SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT NETWORKING PROGRAMME
BROCHURE, 1993

The UN and Sustainable Development Networks

The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), The Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992, resulted in a global plan of action, Agenda 21, endorsed by over 120 countries. The plan emphasizes the importance of environmentally sound technology, education, public awareness and training, and co-operation for capacity building þ all components of Sustainable Development Networks.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been given the lead responsibility at the Earth Summit for capacity building to help developing countries formulate economic, social and environmental goals, plans, programmes and policies that lead to sustainable development. Fortunately, in 1989, UNDP had already initiated the Sustainable Development Network (SDN) proposal as a tool to help developing countries move toward sustainable development.

SDNs are viewed by many governments as an indispensable tool for implementing national Agenda 21s. By adapting the SDN and by including it within Capacity 21- UNDP's main response to the Rio summit- and by quickly launching about 15 national or regional pilot SDN projects, UNDP has been able to swiftly respond to Rio and begin directly assisting developing countries in determining the future of our planet. The main output of the SDN will be assisting these countries prepare national Agenda 21s.

SDNPs At Work

SDNs combine electronic communication, face-to-face meetings, and other means of communication to link sources and users of information on sustainable development in government, research, non-governmental organizations, grassroots and entrepreneurial organizations on a global scale. Some examples of how SDNs work are scattered throughout this publication and are indicated in blue ink (or blue box).

The SDN is more than an information network. SDNs foster informed dialogue and communications to empower stakeholders-those who stand to be directly affected by development- to become more active participants in the development process. Round table processes as well as public or community participation in decision making are examples of the type of consultation that a SDN encourages and becomes involved with.

A word about electronic communication

In the process of helping to build capacity for sustainable development by improving decision making, SDNs aim to facilitate access to the global communications network and knowledge base. This includes electronic messaging (e-mail) and electronic conferencing systems as well as computerized resources such as commercially available databases and information services (Dialog and other host services), research networks such as the InterNet þ a global network of computers which links users to over 20,000 databases and to many other computer-based resources worldwide, etc.

SDN encourage the use and adoption of these technologies, or of locally appropriate adaptations such as bulletin board systems (BBS).

Sharing computer resources by remote logging in, including access via InterNet, may not be feasible options for some developing countries and new SDNs may need help establishing alternatives to their existing systems. Other appropriate information technologies, including (packet radio/satellite) may also have a role to play.

Guidelines

A number of criteria have been established to guide the formation of SDNs.

The problems to be addressed by the SDN must be clearly defined and widely shared by stakeholders- the people upon who development depends or who are most influenced by it- in development throughout the country (or region).

SDNs can be organized at any level: national, regional, local or community.

Active government support in all phases is required.

Planning the SDN needs to be participatory to enable the private sector, NGOs, local and community representatives to fulfil their roles.

Participation in SDNs should be open and members need to take an active part in network activities.

The approach must be flexible to meet local needs and circumstances.

Information from government and the UN system should be openly available, and should flow freely.

The SDNs must be willing to network locally and globally.

Structure

Networks rely on a Co-ordinator who manages the network and provides leadership. This person must have the confidence of network participants, who are represented on a steering committee along with government representatives. This committee approves plans and advises the Co-ordinator and the SDN secretariat. Like the Co-ordinator, the secretariat (whose main function is to support the SDN) is positioned in an existing organization, such as a government office, a university department, a research institute, an NGO, etc.

Setting Up An SDN

There are several steps in planning and establishing an SDN.

The UNDP Resident Representative, the government and the promoters of the network come to an agreement on the broad principles and guidelines for an SDN.

A visiting SDN consultant from New York introduces the concept and explains it in detail to the stakeholders (ie potential and interested participants from various sectors).

The visiting consultant helps launch a feasibility study stage. Terms of reference are established and local consultants are selected to conduct the feasibility study.

The local consultants conduct the study over a 2 - 3 month period: administering a user survey; preparing a needs assessment; detailing results; identifying the organization in which the secretariat will be housed; and producing a draft UNDP pro-forma project document spelling out the requirements for a full-scale implementation of the SDN over 18 to 24 months.

Funding

UNDP's funding for the pilot phase, which concludes at end June 1993 is $1.2 million and it covers costs for pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, workshops and training. In some cases, it will help meet staff costs, hardware and software acquisition and start-up expenses. An average network may require about USD 450,000 over 3 to 4 years.

Workshops

The SDN workshop held in September 1992, by UNDP, brought together 19 participants from developing countries, international organizations and NGOs, as well as technical specialists, to advise on the concept of the SDN and its future development. Workshop participants endorsed the SDN proposal and refined the concept. Copies of the workshop report have been distributed worldwide and can be obtained by writing to the director, SDN, at UNDP in New York.

Training and workshops help to enhance the ability of national SDN secretariats to operate on a self-sufficient basis, and to use appropriate management practices and technologies to do so. Workshops will be held periodically to help identify common problems and ongoing as well as special needs, and will help evaluate progress. They will also help to identify opportunities for funding.

SDN Starter Kits

UNDP provides a starter kit to support the establishment of each new SDN. The kit includes basic tools and resources to meet individual needs and circumstances of each SDN while ensuring longer-term compatibility with other SDNs. The kits include hardware, software, key databases, management tools, decision-support tools, and information on using consultative processes and are being developed in collaboration with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada.

Progress update

Pilot SDNs have been launched in:

Africa: Angola, Chad, Tunisia
Asia; China, South Pacific (regional), Indonesia, Korea, Pakistan, Philippines, Mekong Committee (for Indochina)
Europe: Baltic States, Poland
Latin America; Bolivia, Guatemala, Honduras

By the end of the pilot phase over 25 countries will have been considered for SDNs. Feasibility studies will have been completed in most, if not all, with 8 proceeding to the establishment of working SDNs. By the end of 1993, as many as 40 countries could be establishing SDNs.

Partners

Within the United Nations, the SDN will collaborate with:

  • The Sustainable Development Commission being set up by the UN to monitor implementation of UNCED recommendations.
  • Earthwatch, the UN system wide earth monitoring system coordinated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

  • ACCIS : The Advisory Committee for Coordination of Information Systems which helps users gain access to United Nations databases and information resources.

  • The Global Environment Facility (GEF), managed by the World Bank, UNDP, and UNEP, which makes grants available to developing countries to deal with some environmental issues.

  • All other UN organizations and agencies who have already financed and initiated the establishment of specialized databases and relevant networks.

Outside of the United Nations, SDN works or seeks to work with:

  • The Earth Council, an NGO that promotes implementation of the follow up to UNCED.

  • The International Development Research Centre (IDRC), a public corporation responsible for Canada's efforts to assist developing countries implement the recommendations of UNCED.

  • The World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC), an independent organization established by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and UNEP to gather and disseminate information on species and habitats.

  • The Consortium for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), and its initiatives through the CIESIN Information Cooperative to facilitate access to, use and understanding of global change information worldwide.

  • The main advocacy networks for environment and development, including: The Association for Progressive Communications (APC), GeoNet, and the Telecommunications Cooperative Network (TCN).

  • The various local and community initiatives to help users in developing countries to gain access to information, including FidoNet based Bulletin Board Systems, etc.

  • NGONET, an initiative of various NGOs to help share information on environment, economy and the human dimensions of development, etc. (Third World Network (TWN), Instituto del Tercer Mundo (Item), Climate Network Africa, etc.).

  • Business initiatives such as the International Cooperative on Ozone Layer Protection (ICOLP).

  • The Business Council for Sustainable Development or its equivalent after UNCED.

  • The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

  • And many others.

Examples of SDNP activities

Examples of what the SDN could do, with the 'best' examples included up decreasing order of importance.

  • One SDN, at the request of and in collaboration with the ministry of Economic Development, and with key participants from of all sectors of the economy and all parts of the country, organizes a round table on environment and economic development to provide input to the national plan for Agenda 21.
  • SDNs can establish a bulletin board system locally for e-mail and electronic conferences on sustainable development, with links to the national Public Data Network and to the global telecommunications system.
  • A ministry of planning wishing to track the environmental performance of countries with which it shares similar social, ecological and economic characteristics can hire a firm of expatriate consultants in Europe or North America, or it can look to its SDN as a way of acquiring this information and advice while developing national capacity to exploit and contribute to the global knowledge bases.
  • Two SDNs host a visioning exercise with municipal officials in their respective countries- 'Our city in the year 2050, what do we want and how do we move forward based on the principles of sustainable development'. Modelling tools and other methods of systems analysis are brought to bear by the SDNs, which also establishes a computer conference on the local SDN bulletin board system, which is echoed internationally to document progress and to gather feedback. The two SDNs, and any others who want to, compare notes over the computer conference.
  • An NGO seeks information from other NGOs on the follow up to UNCED. It communicates with them using computer mediated communications, and downloads some of the material of interest, as well as establishing communication with NGOs which share its concerns.
  • A brick making company in a developing country has just learnt that it can substantially reduce the amount of fluoride emitted in its process, but does not have the funds required to do so. The project seeks assistance in developing a proposal for GEF support. SDN helps the company communicate with GEF, and, for a fee!, helps and interpret the required information.
  • A small island community is concerned about sea level rise and wants to assess risk from storm surges and neap tides. How can it gain access to remotely sensed data and data interpretation technologies such as geographic information systems (GIS) to site appropriate interventions? SDN links with earth observing programmes and bilateral donors to deliver the information, to participate in the analysis and to help pursue implementation. SDN links with GEMS/GRID to develop an appropriate monitoring system using GIS and related technologies.
  • Investors see the opportunity of establishing a clean technology consulting firm and of eventually developing some of these technologies for the regional market. The company does not have access to the most recent information for their business plan, or to the funds to pay for the royalty rights to acquire the patents to a particular process. SDN helps to link the investors with the patent owners and financiers, etc., with whom they negotiate an agreement and develop a successful business plan.
  • A country concerned with the conservation of biodiversity wants to follow progress of the agreement Costa Rica has signed with Merck, the largest pharmaceutical company and one of the most profitable in the USA. The agreement grants Merck the right to genetic exploration of the rich tropical biomes of that Central American country in the search for drugs. SDN establishes a computerized current awareness tracking system to monitor major biobusiness databases, news services, etc., for insights into this agreement. SDN also communicates directly with the Costa Rican SDN, and in consultation with them and other SDNs, it also provides an analysis, indicating pros and cons.
  • The ministry of planning and the Office of the President want to remain informed daily of progress in the discussions on the Sustainable Development Commission at the United Nations General Assembly. The SDN, through its membership in the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), downloads the current information from appropriate electronic conferences and passes it on to the officials concerned. The SDN also trains government officials and help them set up their own node.
  • A small farmer cooperative working with an NGO in a hilly area is looking for options for tree planting and agriculture. The national SDN connects them to specialists in an international agricultural research centre working in agroforestry who recommend some alternatives that they may want to explore in collaboration with the NGO.
  • A business group wants to know the cost of various pollution control alternatives. Much of this information is available in commercial databases which they cannot afford. SDN undertakes a search of these files and communicates the results to the group.


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