Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment...

Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .http://science.unep.org

MENTORMENTOR

UNEP e-learning platform for UNEP e-learning platform for supporting partners in keeping the supporting partners in keeping the

environment under reviewenvironment under review

(http://science.unep.org)(http://science.unep.org)

[email protected]

Capacity Building and Partnerships SectionDivision of Early Warning and Assessment

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)Nairobi, Kenya



MENTOR – Marketplace for ENvironmental Training and Online Resources

In Greek mythology, Mentor (sometimes Mentês) was the son of Alcumus and, in his old age, a friend of Odysseus. When Odysseus left for the Trojan War he placed Mentor in charge of his son, Telemachus, and of his palace. This is the source of the modern use of the word mentor: a trusted friend, counsellor or teacher, usually a more experienced person. [Source: Wikipedia]



Driving forces behind MENTOR UNEP/DEWA 2006/7 and 2008/9 programme of

work (keeping the environment under review)

Environment Watch: Vision 2020 strategy (integrated with UNEP/DEWA POW)

Bali Strategic Plan for Technology Support and Capacity-building

The One UNEP/One UN Country Team approach (8 volunteer countries)



Bali Strategic Plan – Section FBSP - Section F: Information for Decision-making calls for a

number of actions:

strengthen national capacities for data collection, research, analysis, monitoring and integrated environmental assessment;

developing institutional capacities, staff training and support for appropriate and adaptable technologies and methodologies;

support for assessments of environmental issues of regional and subregional importance and for the assessment and early warning of emerging environmental issues;

support for scientific exchanges and for the establishment of environmental and inter‑disciplinary information networks; and

promotion of coherent partnership approaches



Capacity Building Needs

Preparing SOE Reports &

Outlook ScenariosInformation PolicyInvolve decision

makers

Data

Collection & Management

MetadataStandards

Website Development &

Information Sharing Platforms

- Communication outreach

GIS, Image

Processing, mapping metadata

Remote Sensing

ICT Capacity Hardware & software

trainingInternet connectivity

Partnership development & networking

-national & internationalLinks with donors

Project Development Institutional

strengthening



DEWA TS & CB Services1. Management of regional and sub-regional environmental assessments in

developing and economies

2. Provision of free access to data and information on environmental challenges and emerging issues

3. Development and dissemination i.e. through a web-based learning platform of tools, guidelines, methodologies and best practices in data collection, analysis, monitoring, integrated environmental assessment, early warning and information networking and training in the use of those tools and methodologies;

4. Advisory services and missions responding to requests from Governments to enhance their institutional and technical capacity in data collection, research, analysis, monitoring, integrated environmental assessment, early warning and information networking;

5. Support to developing countries and countries with economies in transition for the development of and participation in networks and partnerships



MENTOR Objectives Deliver, via a web-based platform,

appropriate tools, guidelines, methodologies, best practice (within framework of Bali Strategic Plan and UNEP assessment sub-programme)

Support training programmes, particularly online training and e-learning, using these tools



Resource types & owners

Resource Type

UNEP-brokered

Other institutions

Primary (tools, manuals..)

GEO modulesGEO for CitiesMA toolsGIWA methodology

CEDARE (ICZM )GEMS (water quality modules)GEOnetwork OS

Secondary (information systems)

GEO data portalecoMundusPEARLIssue-based modules

EEA ReportNetGEMS Water portalDevelopment G/wayGEMET thesaurus



GEO Network Opensource

GEMS Water Modules

GEO Resource Book

IEA Manual

GEO for Cities Toolkit



GEO ModulesModule 1: The GEO approach to integrated environmental assessment and

reporting

Module 2: National GEO process: design and organization

Module 3: Developing and Impact Strategy for your Integrated Environmental Assessment

Module 4: Monitoring, Data and Indicators

Module 5: Integrated Analysis of Environmental Trends and Policies

Module 6: Scenario Development and Analysis

Module 7: Creating Communication Outputs from the Assessment

Module 8: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning – for Increased Impact and Improvement of the IEA Process



?

GEO Modules

Tools, Guidelines, Methodologies

Coordination of IEAs – middle management

audience

Technical Support

Technical support area not well defined

UNEP has some tools and so do our partners (FAO, ESRI, …)

Need a stocktaking exercise aiming to retire, consolidate, update, develop, & identify/obtain various technical-level tools



Short-term challenges (2007)

Identify key partners (CB/TS, content, training, tools, …)

Scope the conceptual structure, content, administration of the web-based platform (may need task teams)

Identify appropriate resources (tools, guidelines, methodologies, best practice) and existing training programmes

Define a core set of modules (GIS, IEA, ISO standards, etc)

Develop and pilot a few e-learning modules (GEO modules,…)

Develop a pilot platform in 2007

Pilot test the platform in supporting future training programmes (blended learning approach)



Timeline on progress to date:

Nov 2006 Draft concept paper on MENTOR

12-13 Dec 2006 Expert consultation, Washington DC

22 Jan 2007 eLearning Meeting, Nairobi, KenyaCommon Sense engaged asconsultants

23-24 Feb 2007 eLearning Workshop, Nairobi, Kenya

Feb–Mar 2007 Review and comment on the Draft Strategic Guideline for MENTOR

20-25 Mar 2007 Participate in eLearning Development andImplementation (eLDI) (InWEnt Training Course, Pretoria)



Timeline (April – December 2007)

Market e-learning and MENTOR to other UNEP divisions.

Determine training needs in the area of eLearning Media Production.

Compile inventory of UNEP resources in broad area of integrated environmental assessment

Compile inventory of partners’ resources in broad area of integrated environmental assessment

Propose eLearning as an area of collaboration with CISCO, Microsoft, InWEnt, ETHZ

Draft technical requirements for Learning Management System of MENTOR (early May)

Final version of Strategy by end of May

Factor eLearning activities into 2008 Costed Work Plan



Environmental TerminologyNeeds Assessment

Survey group - Environment ministries, protection agencies and specialised institutes

Question 1 - How well defined is environmental terminology in support of data collection and information dissemination in general?

Question 2 – What are the main capacity building needs?



A synopsis of the comments from over 50 countries:

There is no central glossary for all the terms. Most terms have been defined by different international sources where possible (e.g. IPCC).

Specialized dictionaries and glossaries are needed in the area of environment.

Some mentioned that sometimes common understanding of terms is different than defined (by legislation).

Environmental definitions are provided differently by environmental law and legislation specific for different sectors

Q.1 Feedback



There is difficulty in understanding terms due to language barriers and it’s time consuming to translate them.

In some cases, there is a cultural barrier in communicating this information to indigenous communities

Technical environmental terms and concepts are often difficult for the general public and policy makers.

GEMET is an extensive thesaurus & could be promoted

Other comments ranged from - very well defined, sufficient to not well defined

Q.1 Feedback



Capacity Building Needs:

1. Training on translation of documents into national languages.

2. Financial support in training personnel on the use of Environmental Terminology.

3. Enhancement of capacity for the development of environmental terminology.

4. Development of a project on environmental terminology.

5. Financing the strengthening and development of environmental terminology.

6. Development of a formal and unified on-line environmental thesaurus available on the Web.

Q.2 Feedback



Strategic directions: MENTOR - Ecoterm (2008+)

Make relevant environmental terminology resources available on MENTOR platform

Develop e-learning modules in the area of environmental terminology (UNEP is building in-house capacity in development of e-learning modules)

Build trainers network (metadata, terminology, thesaurus management, ontologies, etc)

Link Ecoterm initiatives with the One UNEP/One UN country team approach (respond to needs assessment findings)



Thank you!Thank you!

[email protected]

Capacity Building and Partnerships SectionDivision of Early Warning and Assessment

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)Nairobi, Kenya

Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment...

Documents

Transcript of Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment...