Consultation
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I've been getting a lot of these, and this is the first message I feel
competent to speak to. Ms. Camping asks why youth should receive so much
of
the focus of these initiatives, especially when they represent a
"transitional demographic."
It is important to look not at young people as transitioning through but
transitioning into -- into our future work force, tax base, and leadership.
If you are only reaching people with the concepts and methods of
sustainability on the college level or higher, that means you are only
reaching the demographic that attends college, and then a smaller group
that
self-selects because they have an interest in the subject.
Broad-scope societal change will only happen when countries and regions can
develop basic habits of mind for their populations that are sympathetic to
creating a cleaner environment. In order to have that kind of broad
paradigm shift, you have to reach young people early. Any major company in
the US that has a broad focus marketing campaign is trying to reach young
people, not just because they have disposable income, but to create brand
loyalty over their lifetime.
I heard a story many years ago about a bill that came up before a large
Midwestern state in the US. It would set aside large amounts of land using
bonds and taxes, as wildlife preserves, and bar other areas from any sort
of
development other than as agriculture. This is the sort of initiative that
normally creates lots of partisan tension between democrats and
republicans,
especially when taxes are concerned. The bill passed with broad bipartisan
support and public support. Why? Because for the last 25 years, starting
in the early grades and continuing through high school, every child in the
state took environmental education courses, not as a part of science class,
but as a separate course track. Everyone understood the issue, and could
discuss it intelligently.
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-----Original Message-----
From: owner-yes@phoenix.edc.org [mailto:owner-yes@phoenix.edc.org]On
Behalf Of Catherine Kamping
Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2003 4:34 PM
To: yes@phoenix.edc.org
Subject: Global Environment Facility NGO Network
Consultation
FYI
May 12-13,Washington, the Global Environment Facility (GEF)convenes the
accredited GEF NGO for Consultation, around 20 organization representing
regions are here.
My organization is an accredited NGO that is why I was able to join the
consultation, but it was only last week through a friend that I've got the
info that the consultation is taking place this week.
The agenda are:
1. The issues NGO wants to raised with the GEF CEO
2. GEF Medium Size Program (MSP)
3. Enhance Performance and Results at the Country Level
4. Terms of Reference for an Independent Monitoring and
Evaluation
5. Co-Financing
6. Draft Operational Program on Sustainable Land Management
7. Operation of the LDC Trust Fund for Climate Change
8. Small Grant Program
9. Information Tools; and
10. Selection of Co-Chair for the second day dialogue (with the
CEO), selection of NGO representatives at the Governing Council Meeting
11. Others
Honestly, I am not an expert in the GEF Process and still on the learning
stage, so here are some of the points I raised and some of my thoughts and
insights...
Quoting Agenda 21, WSSD and the outcome of CSD 11, participation and
capacity building of all stakeholders are relevant to the success and
implementation of sustainable development. But I stressed out and emphasize
on why priority and high importance should be given to the youth sector,
youth being the transitional sector and stressing the fact that the youth
presence in the consultation was an evidence of lack of knowledge and
capacity to engage.
But the focus of the discussion here is more of the GEF Process, thematic
issues, techinicalities, etc... and most of the people here who has been
part of the consultation for a long time already, they said: it took us
more than 3 years to understand the process and how things are working and
even we have been engaged we are still confused most of the time.
The insights and learnings...
1. There was little youth participation, therefore there is a
need to increase youth involvement in the process, and I’ve talked to
Dr. Ganapin, former Co-Chair of the Civil Society Counterpart Council for
Sustainable Development (CSDCSD-Philippines) but now he is working with the
UNDP as Global Coordinator of the GEF Small Grants Program and also talked
with the NGO Coordinator, Liliana Hisas, and asked them about this matter
and their response was positive for a need to increase youth participation
in the process. So the next step to take is to inform all major youth
organizations to apply and be active at national, regional and global
level.
2. The GEF NGO Network is now on their fourth year but still on
the learning process and they are still building the structure of the
network, as of the moment there was no clear process of consulting,
decision making, and representation, meaning there is a big avenue for
youth to contribute, participate, lobby and learn. As what people there are
saying, we are coming at the ten years after the GEF establishment so we
have a lot of catching up to do.
3. There is a need for a mechanism on information sharing, best
practices, monitoring and evaluation, updates and developments on policies
and guidelines, learning’s, experiences, and etc. To make such
information available to all people, they have agreed as well that though
some of these documents are available on the web, the need to make this NGO
friendly and accessible and readable to NGOs at the local community is
important, transforming this info into another medium usable for them.
4. There is a need to strengthen country level, regional,
sub-regional dialogue and consultation where much more NGOs have access to
participate.
I encourage youth groups to take a look on the GEF NGO NEtowrk, the GEF
Process and study and try to understand how it works, afterall we will
inherit the jobs we should start learning now.
As I've said, they are somehow willing to involve the youth sector, we just
need to claim our rights. Be part of the consultation especially at the
country level, I will get the info on the focal point person at regional
and country level so we could engage.
Global Environment Facility is responsible for providing support on
biodiversity conservation, climate change, international water, etc...
best,
catherine
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