Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme MENTOR UNEP e-learning platform for supporting partners in keeping the environment under review ( Capacity Building and Partnerships Section Division of Early Warning and Assessment United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Nairobi, Kenya

Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme 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]Greek mythologyAlcumusOdysseusTrojan WarTelemachus

Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme 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)

Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme Bali Strategic Plan – Section F BSP - 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

Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme Capacity Building Needs Preparing SOE Reports & Outlook Scenarios Information Policy Involve decision makers Data Collection & Management Metadata Standards Website Development & Information Sharing Platforms - Communication outreach GIS, Image Processing, mapping metadata Remote Sensing ICT Capacity Hardware & software training Internet connectivity Partnership development & networking -national & international Links with donors Project Development Institutional strengthening

Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme DEWA TS & CB Services 1.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

Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme 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

Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme Resource types & owners Resource Type UNEP- brokered Other institutions Primary (tools, manuals..) GEO modules GEO for Cities MA tools GIWA methodology CEDARE (ICZM ) GEMS (water quality modules) GEOnetwork OS Secondary (information systems) GEO data portal ecoMundus PEARL Issue-based modules EEA ReportNet GEMS Water portal Development G/way GEMET thesaurus

Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme GEO Network Opensource GEMS Water Modules GEO Resource Book IEA Manual GEO for Cities Toolkit

Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme GEO Modules Module 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

Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme ? 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

Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme

Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme 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)

Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme Timeline on progress to date:  Nov 2006Draft concept paper on MENTOR  Dec 2006Expert consultation, Washington DC  22 Jan 2007eLearning Meeting, Nairobi, Kenya Common Sense engaged as consultants  Feb 2007 eLearning Workshop, Nairobi, Kenya  Feb–Mar 2007Review and comment on the Draft Strategic Guideline for MENTOR  Mar 2007 Participate in eLearning Development and Implementation (eLDI) (InWEnt Training Course, Pretoria)

Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme 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

Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme Environmental Terminology Needs 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?

Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme 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

Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme  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

Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme 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

Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme 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)

Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme Thank you! Capacity Building and Partnerships Section Division of Early Warning and Assessment United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Nairobi, Kenya