Global Environmental Policy
- Module 1: NGOs and Communities -
Global Environmental Policies
and
NGOs and Communities
Class Matrix
Module 1:
Global
Environmental
Policy
Governments

Business and
Industry

NGOs and
Communities
Today
Module 2:
National
Environmental
Policy
Module 3:
Local
Environmental
Policy
NGOs and Sustainability
Local
Citizens
NGOs
Global
Environment
What are NGOs?
• set up around shared and common
ideas/problems
• non-governmental, and is not part of the
local or prefectural government
• self-governing, that is, it is not externally
controlled
• voluntary in its activities and in its
membership.
NGOs or NPOs?
• NGO and NPO both stand for what it is
not …
• “NGO” stands for Non Governmental
Organization, and focuses on
organizational character: not the
government)
• “NPO” stands for Non Profit
Organization, and focuses on its
economic character: not a private firm
Why are NGOs important?
NGOs/NPOs are important as a link
between the community that they serve,
and international organizations and the
UN. They help to collect important
problems and other topics to UN meetings,
and also help in distributing
environmental information to the
communities they serve.
Why are NGOs important?
Problems, ideas, monitoring,
opinion etc.
United Nations
NGO/NPO
Policies, programmes,
campaigns, information
Community
What are the advantages of NGOs?
• They are flexible, and can try different ideas.
• They can be innovative and can use different
methods of work.
• They have good links with communities.
• They can communicate with different groups.
• Many NGOs/NPOs have experienced staff on
different issues.
What are the advantages of NGOs?
Internal aspects
• Professionalism
• Knowledge and awareness
• Vision development
External aspects
• Participation
• Partnership
• Networking
NGOs in Developing Countries?
• NGOs work mostly on poverty issues – with
very poor people
• Projects in education, health, skill
development, housing, finance etc.
• Help in areas where local government is weak
• Keep a check on government action
NGOs in Developing Countries?
NGOs may be of two types:
Work with and
for governments
on broad
development
topics and
projects
National, provincial
or local
governments
Work ‘against’
governments
in campaigning
and advocating
change in
public systems
NGOs and United Nations?
• Participate in and help prepare for UN Meetings
• Provide a ‘voice’ for developing countries and
communities at the UN
• Help develop international policies of UN, including
technical expertise
• Help in distributing information at the local level
• Organize meetings and training on international
policies at the local level
NGOs and United Nations?
Major Groups in the UN
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Business and Industry
The UN defines
Children and Youth
NGOs broadly as
Farmers
“major groups”
Indigenous Peoples
Local Authorities
NGOs
Scientific & Technological Community
Women
Workers and Trade Unions
http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/majorgroups.html
NGOs and United Nations?
• UN-wide example:
NGO Branch
The NGO Branch is the focal point
within the United Nations for NonGovernmental Organizations in
consultative status with the
Economic and Social Council
(ECOSOC)
http://esango.un.org/
NGOs and United Nations?
• UN-wide example:
NGLS
The Non-governmental
Liaison Service
The United Nations NonGovernmental Liaison Service (UNNGLS) is an inter-agency
programme. Its aim is to promote and
develop constructive relations
between the United Nations and civil
society organizations.
http://www.un-ngls.org/
NGOs and United Nations?
• UN-wide example:
The UN Stakeholder Forum
The United Nations Stakeholder Forum is an
Stakeholder Forum international organization working to
advance sustainable development
and promote democracy at a global
level.
http://www.stakeholderforum.org/
International NGOs
Major International NGOs working on
Environment and Sustainable Development
•Greenpeace
•Oxfam
•Friends of Earth
•Worldwide Fund for Nature
etc …
NGOs and United Nations?
• Every UN agency (eg: UNDP), multi-lateral
bank (eg. Asian Development Bank) or
bilateral agency (eg. JICA) has a sepcial
department dealing directly and specially
with NGOs.
• These partnerships work on a strategic,
programmatic and project levels.
NGOs and United Nations – Example #1
UN
NGO
African Cities
Energy
Network
Meeting
Network
NGOs and United Nations – Example #2
Environmental Technology Centre,
Murdoch University, Australia
UN
University
Online
E-Learning
Book
More info on NGOs
See the NGO Café at:
http://www.gdrc.org/ngo/
Next session
Module 1:
Global
Environmental
Policy
Governments
Business and
Industry
NPOs and
Communities
Module 2:
National
Environmental
Policy
Next …
Module 3:
Local
Environmental
Policy
Class Communication …
Resources, websites, ideas, notes will be available
online:
www.gdrc.info/gep/
Send me an email anytime!
Hari Srinivas
hari.srinivas@kwansei.ac.jp
IMPORTANT:
When you send an email, please always put “[GEP]” in the subject line!