The Sustainable Development Networking Programme*
of the United Nations Development Programme

The Sustainable Development Networking Programme (SDNP) is a catalytic initiative designed to help people in developing countries to improve their lives by enabling them to share information and expertise relevant to sustainable development.

Sustainable Development Networks (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-government organizations, grassroots and entrepreneurial organizations.

The SDNP is more than an information network. SDNs foster informed dialogue and communication to empower stakeholders - those who stand to be directly affected by development - to become more active participants in the development process. Round table process 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.

In India, the SDNP is funded jointly by UNDP and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada and is being implemented by the Environmental Information System (ENVIS) of the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) with technical support from the National Centre for Software Technology (NCST) Mumbai. A National Steering Committee consisting of representatives of various organizations provide policy guidance, while a Senior Official of the Ministry as National Project Director oversees functioning of the Secretariat and the Director of NCST provides inputs as National Project Advisor. Day-to-day functions of the Secretariat are supervised by a National Programme Co-ordinator.

The SDNP Secretariat located within the premises of the Ministry of Environment & Forests works closely with the Environmental Information System (ENVIS) Focal Point of the Ministry.

The ENVIS Focal Point networks with 25 ENVIS Centres spread all over the country and disseminates information on specialised subject areas. The ENVIS also liaisons with other national and international networks.

Goal and Objectives of SDNP/India

The goal of SDNP/India is to promote the process of sustainable development through enhanced access to and exchange of relevant information among all concerned parties viz. Government agencies, academic and research institutions, business and industrial establishments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The SDNP will

• Establish and operate on information clearinghouse to answer and channel queries related to sustainable development by traditional and latest means of communication

• Organise an SDNP Association. The primary purpose of the Associations will be to evolve and take up activities jointly so that efforts for exchange of information on sustainable development are complementary and mutually reinforcing.

During its operation, the SDNP will be establishing nodes all over the country on subject areas relevant to sustainable development. Some of these nodes will be from the existing ENVIS Centres. Subject areas such as agriculture and health which are not yet covered by the ENVIS network, will also be included as SDNP nodes. These nodes will work closely with the Secretariat and will disseminate information to users. The SDN in India will also encompass NGOs working at grass root levels in different parts of the country.

The SDNP is in the process of developing its website, identifying databases, publications, directories and other sources of information relevant to sustainable development. The SDNP has started disseminating information to those users who have access to the Internet. For those without any access to the Internet, information will be provided by postal mail or fax or over telephone.

Contact: SDNP Secretariat at sdnp@envfor.delhi.nic.in for more information or visit their web site at http://sdnp.delhi.nic.in or http://members.tripod.com/sdnp_india

-------
* Brochure on Sustainable Development Networking Programme (SDNP), India. May 1999