SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT NETWORK : Activating Information Flows

A National Consultation on the Sustainable Development Networking Programme- India (SDNP - India), organized by Development Alternative and sponsored by UNDEP and IDRC, was held in New Delhi on February 8, 1995.  It brought together key players from across India from government, academic, business, and NGO sectors to discuss a proposed framework for SDNP-India.

The concept of a `Sustainable Development Networking Programme’ (SDNP) evolved during the Earth Summit at Rio in 1992, with the express function of facilitating effective exchange of information on the environment and development, i.e. on sustainable development.  With the catalytic support of UNDP, SDNP today is already at some stage of operation in more than 25 countries wolrdwide.

In early 1994 a task force was established in India to assess the need for SDNP in India and guide the preparation of a feasibility report that would outline the most appropriate design and implementation strategy for SDNP -India.  The task force appointed Development Alternatives to undertake the feasibility study.

The feasibility study team analysed the current situation in the country y talking to various information users, providers and carriers in government, NGO, business and academic sectors and then, based on the findings and the generatl guidelines given by UNDP/IDRC, suggested several alternative approaches.  The Task Force decided that a combination of these would be the best way to structure SDNP in India.

SDNP-India, as proposed in the Development Alternatives feasibility report, would have two basic aims:
1. to establish a distribution clearinghouse for information on sustainable development for both manual and automated users.
2. to promote working links through an Association of information users, carriers and providers within government, academia, business and NGOs involved in issues of sustainable development.

The Clearinghouse would do the following: operate a query/response service; provide electronic-mail service within India and gateway services to international networks; moderate electronic bulletin board systems and conferences; and provide access to databases.  The functions of the Association would be to: establish a forum for SDNP participants; educate/train SDNP participants; promote SDNP; support fundraising for SDNP members.

Over the first five years, SDNP-India would progress through a three-phase strategy.  The Creation Phase in the first year would focus on laying the foundation for establishing a distribution clearinghouse and an association of interested participants.  Considerable effort would go into mobilising core members of the Association and channelisng their current efforts so that at least the manual and some automated Clearinghouse activiites can start immediately after inception.  The Growth Phase over the next two years would build upon the base established in the first phase in terms of expanding participant, technical, geographical, and subject coverage.  The focus at this stage would be to attain credibility and confidence among hte participants and society at large.  All services until this time would be offered free of cost.  During the Sustenance Phase over the following two years, the programme would put cost-recovery mechanisms into  place, in an effort to ensure the viability of the programme.

Various information providers, or nodes, spread throughout the country would act as service centres, enabling users to access the products and services of SDNP India.  The main SDNP office, located in Delhi, would manage and coordinate the entire programme and report to a steering committee of concerned participants.

The National Consultation
MR. Hans-C. von Sponeck, the Resident Representative of UNDP in India, opened the National Consultation by inviting the participants to comment both on the feasibility of SDNP-Inida and on the framework suggested in the report.
Mr. Vijay Pande, representing Ms. Martha Stone of IDRC Ottawa, reiterated IDRC’s commitment to SDNP-India.

Mr. Chuck Lankester, Director of the global SDNP initiative, explained the general principles of SDNP and how other developing countries were proceeding with the programme.  He praised the SDNP-India study and the framework selected, with special note of its entrepreneurial slant, phased approach, performance indicators, and management systems.  He felt that the time was ripe for establishing SDNP in India, and the country’s existing skill base and infrastructure would make it easier to do so.

Dr. Ashok Khosla, chairman of the SDNP-India task force, briefly described the situation in India regarding information, its sharing and the need for an SDNP.  He then set the tone for the later general disucssion by requesting participants to think about how SDNP-India should be operationalised and how they can contribute to the process.

After Mr. George Varughese, leader of the study team from Development Alternatives, made a brief presentation of the feasibility report, the floor was thrown open for general discussion.  At that time, many valuable comments were received form the general participants.

Key issues raised by the participants included:
Who should be able to participate in SDNP-India?
*        In addition to information providers, carriers and users from the government, NGO, academic and business sectors, other participants were mentioned: DoT, information professionals, media, grassroot NGOs, traditional rural societies, information sources, information analysers, and value adders.

What should be be the scope of SDNP-India?
*  The subject scope should include any topic that the steering committee deems as relevant to sustainable development.  Thus, in addition to the proposed environment and development topics, others, such as health and women’s issues, could also be included.
* Some felt that SDNP-India should be an open network, allowing access to everyone, while the majority preferred to keep it closed.
* SDNP-India should concentrate on connections and communications within the country, but also have international gateways.
* It could later include data from remote-sensing and GIS.

What are the technical issues?
Linking up with most parts of the country is not a technical problem.  However a technical working group could be set up to detail and handle the task.

Wherever possible, the use of existing networks, satellites and other communication structures should be encouraged.

What about the financing?
SDNP- New York, UNDP-India and IDRC all pledged equal financial support for the first three years to help launch SDNP-India.  However, more funds will be needed, giving other organizations the opportunity to participate in and assist the programme.

Information may initially be provided free but later fees should be charged so that SDNP-India can be a viable, on-going service.

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