Lead Partner: The Travel Foundation - The Travel Foundation - The Travel Foundation
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: To create a step-change in the implementation of sustainable tourism practices by the UK outbound tourism industry, and to build the foundation for an ongoing process of continual improvement and engagement, by:
- Increasing the economic benefits from tourism by promotion of sustainable livelihoods for local communities from meeting the needs of the tourism industry.
- minimising the use of scarce resources - land, soil, energy and water.
- reducing pollution, waste, noise and congestion
- conserving of plants, animals, ecosystems and landscapes including protected areas
- respecting the integrity of the local cultures and avoiding negative effects on social structures of communities affected by the tourism industry
- encouraging responsible behaviour by tourists [more]
Lead Partner: Government of United States of America - Department of State
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The Clean Energy Initiative (CEI) is an umbrella energy partnership comprising U.S. activities in the Global Village Energy Partnership, Cleaner Fuels and Vehicles Partnership, Partnership for Clean Indoor Air, and Efficient Energy for Sustainable Development. Collectively, these components will increase access to modern energy services, promote clean transportation fuels, indoor cooking and heating practices, and improve the productivity and efficiency of current energy systems reducing waste, saving money, and improving reliability. [more]
Lead Partner: U.S. Energy Association
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: These partnerships provide an invaluable opportunity for senior executives of overseas utilities and regulatory agencies to observe and learn how their U.S. counterparts are structured, financed, managed and regulated. The program also enables U.S. energy executives to understand the dynamics of non-U.S. energy markets and to forge international strategic alliances.
Partnership Benefits to U.S. Partners:
- Helps identify and develop strategic partners
- Identifies short and long-term business opportunities
- Develops staff capabilities and international awareness
- Develops climate change mitigation activities
Partnership Benefits to Non-U.S. Partners:
- Allows for a transfer of knowledge on market-based planning, international energy sector restructuring, and development experiences by peers
- Establishes advisory/commercial relationships to discuss changes affecting the industry, corporate structure and regulation of the energy industry
- Improves management performance
- Increases energy efficiency [more]
Lead Partner: Government of United States of America - Dept of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional USA-Mexico Summary: Rapid industrialization and population growth have produced profound environmental stresses along the U.S.-Mexico border. Despite efforts by both governments, risks to human health remain a significant problem. The goal of this project is to reduce exposure to environmental hazards, with a focus on children, by improving the capacity of lay community health workers (promotores) in U.S. communities along the US-Mexico border to raise public awareness and inform their peers about such hazards and how to minimize exposure. A seondary goal is to improve the capacity of health professionals in the same communities to recognize, manage, and report pesticide related illnesses. The objectives are: 1) improve knowledge of sources of environmental hazards and ways to minimize exposure; 2) improve knowledge of basic sanitation, referral resources for medical care and legal assistance, 3) understand how to report exposure to agricultural pesticides, 4) improve leadership and communication skills, 5) strengthen public participation through community mobilzation, and 6) develop mechanisms facilitating cross-border sharing of environmental health information. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of United States of America - HHS/CDC
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Flour fortification with iron is an important component of any public health strategy for the prevention of iron, folic acid and other vitamin and mineral deficiency. It works well to deliver iron in constant small needed amounts to a majority of the population. There is widespread recognition that iron and folic acid deficiencies are prevalent throughout the world. The consequences of this are decreased cogitative capacity of the next generation, decreased work productivity, increased maternal deaths, increased disease and increased birth defects.
Cereal flours are a major staple food throughout [g1]the world and in more than 30 countries fortified flour is being used to deliver essential vitamins and minerals in the diet. Flour fortification needs to be supported and expanded globally on an accelerated basis through stronger collaboration between private, public and civic organizations. [g2]The Association of Operative Millers (Africa and Middle East Chapter) is holding its annual meeting October 21-23, 2002in Mauritius. This is one of the largest meetings of flour millers outside of the US to be held this year.
The Micronutrient Initiative, Ottawa, Canada and the HHS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA would like to take advantage of the occasion of the Annual Meeting of AOM to hold a forum immediately following the AOM meeting [g3]for a select number of senior staff from key public and private organizations to plan a joint strategy for Universal Flour Fortification wherever it is necessary and feasible.
Forum Objectives
To reach general agreement by key private, public and civic organizations to
* support the concept of universal flour fortification,
* identify key needs and actions to achieve this objective and
* understand more clearly ways in which each organization could support this
There is an invitation to other organizations interested to join the policy forum and contribute to this initiative. [more]
Lead Partner: Palacký University, Olomouc
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Visegrad Group Countries Summary: Main objectives:
* To promote the process of transferring the Visegrad Group Countries from recepient to donor countries.
* To integrate sustainable development and environmental considerations into the system of development assistance and co-operation performed by the Visegrad Group Countries.
* To support education and awareness in the field of sustainable development in countries with economy in transition and in least developed countries by so called "East-East Transfer of Know-How".
* * To assist the V4 countries to implement their global and regional obligations in the fields of environment and sustainable development also through development aid and co-operation.
* To demonstrate the role of integration of environmental and sustainable development aspects of development aid and co-operation as a tools for to contribute to establishing and strengthening stable international relations based on partnership, to building peace and security.
* To make acquaintance of the participants from developing countries with the system and sources of development assistance and co-operation.
* To support the capacity building in project preparation, project management, modelling etc. [more]
Lead Partner: Association Abel Granier
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Mediterranean Summary: For sustaining development in agriculture in ecological fragile regions, the first step is building the necessary farming competences for cultures and cattle rising in country with semi-arid ecological conditions. The project is aiming to provide low cost process for soils restoration in the Mediterranean area.
Stopping the continuous progressing desert in Mediterranean area is a objective for all our partners. The partnership seeks to teach relevant methods of cultures for natural soil restoration in semi-arid regions.
The aim is to obtain in five years a local team of competent farmers for a complete rehabilitation of the soils, which would be cultivated with such methods, and to achieve the return of the treated land in productivity for men food and cattle grazing . It will be so new opportunities of employment and will refrain rural population from leaving their home region towards urban centers. But soon it must be planed about complementary projects to deal with the building of local industries for using the new farm products. [more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) - European Space Agency (ESA)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The principal objectives of the Integrated Global Observing Strategy are to address how well user requirements are being met by the existing mix of observations, including those of the global observing systems, and how they could be met in the future through better integration and optimization of remote-sensing (especially space-based) and in situ systems.
The Integrated Global Observing Strategy serves as guidance to those responsible for defining and implementing individual observing systems. Implementation of the Strategy, i.e. the establishment and maintenance of the components of an integrated global observing system, remains with those governments and organizations that have made relevant commitments, for example, within the governing councils of the observing systems' sponsors.
The "Theme" approach is a step-wise internal process based on perceived priorities towards the development of the integrated global observing strategy.
The IGOS Partnership brings together the efforts of a number of international bodies concerned with the observational component of global environmental issues, both from a research and a long-term operational programme perspective. [more]
Lead Partner: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), IHE Institute for Water Education
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Articulate the needs for education and training (demand) and the means to meet the needs (supply) for the short and long term, consistent with the Global Water Partnership (GWP) Framework for Action [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Italy - Ministry for the Environment and Territory
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional North Africa, Horn of Africa, Middle East, East Asia Summary: The overall aim of this partnership is to contribute to the achievement of three principal objectives in the perspective of the Millennium Development Goals:
(1) to contribute to the achievement of water security in water-stressed environments by providing rural and urban populations with fresh water;
(2) to satisfy water needs for nature and food production by a more efficient integrated water management;
(3) to alleviate poverty by providing adapted water and sanitation services particularly to rural populations.
With the view that this Project is focusing on developing countries in arid and semi-arid the following objectives have been identified:
- Improved alternative water resources use and management;
- Improved health conditions reducing vulnerability to water related diseases and water scarcity;
- Improved productivity through identification of wise practices using both traditional knowledge and scientific expertise
- Improved efficiency of water services and treatment systems with the renewable energy. [more]
Lead Partner: Government of Italy - Department of Environmental Research and Development - UNESCO- IHP- International Hydrological Progra
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The objectives of the UNESCO-IMELS project “Water Programme for Environmental Sustainability (WPA II- Towards Adaptation Measures to Human and Climate Change Impacts)” are to:
- Set up best practices in remediation of climate variability and change impacts on water resources.
- Enhance capacity in managing water resources and protect groundwater resources.
- Develop methodologies that contribute to the management of surface and groundwater dependent ecosystems in coastal zones.
- Develop North-South cooperation taking benefits from the experience gained by Italian experts.
- Set up examples of coordination and management of transboundary aquifers. Facilitate the coordination between selected countries for the sustainable sharing of water resources. Develop case studies that can provide best practices for fostering cooperation in developing conflict resolution measures.
- Provide adequate training. Publication and dissemination of best practices.
- Improve wetlands sustainable management.
- Improve coastal management and training. [more]
Lead Partner: Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM)
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Summary: The limited fresh water resources and high dependence on rainfall make water resource management a growing priority for Caribbean SIDS.
Specific objectives of the partnership are to:
* Assist in strengthening regional training capacity to provide the professional skills and the institutional capacity for more efficient management of water resources.
* Establishment of a regional network of persons and organisations whose responsibilities either interact with water resources supply or demand in a way that influences fresh water quality of quantity. The actors are often unrelated, where they should be integrated. Through the partnership, stakeholders that are important players, who, however, are not actively involved in water management, can effectively participate in improving management efficiency by exchanging views and experiences and helping lay the foundation for the full integration of the management of water resources.
* Improve access to safe water by poor communities.
* Increase availability and efficient utilization of water to the agricultural sector.
* Minimize pollution of water resources through capacity building and transfer of technology.
* Enhancing public awareness emphasising the need for better watershed area, water and wastewater management. [more]
Lead Partner: Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP) Secretariat
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: WSUP¿s mission is to advance the Millennium Development Goals for water, sanitation, and associated health benefits through multi-sector, stakeholder partnerships delivering sustainable, equitable, and affordable water and sanitation services to the urban poor in developing countries. [more]
Lead Partner: Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Geographical Scope: Regional
- Asia and the Pacific Summary: The development objective of the Water for Asian Cities Programme is to support the implementation of the Millennium Declaration Goals related to cities, specifically promoting integrated urban water resource management, including participatory governance, community-based approaches, demand management, and increased attention to environmental sanitation. The programme will seek to achieve this by raising awareness through advocacy, information and education; training and capacity building; and pilot demonstrations.
The overriding thrust of the Water for Asian Cities Programme is to build capacity of city managers and water utilities in integrated urban water management and to anchor the enhanced capacity within the region for achieving sustainability objectives.
The Programme will focus on the following immediate objectives:
(i) Mobilization of political will through advocacy and exchange of information. Mobilizing political commitment will call for engaging policy level functionaries in the programme in a continuous manner. Information exchange will be facilitated through internet
(interactive network and website), newsletters, study visits, staff exchange etc.
(ii) Strengthening regional, country and city level capacities for integrated urban water management. This will require human resource development in a focused manner, strengthening the capacity of existing institutions and establishing a regional network of experts and institutions. Gender mainstreaming will be an important cross-cutting theme of capacity-building at all levels.
(iii) Creating a new ethic amongst children and communities through Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Education. Interventions will include: introducing water education in schools; establishing water education classrooms in pilot cities; community education,
training of trainers etc. Twinning of cities and schools will be part of this initiative.
(iv) Promoting integrated urban water management, through demonstration projects focusing on: income generation for the urban poor, demand management and environmental sanitation. [more]
Lead Partner: Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: The core activity of WASH emphasizes the teaching of basic sanitation and hygiene to communities and school children with a particular focus on girls' education and gender equality, as a necessary complement to the success of water and sanitation infrastructure projects.
This integrated approach to the delivery of basic services is the product of "lessons learned" from the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade (1981-1990). While advancements were made in increasing the access to safe drinking water, less progress was made on the provision of sanitation services and in hygiene education and training. These valuable lessons are now the focus of a global effort to improve the health and productivity of the urban and rural poor in the developing world.
The core activity is complemented by a recent initiative to deliver by 2015, safe, affordable and reliable water, sanitation to over 1.1 billion people who have no access to water supply and to more than 2.6 billion people who have no adequate sanitation. A WASH Partnership, jointly agreed between the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) and UNICEF, seeks to contribute towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) seven, target 10, through a combination of actions directed at influencing policy at national level and global level, and effecting behavioural change at the grassroots level. The WASH Partnership supports coalition-building among multi-stakeholders at national and grassroots level. With advocacy at the centre of these main activities, it focuses on demand-creation, behavioural change, capacity building and implementation, to reach 15 million people with sanitation and hygiene by 2015 (â15 by 15 projectâ). [more]
Lead Partner: Government of India - Karnataka Urban Development Infrastructure and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC) - Government of United States of America - USAID
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Purpose: The Alliance Watergy Program works with local and regional partners in developing countries to develop sustainable strategies for increasing energy efficiency within municipal water supply systems. While water provision is the immediate concern of water utilities, energy for water pumping and treatment is one of the main components of a water utility¿s costs. In many developing countries the energy used for the basic service of water provision to urban residents accounts anywhere from 40 to 70 percent of a municipality¿s total budget. The fact that large numbers of people in the developing world still lack ready access to water places more pressure upon decision makers to develop sustainable energy and water management strategies. The Alliance Watergy Program¿s efforts are based upon a holistic model that incorporates the participation of important stakeholders involved in sustainable development of the urban area, and the sustained development of their technical, managerial and financial capacities to overcome the energy inefficiencies in municipal systems. This is done by systematically addressing a range of issues that affect municipalities such technical and managerial capacities, education and awareness, team building, equipment rehabilitation and maintenance, non-revenue water reductions, proper pressure management, effective demand side management, pre-paid water metering, etc. Through these efforts, the Alliance Watergy Program aims to achieve the larger purpose of providing local and regional institutions and organizations with a sustainable framework and the proper tools for addressing the long-term water and energy needs of their peoples.
Goals: The Watergy program evolves and changes as efficiency models are developed and new opportunities emerge. Goals for the program include:
- Build institutional capacity to improve water and energy resource management
- Advocate and assist in the integration of energy efficiency considerations in developing countries, primarily in the efficient operation and maintenance of systems supplying water services
- Promote energy-efficient technologies and practices, especially in optimizing and modernizing municipal water supply systems
- Increase education and awareness concerning energy efficiency and environmentally sound water and energy systems
- Develop innovative financing mechanisms to implement projects aimed at improving energy use in water delivery
- Develop centers of excellence on energy for sustainable development to support and promote capacity building efforts and technology transfer activities and serve as information clearinghouses [more]
Lead Partner: Government of United States of America - U.S. Department of State
Geographical Scope: Sub-regional Caribbean Summary: The White Water to Blue Water Partnership designed to promote integrated watershed and marine ecosystem-based management in support of sustainable development, is underway in the wider Caribbean.
Objectives:
1. To increase coastal state and regional capacity for cross-sectoral approaches to management of watersheds and marine ecosystems.
2. To develop a framework for regional management programs that will promote a common vision, the efficient use of program resources, and address the entire scope of watershed and marine ecosystem management from forests to the sea.
3. To reverse the downward trend in fisheries.
[more]
Lead Partner: Netherlands Council of Women (NVR) - Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: In the Women for Water Initiative existing national and international women's organizations working on sustainable development, water, poverty eradication and gender join forces:
* To give an impulse to IWRM through ownership & partnership for sustainable development
* To provide the missing link between bottom-up initiatives and top-down policy and decision-making
* To provide a means for the implementation of Dublin Principles 2 and 3, especially women's equal participation in IWRM at all levels, including the local level
* To implement Rio Principle 10: Access to information, participation and justice [more]
Lead Partner: Federation of German Consumer Organisations (vzbz)
Geographical Scope: Global Summary: Partnership for the creation of an international communication and information platform on sustainable consumption (SC) for youth.
The partnership will consist of a platform for capacity building on sustainable consumption for schools, local authorities and consumer organisations. Capacity building will be facilitated through the provision of pedagogical materials as well as a of a space ( meetings and a electronic forum) for the exchange of experiences among youth. The project attaches importance to the language used: the concepts and issues related to sustainable consumption as well as sustainable development will be transmitted using visuals, text, youth icons, concrete examples in order to bring closer to the day to day reality of young people. The partners believe that to stimulate critical thinking in young consumers one has to talk to them a language understandable to them and icons they recognise as their own and provide critical material and reliable information rather than "already packaged dos and don'ts"and will operate with the following objectives:
The partnership is based on a awareness raising and training web-site www.yomag.net and will operate with the following objectives:
* Provide reliable and integrating information about the concept of sustainable consumption at global level. In particular, provide a critical insight in the global environmental and social impacts and challenges of the current consumption patterns of affluent societies.
* Offer an online platform" for the exchange of ideas, visions and projects to youth from all over the world.
* Provide youth, communicators, teachers and consumer organisations with the tools to efficiently communicate about sustainable consumption.
* Through teachers ans students workshops, allow youth from all over the world to meet, exchange perspectives and experiences on their different consumption patterns and to envision concrete solutions to the imbalances to goods and resources.
* Establish and link networks of education authorities and other relevant institutions in the field of education and consumer organisations to enable capacity building, awareness raising and mutual understanding of the problems and imbalances linked to current consumption patterns and the solutions to overcome them. [more]
to collapse the Summary of Partnerships.