Web Portal for Russia and Central Asia : A tool for knowledge and information sharing in NIS Zharas Takenov Sustainable Development Policy Specialist UNDP-Kazakshtan

OUTLINES Portal as a networking infrastructure: Empower NGOs, Government, SMEs and civil society: build relationships; governance; local knowledge and learning Sub-Regional Internet-portal on Environment for Sustainable Development in Central Asia and Russia- Goals Structure Abilities Barriers and lessons learned New Initiative - Environmental Information Network in Central Asia and Russia- CARNet

STEPS 2002 Idea on information web-site creating Supported by UNDP Capacity 21 Fund 2003 Web-site was transformed into informative, functional, interactive and dynamic Internet portal Supported by Democratic Governance (ICTD component) regional programme of Bratislava PSPD Center

GOALS to promote the sustainable development principles to enhance the awareness of various groups of civil society, build their capacity and to involve them in discussion and solving of environment protection problems to provide a free access to information for decision- makers

STRUCTURE OF THE PORTAL Information component Features: Information Databases Internet-Office Electronic mail discussion and e-newsletter lists Partners Web-pages hosting News subscribe On-line voting Experts on-line Discussion Forum

STRUCTURE OF THE PORTAL: Information component Features: Information Databases Internet-Office Electronic mail discussion and e-newsletter lists Partners Web-pages hosting News subscribe On-line voting Experts on-line Discussion Forum

INFORMATION COMPONENT Regional Cooperation: strategies, projects, reports, agreements Information on countries-activities on national level Activities: national strategies, programs, reports, information on IEA Thematic Focus: biodiversity, climate change, etc. Useful links News: Global, regional, national Children&Environment

STRUCTURE OF THE PORTAL: Information component Features: Information Databases Internet-Office Electronic mail discussion and e-newsletter lists Partners Web-pages hosting News subscribe On-line voting Experts on-line Discussion Forum

INFORMATION DATABASES Main information source Environmental projects Calendar of events Publications Mass-media coverage National experts Flexible search Information structured Remote content management

STRUCTURE OF THE PORTAL: Information component Features: Information Databases Internet-Office (CRMA) Electronic mail discussion and e-newsletter lists Partners Web-pages hosting News subscribe On-line voting Experts on-line Discussion Forum

INTERNET-OFFICE (CRMA) Joint group work in real time Privat and Group catalogue Databases News Communication facilities Task Manager Chat Effective for “brainstorming” ideas/documents Provides with the strict confidentiality Reduces irrational losses of worktime and communication costs Uses workflow-technologies, that speed-up the results transfering from one team member to another

STRUCTURE OF THE PORTAL: Information component Features: Information Databases Internet-Office (CRMA) Electronic mail discussion and e-newsletter lists Partners Web-pages hosting News subscribe On-line voting Experts on-line Discussion Forum

ELECTRONIC MAIL DISCUSSION AND E-NEWSLETTER LISTS Information and knowledge exchange, based on with pre-or-post- moderation Develops Internet communities and networks Open or close subscription mechanism Easy moderating Integrated, but NOT BASED on the web Supports built-in archiving, automatic bounce processing, content filtering, digest delivery, spam filters and more

STRUCTURE OF THE PORTAL: Information component Features: Information Databases Internet-Office (CRMA) Electronic mail discussion and e-newsletter lists Partners Web-pages hosting News subscribe On-line voting Experts on-line Discussion Forum

PARTNERS WEB-PAGES HOSTING Building and promote a long life partnership with civil society Technical support Separate internet-address Remote administration Example: Web-page devoted to the parliament hearings on Specially Protected Areas Easy templates for web-pages developing

STRUCTURE OF THE PORTAL: Information component Features: Information Databases Internet-Office (CRMA) Electronic mail discussion and e-newsletter lists Partners Web-pages hosting News subscribe On-line voting Experts on-line Discussion Forum

NEWS SUBSCRIPTION Regular portal news/last updates by English-Russian languages Periodicity - one per week ON-LINE VOTING Interactive questionnaire English-Russian languages On-line tool for consultations

STRUCTURE OF THE PORTAL: Information component Features: Information Databases Internet-Office (CRMA) Electronic mail discussion and e-newsletter lists Partners Web-pages hosting News subscribe On-line voting Experts on-line Discussion Forum

EXPERTS ON-LINE On-line knowledge exchange with professionals for better understanding of environmental and SD issues Expert defines the theme of consultations The system based on on-line and off-line tools Effective to raise awareness and involve of internet communities in the environment protection process on local levels

STRUCTURE OF THE PORTAL: Information component Features: Information Databases Internet-Office (CRMA) Electronic mail discussion and e-newsletter lists Partners Web-pages hosting News subscribe On-line voting Experts on-line Discussion Forum

DISCUSSION FORUM Comfort and easy distant conversation to discuss the environmental and SD issues Thematic discussions Opportunities: New themes and discussions Remote Forum Administration Archiving Can be used as a tool for on-line consultations

Provides an on-line mechanisms for policy discussion to ensure the progress in MDG 7, task 9 realization Help reinforce regional co-ordination Helps to build partnership Broaden the audience Offer information and advocacy Provide a common online platform to mobilize resources and capacity Help develop ownership and commitment to environmental programmes Highlight and share best practices and exemplary initiatives Facilitate media coverage of regional environment sustainable development initiatives Promote technical assistance ABILITIES

BARRIERS Lack of cooperation activity using ICT tools in sub-region Absence of the sustainable information sharing and exchange mechanism Low capacity and computer supply Low and/or expensive Internet connection Low awareness in using new information technologies

LESSONS LEARNED For the successful project realization there are needs in: Internet-Centers with free access to Internet and trainings on Internet (for example, UNDP Kazakhstan Outreach Center) National ICT Strategies, reflecting the overall computerization and overcoming of digital inequality Sustainable information and knowledge sharing and exchange mechanism

Sustainable information and knowledge sharing and exchange mechanism Environmental Information Network for Central Asia and Russia (CARNet)

Environmental Information Network for Central Asia and Russia (CARNet) Voluntary, independent and not-for-profit association of non-profit and non-governmental civic organisations, journalists, academic structures- representatives from Central Asia and Russian Federation. What does CARNet do? Providing information Making CAR’s civil society voice heard Participating in international debates

Environmental Information Network for Central Asia and Russia (CARNet) Aim of the project To involve civil society in decision making process To form the information support system for decision-making in sub-region To establish and implement of mechanisms for public participation in decision making process To improve organization and coordination of activity within NGO community To improve networking and cooperation To improve exchange of information and capacity building

Achievements of the projects 6 UNDP Environmental Focal Points (FP) have been involved as a Coordinators from UNDP COs 6 National Network Facilitators started operating in the region Workshop “ICT and networks in Environment and SD”, Almaty, : - set up a regional information network and identify methods of effective coordination between representatives of the CARNET; - ensure that the regional information network is integrated into the REAP arhitecture; - discuss how to apply and test ICT tools in REAP-related activities in order to strengthen information exchange within REAP networks Training sessions for the National Network Facilitators, NGO working group and UNDP environmental focal points on how to use the web-portal services Environmental Information Network for Central Asia and Russia (CARNet)

To use our: - capacity - experience - knowledge - enthusiasm and ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION NETWORK CARNet To establish the information exchange channels between decision makers and civil society To establish and implement in practice the on-and-off-line tools for public consultations within the framework of REAP Environmental Information Network for Central Asia and Russia (CARNet) What is next?

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