NGO Steering Committee to the U.N. Commission
on Sustainable Development
Northern Clearinghouse
2001 Programme of Work
Objective
The CSD NGO Steering Committee was created in
1994, to ensure effective and wide-ranging participation of NGOs in the
CSD. Northern and Southern Clearinghouses were established to assist
the Steering Committee in achieving this goal. The objective of the Northern
Clearinghouse is to support NGOs (Steering Committee caucuses and regional
networks, and the wider CSD NGO community) in preparing for and being effective
at the annual sessions of the CSD.
There are four main areas in which the Clearinghouse
does work:
-
disseminating information;
-
ensuring regular and wide-reaching communications;
-
coordinating NGO preparations for the CSD; and
-
liaising with other CSD actors.
Structure of the Northern Clearinghouse
The operations of the Northern Clearinghouse,
including staff appointments, are overseen by the Northern Co-Chair of
the Steering Committee and the four Northern Regional Representatives to
the Steering Committee (who form the Northern part of the Management Committee).
All of these positions are elected by the Northern NGOs attending the CSD.
For the 2000-01 year, these representatives are: Felix Dodds, UNED-Forum;
Victoria Elias, ECO-ACCORD (Russian Federation); Richard Jordan, Global
Education Associates (USA); Jan-Gustav Strandenaes, ForUM Norway and Ian
Fry, Pacific BioWeb (Australia).
At present the Northern Clearinghouse has one
full-time staff person. Some Clearinghouse work is carried out by other
NGOs in a voluntary capacity. Given the heavy workload at the start of
the year, it is intended to appoint an intern for January through to April,
2001 to assist in the preparations for CSD-9. The new staff person will
have a particular focus on the Dialogue Segment on Energy and Transport.
Summary of 2000 Activities
The following activities were carried out by
the Northern Clearinghouse in 2000. (An asterisk indicates that the activity
is still being completed at the time of writing this report.)
-
provided support to the Steering Committee (5 meetings)
and the Management Committee (5 meetings): preparing and distributing agendas
and papers, organising phone conferences or locations for meetings, taking
and distributing minutes, and following up decisions taken at these meetings;
-
provided administrative support and information
to NGOs attending the CSD Intersessional;
-
provided administrative support and information
to NGOs attending the CSD;
-
redesigned and maintained the CSD NGO web page;
-
fundraised for southern NGOs to attend the CSD;
-
developed a database of NGOs involved in the CSD,
including their membership in Steering Committee caucuses, and their interest
in upcoming issues
-
Moderated the 'csdgen' and 'csdsteer' e-mail list
servers;
-
set up issue based list servers on transport, science
and technology;
-
published the newly agreed Steering Committee Guidelines;
-
published an Issue Caucus Directory, providing a
comprehensive introduction to the issue caucuses of the Steering Committee,
their statements of purpose and their membership;
-
produced an Annual Report;*
-
produced a Diary for the two week CSD;
-
carried out mailings to CSD NGOs
-
established relationships with other CSD Actors
(U.N. Agencies and governments);
-
published and distributed an NGO Guide to CSD-8;
-
contributed to NGO preparations for CSD-9: including
coordinating efforts with the issue caucus co- coordinators, finding transport-focussed
NGOs for the newly re-activated Transport caucus, and preparing a synthesis
paper of NGO comments on the proposed Transport Dialogue segment for submission
to the CSD Bureau;
-
facilitated NGO involvement in the Dialogue Sessions;
-
organized daily NGO strategy sessions.
Work Programme for 2001
Providing support to the Steering Committee
-
Arranging four Management Committee meetings, a
minimum of two Steering Committee meetings at the CSD Intersessional and
a minimum of three Steering Committee meetings at CSD- 9. (Note that each
meeting requires the Northern Clearinghouse to prepare and distribute the
agenda to all 86 Steering Committee members; write and distribute papers;
arrange the conference call or location of the meeting; take and distribute
the minutes; and carry out actions arising from any decisions made.)
-
Consulting on issues as they arise between meetings.
For example, seeking input to papers for submission to the CSD Bureau.
New guidelines agreed at CSD-7 require all Steering Committee members to
be consulted, as time permits, on any such work.
-
Providing support to issue caucuses as necessary.
In particular, providing support to the Transport and Energy caucuses for
CSD-9.
-
Providing support to NGOs at the CSD Intersessional
and CSD-9;
-
Preparing and distributing training materials in
advance of the Intersessional and CSD-9, including guides on how to operate
at the CSD and how to effectively work with government delegations;
-
Organising an orientation day at the start of each
meeting.
-
Providing administrative support: servicing the
daily Morning Strategy Sessions; providing computers and photocopying facilities
(in cooperation with NGLS) and space for meetings, caucuses etc. at the
Church Center; supporting NGO working groups as required;
-
Maintaining channels of regular communication;
-
Moderating the csdgen and csdsteer e-mail list servers,
and any new list servers that may be created around upcoming CSD issues;
-
Ensuring Steering Committee members without access
to e-mail are faxed or posted significant information that is available
to others via e-mail;
-
At least two postal mailings to CSD NGOs: one before
the CSD Intersessional, and one before and one after CSD-9.
Disseminating information
-
Ensuring regular Co-Chairs' Updates are circulated
throughout the year;
-
Uploading information to the CSD NGO web site as
it becomes available;
-
Circulating NGO position papers in the lead up to
CSD-9, in particular to relevant government officials;
-
Publication of an NGO Guide to CSD-9;
-
Publication of a 2001 Dialogue Segment summary document;
-
Publication of a new Issue Caucus Directory;
-
Publication of a revised Guidelines for the CSD
NGO Steering Committee;
-
Publication of an Annual Report for 2001;
-
Other publications that may arise as a result of
CSD-9.
Liaison with other CSD actors
-
Maintaining existing and developing new relationships
with contacts in the relevant U.N. agencies and government Missions.
Wider outreach to NGOs
-
On-going development of the CSD NGO database - in
particular outreach to Eastern European NGOs;
-
Working with regional networks in promoting awareness
of the CSD, in particular in Central and Eastern Europe and Australasia;
-
Distribution of materials about the CSD and the
Steering Committee (incl. the Steering Committee Guidelines, Issue Caucus
Manual and NGO Guide to the CSD).
2001 Timetable of activity
january february
march april may
june july august
september october
november december
-
January 2001
-
Arranging a Management Committee meeting.
-
Preparation for CSD Intersessional.
-
Mailing to CSD NGOs, giving an update of preparations
for CSD-9, and providing training materials.
-
Circulation of NGO position papers for CSD-9.
-
Providing support to the caucuses focussing on CSD-9
Issues.
-
overseeing the final preparation of NGO papers for
the Dialogue Sessions.
-
Maintaining existing and developing new relationships
with contacts in the relevant U.N. agencies and government Missions
-
On-going maintenance of CSD NGO web site, moderation
of e-mail list servers and development of the CSD NGO database.
-
February 2001
-
Second Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Inter-governmental
Group of Experts on Energy- February 28 - March 2 , 2001.
-
Preparation for CSD Intersessional.
-
Providing information and administrative support
to the Energy and Climate Change Caucus during the Ad Hoc Open-ended Inter-governmental
Group of Experts on Energy- February 28 - March 2 , 2001.
-
Maintaining existing and developing new relationships
with contacts in the relevant U.N. agencies and government Missions
-
organizing a meeting between the different stakeholder
groups in preparation for the Dialogue Sessions;
-
On-going maintenance of CSD NGO web site, moderation
of e-mail list servers and development of the CSD NGO database.
-
March 2001
-
CSD Intersessional, March 5 - 16, 2001
-
Arranging orientation day for Sunday March 4, 2001.
-
Providing information and administrative support
during the Intersessional, in particular to the caucuses focussing on CSD-9
Issues.
-
Circulation of revised NGO position papers for CSD-9.
-
Arranging Steering Committee meetings.
-
Mailing to CSD NGOs, giving an update of preparations
for CSD-9, and the NGO Guide to CSD- 9.
-
Maintaining existing and developing new relationships
with contacts in the relevant U.N. agencies and government Missions.
-
On-going maintenance of CSD NGO web site, moderation
of e-mail list servers and development of the CSD NGO database.
-
April 2001
-
CSD-9 April 16- 27, 2001
-
Preparing Diary of all side events at CSD-9
-
Preparation for CSD-10 PrepComm I.
-
Arranging Steering Committee meetings.
-
Arranging orientation day for Sunday April 15, 2001
and Sunday April 22, 2001.
-
Providing information and administrative support
during CSD-9, in particular to the caucuses focussing on CSD-9 issues.
-
Maintaining existing and developing new relationships
with contacts in the relevant U.N. agencies and government Missions
-
On-going maintenance of CSD NGO web site, moderation
of e-mail list servers and development of the CSD NGO database.
-
May 2001
-
CSD-10 PrepComm I April 30- May 4, 2001.
-
Arranging Steering Committee meetings.
-
Arranging orientation day for Sunday April 29, 2001.
-
Providing information and administrative support
during CSD-10 PrepComm I.
-
Mailing of NGO review of CSD-9.
-
Initial regional outreach work with Central and
Eastern Europe and Australasia regional representatives to the Steering
Committee.
-
Acting on any work agreed by the Steering Committee
at CSD-9.
-
Providing support to the issue caucuses in preparation
for CSD-10 and Earth Summit 2002.
-
Maintaining existing and developing new relationships
with contacts in the relevant U.N. agencies and government Missions.
-
On-going maintenance of CSD NGO web site, moderation
of e-mail list servers and development of the CSD NGO database.
-
June 2001
-
Arranging Management Committee meeting.
-
Continuing regional outreach work with Central and
Eastern Europe and Australasia regional representatives to the Steering
Committee.
-
Providing support to the issue caucuses in preparation
for CSD-10 and Earth Summit 2002..
-
Maintaining existing and developing new relationships
with contacts in the relevant U.N. agencies and government Missions.
-
On-going maintenance of CSD NGO web site, moderation
of e-mail list servers and development of the CSD NGO database.
-
July 2001
-
Publication of the new Issue Caucus Manual and any
other publications that may have resulted from CSD-9.
-
Providing support to the issue caucuses in preparation
for CSD-10 and Earth Summit 2002.
-
Maintaining existing and developing new relationships
with contacts in the relevant U.N. agencies and government Missions.
-
On-going maintenance of CSD NGO web site, moderation
of e-mail list servers and development of the CSD NGO database.
-
August 2001
-
Providing support to the caucuses focussing on CSD-9
Issues.
-
Maintaining existing and developing new relationships
with contacts in the relevant U.N. agencies and government Missions.
-
On-going maintenance of CSD NGO web site, moderation
of e-mail list servers and development of the CSD NGO database.
-
September 2001
-
Arranging Management Committee meeting.
-
Providing support to the issue caucuses in preparation
for CSD-10 and Earth Summit 2002.
-
Maintaining existing and developing new relationships
with contacts in the relevant U.N. agencies and government Missions.
-
Facilitating input to the CSD Bureau meeting on
Dialogue Preparation;
-
On-going maintenance of CSD NGO web site, moderation
of e-mail list servers and development of the CSD NGO database.
-
Agreeing NGO paper writers for Dialogue Sessions.
-
October 2001
-
Circulation of draft NGO position papers for CSD-10
to NGOs.
-
Providing support to the issue caucuses in preparation
for CSD-10 and Earth Summit 2002.
-
Maintaining existing and developing new relationships
with contacts in the relevant U.N. agencies and government Missions.
-
Attending the 2nd Committee meeting of the General
Assembly;
-
On-going maintenance of CSD NGO web site, moderation
of e-mail list servers and development of the CSD NGO database.
-
Sending out first drafts of NGO position papers
for the Dialogues.
-
November 2001
-
Circulation of NGO position papers to governments.
-
Providing support to the issue caucuses in preparation
for CSD-10 and Earth Summit 2002.
-
Maintaining existing and developing new relationships
with contacts in the relevant U.N. agencies and government Missions.
-
On-going maintenance of CSD NGO web site, moderation
of e-mail list servers and development of the CSD NGO database.
-
Sending out redrafted NGO papers for the Dialogue
Sessions.
-
December 2001
-
Arranging Management Committee meeting.
-
Providing support to the issue caucuses in preparation
for CSD-10 and Earth Summit 2002.
-
Producing Annual Report for 2001
-
Maintaining existing and developing new relationships
with contacts in the relevant U.N. agencies and government Missions.
-
On-going maintenance of CSD NGO web site, moderation
of e-mail list servers and development of the CSD NGO database.
