7 Knowledge Management for Sustainable Development Knowledge for Sustainable Development (KSD), a core unit of CEE, aims to develop general awareness and provide policy support on key environment and development issues. KSD projects and programmes identify and articulate these issues, bringing them to a stage of trial, research and implementation through a process of consultation and discussion. Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) has been the keynote of all KSD programmes which therefore aim at mobilizing, disseminating and making knowledge accessible to those who need it for sustainable decision making. KSD currently has three units in Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Kannur. The specific objectives of KSD are: To develop innovative programmes to enable the promotion of values and approaches for sustainability To develop communication and knowledge sharing networks for SD To develop and implement ESD programmes at the regional and international level KSD is further committed to the use of stateof-the-art communication technology in achieving its objectives. Strategy The emphasis of KSD projects during the year under discussion has been: Bring to a close the book publication project by publishing and launching the books that are completed; Take forward the website discussion forum which has been created as a meeting ground in the environment and development interface along with other media/channels developed subsequently; Strengthen the field activities to achieve the goal of ESD by actively working on thrust areas that emerge from the problems faced in the region; Identify and implement rural development activities as part of the field activities to achieve sustainable rural development in an area that can be studied and documented for further scaling up. 7.1 Current Project Activities 7.1.1 Knowledge for Sustainability Forum (KSF) KSF (formerly Envirodebate) continued to showcase ideas and concepts related to environment and development for wider discussion and participation. The earlier discussions have been archived and the current topic Phasing out of incandescent lamps continues to attract information, comments and opinions from a varied audience. 7.1.2 Distance Learning Programme (DLP) The DLP, in its current form, aims to prepare students for a career in environment and development communication. The course consists of intensive modules on three topics Protected Areas & Biodiversity, Water and Communication, accompanied by rigorous assignments that enable the development of 38
analytical, research and writing skills among participants. Thirteen batches have taken the programmes so far. 7.1.3 Environment & Development (E&D) Book Series The last book of the series titled Ecotourism Development in India Communities, Capital and Conservation was launched in New Delhi on September 25, 2008, with officials from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and agencies that are involved in the tourist sector attending the launch held in India International Centre. This brings to an end the publication project, which has so far brought out more than 25 books and booklets on various topics related to sustainable development written by experts and targeted at policy and decision makers, academicians and the general audience. 7.1.4 Kannur Field Activities As reported the previous year, CEE has been carrying out its activities as the nodal agency for the Pilot Project in Integrated Development (PPID) of NABARD, being implemented in Peravoor block of Kannur district. To recap, this project selects backward blocks in each state and converges schemes from various governmental and non governmental agencies to bring about development in the sectors of economic, social, infrastructure and human resources. The steps set out to achieve these objectives were: Conduct participatory rural appraisal (PRA) in each Panchayat and identify the gaps in development. Document the problems, suggestions and solutions of the participants and discuss them with the Panchayat officials in a planning workshop. Conduct a PRA and planning workshop at the Block level. Identify projects and linkages during the planning workshop. Prioritize sectors which need immediate development and prepare comprehensive project proposals for the same. Implement each proposal after obtaining sanction from relevant agencies, with adequate awareness, training and interventions at appropriate intervals. During the year under discussion, the post- PRA activities were undertaken by CEE in association with NABARD. Accordingly, the primary data from the PRAs and the secondary data from other sources were compiled and compared and benchmarks prepared based on these. The problems in each sector production, service, infrastructure, human resources, social and environmental were identified and suggestions documented. During the planning meetings with the Panchayat and the Block authorities, specific projects were developed for the following sectors with financials and linkages being identified and documented. Animal Husbandry Social welfare Housing Drinking water Education Infrastructure Agriculture and allied occupations Industry Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes Environment Health Culture and Tourism 39
The action plan report based on the above study was first prepared in Malayalam and then translated into English before being submitted to NABARD for approval. NABARD has subsequently approved the action plan report and appreciated it as the best report among the PPID project reports in Kerala. NABARD has allocated Rs. 24 crore for the PPID project (10 crore for the Block Panchayat and Rs. 2 crore each for the seven Gram Panchayats). CEE has also prepared village development plans for the seven Gram Panchayats of Peravoor Block, ensuring linkages with all line departments and agencies which have since been approved. Besides these, detailed project reports are being prepared by the Gram Panchayats and the Block Panchayat for comprehensive infrastructure development to be submitted to NABARD. An action plan was then formulated wherein animal husbandry, tourism, tribal development and energy have been prioritised as major sectors for development, for which special projects are to be prepared. CEE has prepared such special projects for the dairy sector and tourism sector, where linkages have been established with all the line departments and agencies of the concerned sectors; these projects have been approved by NABARD. CEE is currently in the process of preparing similar special projects for tribal development and energy with the help of departments and local self government institutions. In the human resource development sector of the Block, CEE undertook an assessment of the training needs in various sectors and based on this, prepared a project report on training in dairy sector under the Skill Development Initiative (SDI) programme of NABARD and submitted the same for approval. 7.1.5 Other Field Activities Besides the PPID, CEE Kannur has been involved in the following programmes: a) Goat Village Project This is a livelihood programme being implemented by Kudumbasree Mission of Kerala (Kudumbasree is a poverty alleviation project of the government through women self help groups). CEE prepared the project report on a consultancy basis and the project has been approved. CEE is also providing technical consultancy for the project. The project envisages: Establishment of 5000 goat rearing units Production of 18,00,000 liters of milk per year Production of 3,35,000 kg of mutton valued at Rs. 251,25,000 Production of 109, 25,000 kg of organic manure per year Provision of employment to at least 5000 women belonging to low income group CEE has also been enlisted by Kudumbasree to conduct training programme on goat rearing for 370 beneficiaries of the Goat Village project in six Gram Panchayats in Peravoor Block. CEE experts conducted the training in all the six Panchayats during February and March 2009. b) Dairy Training Programme As part of the special dairy project, Peravoor Block 40
Panchayat decided to conduct 15 awareness creation programmes in seven Gram Panchayats of the Block on cattle rearing and entrusted CEE to conduct the training programmes. About 1400 participants attended the programmes. c) Waste Management CEE Kannur has submitted an Expression of Interest to the Total Sanitation Mission, Government of Kerala for being considered as a technical consultancy and service provider for waste management projects, and as an agency for evaluating the waste management projects of local self government institutions applying for Nirmal Grama Puraskar. d) Workshops and Seminars CEE, in association with Krishna Menon Memorial Women s College, conducted a one day seminar on rabies as part of the rabies eradication initiative of the District Panchayat. CEE also provided technical help in preparing a biodiversity register of the 16 acre campus of the same college with funds provided by the Biodiversity Board of Kerala. In short, Kannur Field Office continues to take a more proactive role in the development activities of the district while endeavouring to infuse the principles of sustainable development in all its projects. The office also hopes to extend its activities to other parts of the state in the near future. 7.2 CEE Australia CEE Australia (CEEA) Incorporated is a not for profit association established in Sydney in July 2001. CEEA is dedicated to the development and implementation of innovative environmental education, communication and action programmes in Australia and the Asia Pacific region. In order to achieve its objectives, CEEA works in partnership with a range of organisations building synergies, gaining a multiplier effect, enhancing effectiveness and widening the range and scope of its programmes. CEEA aims to enrich ESD with diverse views on key environmental issues and bring together and disseminate learnings from international as well as local experiences. 7.2.1 Current Project Activities 7.2.1.1 Global Communities for Sustainability (GCS) In its initial phase, GCS was a joint initiative of CEEA, the Australian Association for Environmental Education (AAEE) and CEE India. In the year under discussion, GCS is moving into its second phase. In Austrlaia, it is being supported by the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) and is being mainstreamed through its Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI). In India, the project is being managed by CEE India and supported by the Ministry of Human Resources and the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. In its first phase, about 15 schools each in India (Gujarat) and Australia (New South Wales) had taken part in the project where the school teams explored sustainability issues in their communities and suggested solutions to them through a guided process. The schools worked on a wide range of issues affecting their communities and also shared their learnings, approaches, best practices with their counterparts in the other country. This led to the sharing and learning of such aspects as: 41
Sustainability issues, actions and experiences Collaboration and communication Community building and community learning Ownership of problems and solutions Adaptation of action to diverse socio cultural contexts The first phase ended with the GCS Showcase Day in both India and Australia and the visits of the selected teams as ambassadors to their counterpart countries. During the year under discussion, the second phase of the GCS project has been initiated. The project is now being expanded to cover four states each in India (Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka and Kerala) and Australia. In India, about 16 schools have been enlisted for the project and the school teams briefed on the process. Australian schools are expected to join the project within a month. CEE is also exploring the possibility of enlisting schools from more countries specifically Germany and Canada so that the experience for the participating schools is more enriching. A website has been designed for the interaction among the school teams where the details of the Indian schools are in the process of being uploaded. A manual has been developed to help the school teams to understand the process and mentors have been appointed to provide help to the participating teams. The project is set to move into an exciting phase once the Australian schools sign up, as the cultural and educational interaction is expected to be of a higher order this time due to the involvement of schools from more states. 7.2.1.2 Asia Pacific Network Newsletter (APNN) APNN, had been conceived as a platform for organisations working in the area of environment and sustainable development in the Asia Pacific region to come together and share experiences and best practices. The monthly newsletter carried feature articles, guest articles, news items and information on current events and new developments. It was being sent to interested subscribers in pdf form by email as well as made accessible through CEE website. Currently, the newsletter is being reviewed and refocused on ESD, so that issues relevant to the region could be dealt with from the ESD point of view. The KSD team is working closely with CEEA to ensure a smooth transformation and launch. Conclusion CEEA has made a contribution by mainstreaming education for sustainability at the national level in Australia and continues to seek a globally viable model that involves the creative use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). KSD s activities like KSF and DLP strengthen this initiative towards a more global reach for ESD. Its field office activities which are focused on rural development provide an excellent opportunity to marry the local with the national, the regional with the global. 42