To w a r d s 2 0 1 4 , t h e
F i n a l Ye a r o f U N
Decade of Educationfor SustainableD e v e l o p m e n t
2010 Project proceedings for the establishmentof Asia NGO Network on ESD

Published by

The Japan Council on the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD-J)
Address: 5-53-67-B2F Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001 Japan
Tel:+81-3-3797-7227

Email: info_e@esd-j.org

Fax: +81-3-6277-7554

URL: www.esd-j.org/en

About ESD-J

Civil members of DESD proposal group at Johannesburg Summit established ESD-J in 2003.ESD-J is a civil consortiumfor ESD promotion, based in Tokyo, Japan, and has been connecting stakeholders related to ESD, including citizens,municipalities, academics and national government, and promoting locally-based ESD/DESD in Japan and Asia.
This report was published with the financial support of Give2Asia.
Printed February 28, 2011, in Tokyo, Japan using environmentally friendly waterless ink, “Butterfly Ink”.

The Japan Council on the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD-J)

Introduction

BackgroundLooking at the reality of the local
community in Asia and even in Japan,
in particular in rural villages, there are
numerous and profound day-to-day needs for
activities to solve unsustainable issues, suchas depopulation of rural communities causedby urbanisation and youth outmigration, rural
poverty and loss of biodiversity and indigenous
knowledge. NGOs play a key role for finding
a culturally, economically and sociallyappropriate solutions by integrating local,
indigenous knowledge and modern, scientificexpertise.
Since its establishment in 2003, the Japan
Council on the UN Decade of Education for
Sustainable Development (ESD-J) has beenemphasizing that the locally-based approachand local capacity building (=education) are thekey in achieving sustainability, and identifying,various NGO activities as ESD. ESD-J has
sought to develop a network of Asian NGOs on
ESD from the beginning, discussed with Asian
NGOs for the possibility of establishing ESD
Asia Pacific (ESD-AP). ESD-J and UNDPGEF-SGP appealed “Ahmedabad Declaration”
at the International Conference on Educationfor Sustainable Future (ESF), in India in
January 2005.
ESD-J and NGOs in Asia held discussions on

2

a possible Asian NGO network on ESD andestablished the Preparatory Committee for
ESD-AP. However, the idea of launching ESDAP was given up in 2008 since the consensus
was not fully reached on its functions andmodalities etc. amongst the Preparatory
Committee members.
In the meanwhile, ESD-J conducted Asia Good
ESD Practice Project (AGEPP)1 (2006-08), in
order to document outreach efforts for local
sustainability that have been conducted byNGOs in remote and/or peripheral communities
where supports by governments or internationalorganisations do not reach. AGEPP outcomes
were not only the documentation of 34
cases and website development, but also theempowerment of AGEPP project member
NGOs through discussions on the key elementsof ESD and the significant role of NGOs inpromoting ESD in Asia.
While ESD activities have been gradually
expanding in the Asian and Pacific countries,
there is no effective network among civilsociety organizations/NGOs in this region.
NGOs in Asia still need more opportunities toparticipate in the discussions on ESD promotion
at regional and international levels. In general,
NGOs in this region lack financial resources
and information to participate in the regional

Towards 2014, the Final Year of UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development

and international meetings on ESD. This has
resulted in the lack of opportunities to them toshare, exchange the views and opinions about
their efforts and discuss the issues, in another
word, lack of the opportunity to empower
the civil society sector in ESD field. NGOs
need to know the similar NGOs that workfor ESD in the other countries, and have therelevant discussions within the sector and withmultistakeholders, in order to encourage theNGOs and improve their efforts in respective

country.
Through the AGEPP experience, AGEPP
members have been convinced that
opportunities need to be increased to accessrelevant information of ESD/DESD and to sharegood practices and the challenges that they facewith others in order to enhance NGOs’ ESD
efforts in Asia, - an appropriate form of NGO
network structure may be developed.

1 ESD-J and 6 NGOs from 6 Asian countries worked collaboratively conducted AGEPP (2006-08), in order to visualize
ESD efforts by the civil sector in Asia, and to strengthen the network among the AGEPP members through documentation.
Members included BINTARI Foundation (Indonesia), Environmental Broadcasting Circle (Philippines), Centre forEnvironment Education (India), NRC-NFE (Nepal), Friend of Nature (China) and Local Sustainability Alliance of Korea. In
the process of AGEPP, three international workshops were held, in Tokyo, Japan (2006 and 2008), and TongYeong, Korea(2007) to share documentation process and ESD situation in the member countries. 34 cases were submitted under
AGEPP. The documents are downloadable from AGEPP website (www.agepp.net/) in English, Japanese, Indonesian,
Tagalog, Chinese and Korean.

Objectives and Major Activities

I

n 2010-2011, ESD-J conducted a project,“First Step for the Asia ESD NGO Networkby 2014”, with the support of Give2Asia
by Caterpillar Foundation. This project aims
to develop a solid basis towards establishing
the civil society/NGO network in the Asianand Pacific region. Two central issues wereaddressed through this project: i) to identify
major constraints that Asia/Pacific civil society
groups are facing, and possible functions of
the network to effectively overcome such
constraints; and ii) possible contribution thatJapanese civil society could provide to develop
such a network. These issues were addressed
through the discussions at two meetings: Study
Tour/On-site Workshop. The workshop was
conducted in the interactive way, so that wewere able to inspire the proactive discussions.
An International Forum was convened in
December in Tokyo. It consisted of two parts:
a closed meeting session only with limited key
experts for intensive strategy discussions andan open discussion session for wider audience
to disseminate the importance of cooperation/
collaboration among Asian countries.
Approximately 15 key ESD experts mainly
from civil society/NGO sector participatedat the closed meeting and more than 50
participants at the open discussion session.
This publication is the summary proceedings of
the Study Tour/Workshop and the International
Forum presenting the process towards theestablishment of Asia NGO Network on ESD(ANNE) by 2014. Through presenting ourachievements, we would like to call the world
ESD stakeholders for joining our movement
towards the establishment of ANNE bydeveloping the partnership as well as enhancing
collaborations.
The path towards networking NGOs in Asia on
ESD has just started.

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Study Tour/On-site Workshop“Surabaya Workshop on Asia NGO ESD Network”

Major Outcomes from the discussion on Asia NGO Network on ESD

1st to 4th August, 2010
Pusat Pendidikan Lingkungan Hidup (PPLH) Environmental Education Centre
Mojokerto, East Java, Indonesia

TI

n order to discuss the possibility ofAsia NGO network on ESD with NGO
members of AGEPP, ESD-J and BINTARIFoundation organised a workshop on oneof the 34 case study sites under AGEPP.The
site was selected, considering its relatively
easy access and the scope of the activities:
poverty, deforestation, urbanization, gender,
local economic sufficiency and loss of
indigenous knowledge. 11 representatives from
7 NGOs in 5 Asian countriesparticipated in
the workshop,including 4 AGEPP members:
BINTARI Foundation (Indonesia), Centre forEnvironment Education, India, Environmental
Broadcasting Circle (Philippines), and ESD-J(Japan), and3 new members: Indonesia
Environmental Education Network, PPLH
Environmental Education Center (Indonesia)
and from China and Indonesia and Putian Green
Sprout Coastal Wetlands Research Center(China).

implementation at the grass-root/
community level in Asia;
c. To examine the necessity, significance,
purposes, ownership and governance ofa possible ESD network among civilsociety members in Asia; andTo initiate discussions to develop a roadmap on possible NGO ESD network in
Asia, including roles, responsibilities
of key stakeholders and key milestones,
towards 2014; and,d. To develop draft recommendations on how
ESD contributes towards the biodiversity
conservation, towards the proposal to beappealed by ESD-J at CBD/COP10, to beheld in October, 2010 in Nagoya, Japan.
The workshop produced the two documents
as outcomes: “possible NGO network on
ESD in Asia” and “ESD contribution to
Biodiversity conservation, and contributed in
the empowerment of the NGO participants.

In October, 2010, the 10th Session of theConference of the Parties to the Convention
on the Biological Diversity (CBD/COP10)
was held in Nagoya, Japan. ESD-J took
CBD/COP10 as an opportunity for the further
promotion of ESD in Asia from civil society
organizations (CSO), and set one more agenda
for the workshop on ESD contribution to thebiodiversity conservation, in particular, from
CSOs. Hence, the followings aims wereorganized for the Surabaya Workshop:
a. To share the outcomes/lessons of Japanesecase studies on ESD and biodiversity
especially through review and commentson the case studies from the civil sector
viewpoints;
b. To p r o v i d e i n s i g h t s o n w h a t a r erealistically required for ESD

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Towards 2014, the Final Year of UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development

he participants shared the ESD challenges on what we are facing in Asia, necessity of NGO
network, governance, ownership and possible future plan and participants’ organization’scontribution to the network, based on the preparatory reports and AGEPP case analysis.
The participants agreed on the establishment of the Asia NGO Network on ESD (ANNE) by 2014,
and that ESD-J is the interim secretariat for this Asia NGO network.
Here are its highlights from the discussion summary paper, “Major Findings on Possible Future
ESD Network in Asia”. Full report is downloadable from ESD-J web site:www.esd-j.org/en

Necessity of ESD at the grass rootlevels・ There are numerous numbers of civilorganizations in Asia, which have been
making efforts in sustainable(rural)community development at grass-root
level. Education is the core of thosedevelopment efforts.

Significant role of NGOs for ESD andnecessity of NGO network on ESD・ The NGOs play a significant role forhaving expertise on and solving the
day-to-day problems such as poverty,
sustainable agriculture, gender and so on.
・ NGOs are facing lack of opportunities
to share the good practices, to accesscapacity building courses and discussions
in order to further improve their efforts.
・ A formal NGO network for NGO on ESD
is necessary that should have clear focus
on its objectives and actions. We can startwith an informal network based on the
AGEPP network, and develop a formal
network, such as the Asia NGO Network
on ESD (ANNE) toward 2014, whichis the final year of the UN Decade of
Education for Sustainable Development(UNDESD).

Possible network functions,organization and collaboration withothers・ Network member NGOs should haveownership on the Network and the senseof ownership could be fostered throughsharing of experiences and knowledge,
training, and possibly logo and letterheaduse.
・ The functions of the Network may
include, but not limited to, sharing goodpractices, dissemination of ESD concept
and principles, training and capacity
building and policy advocacy.
・ The collaboration is important withhigher education institutes, governments,
international organizations and businesscompanies/enterprises.
・ The collaboration with universities isparticularly important but the relationshipbetween university and NGOs are very
different amongst the participants’countries.

Possible future activities andresponsibility

・ The possible actions and outcomes at theinitial stage of the network, may include
the inventory of existing ESD relatedmaterials, good practices and researches,
further analysis on the 34 AGEPP cases,
development of website/database, learningmaterials and training programs, anddocumentation of additional cases.
・ Stocktaking of the existing networks andresources should be conducted at regionaland sub-regional levels.
・ The next step will be development of a
project proposal for the above activities.
・ The participants agreed that ESD-J is
the interim secretariat for this Asia NGO
network.

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Study Tour/On-site Workshop

Major Outcomes from the discussion
on ESD Contribution to Biodiversity ConservationThe participants shared the interrelatedness between sustainable development, biodiversity
conservation, and people’s empowerment and analysed the key elements of ESD
contribution to biodiversity conservation based on the preparatory reports and AGEPP caseanalysis. Based on the discussion, the message to CBD COP10 was developed, as an outcome.
The outcome is very timely, and was effective to appeal the importance of ESD as well as NGO’spresence to the biodiversity conservation and obtain due recognition from the international
community. Here are the highlights from the message. Full report is downloadable from ESD-J
web site:www.esd-j.org/en

Community based approach is thekey

・ Local community based approach taken in
ESD is also important and effective to thebiodiversity conservation.

Interrelatedness of sustainable
development and biodiversity

・ The biodiversity loss has been mainly
caused by over-exploitation of natural
resources and change in lifestyles;
・ Globalization has been giving negative
impact on the traditional (indigenous)
sustainable livelihoods and local basic
needs.
・ The biodiversity loss impacts on the
climate change. Careful selection on the
GMO is needed.

ESD’s role in biodiversity

・ The interdisciplinary approach in ESD iseffective in the biodiversity conservation,such as creating the linkage between
biodiversity community with the related
stakeholders on, such as health care,gender equality, peace and solidarity, and
MDGs.
・ The traditional (indigenous) knowledge
should be integrated in the modern
scientific knowledge.

process and information dissemination ishighly important.
・ NGOs are important in the local andyouth empowerment and policy advocacy
through facilitating awareness raising,knowledge dissemination and consensus
building.

Factors to promote sustainable
development that can enhancebiodiversity

・ Policy advocacy: The clear statement on
ESD integration in the biodiversity policy
implementation should be effective.
・ Documentation and sharing of goodpractices on a database or website shouldbe important.

Study tour on PPLH site and Seloliman village.

For enriching the workshop discussion by putting ourselves in the real local community
settings., study tour was conducted on the 2nd day of the Workshop. The participants visitedthe community activity sites in-/outside of the PPHL facility.

Background story of PPLH
The Pusat Pendidikan Lingkungan Hudup(PPLH) is one of the cases from AGEPP,
and Trawas based NGO near Surabaya City,
Indonesia. PPHL has been implementing
education/capacity building for village
development including environmental education
since 1999.
The local residents in Trawas used to cut trees
in the local forest illegally, and deforestation
caused serious landslides and floods in the area.
While multiple factors led to illegal logging, the1990s currency crisis in Asia caused massive
unemployment, making logging an easy way toobtain cash income. The difficulty of finding
alternative sources of income led to a feelingof powerlessness amongst the local people,
which sometimes drove them to gambling or
prostitution, which in turn drove them to cut
trees for fast cash.

Observing that the community was in a vicious
circle of poverty--environmental destruction-disempowerment, PPLH invited the local
residents to come together to identify local
issues, and organised working groups forinterested residents. These groups wereorganized around various themes such as forest
management, organic farming, renewableenergy generation and women’s empowerment.
Through these group activities, the local
villagers started to utilize their traditional
knowledge on natural resource management
and combined it with “modern” knowledge
for more sustainable practices. They createdlearning opportunities, sometimes inviting
experts from outside. Now the villagers canmake a living from organic farming, processedfood production and the sales of generated
electric power to the government. They havealso learnt to save money for financing theirchildren’s education.

The message to CBD/COP10 was distributed atthe venue during the COP10, and also presented
at the CBD/COP10 side event, “ESD Meets
CEPA - Creating a Synergy between UN Decadefor Sustainable Development(UNDESD) andUN Decade of Biodiversity (UNDB)” organised
by ESD-J.

Role of NGOs

・ NGOs and media can play a significant
role to bridge the gap between scientists
and other stakeholders.
・ ESD functions in the consensus building

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Study Tour/On-site Workshop

Study Tour Highlights
Community forest re-vegetation area

The area used to have no trees as the result of illegal
loggings around the end of 1990s. The villagers together
with PPLH have been planting the mahogany trees in thelast 10 years. The recovered forest resulted in the watersupply increase, which enabled the village to produce
electricity by using the micro hydro power plants.

Micro hydoro power plants

Two micro hydro power plants alongside the river in thecommunity have been operated by the villagers and thepower generated is used by the village. Extra power issold to PPLH and the government electricity company.

Jayanti House

The participants visited a recycled paper center thatis operated by former PPLH employees and saw theprocesses of paper production using the local waste
paper. They also produce paper crafts and notebook using
recycled paper.

Kapur, organic farmers group

The participants visited the organic farmers’ group, Kapur,
and listened the group background, organic farming
processes and how they collaborate with PPLH.

Organic farming management organization(MUTOS), and Organic farming certification
organization (LETOS)

The participants visited the MUTOS and LETOS andlistened how they market the organic products, conduct
the quality control, including the product certification
processes.

The Significance of the WorkshopThis workshop was significant for the following reasons.

Reconfirmation of the step towards
Asia NGO Network on ESD

The participants shared the same idea on the
Asia NGO network on ESD, the sense ofownership of and commitment to this network,
possible governance structure and actions until
2014 through the discussions and field trip

Development of a timely message tothe international community

Preparation of the proposal to CBD COP10
was good agenda. We clarified the relationshipbetween education (people’s empowerment),sustainable development and biodiversity
and produced a message, as an outcome. The
outcome is very timely, and will be effective toappeal the importance of ESD as well as NGO’spresence to the biodiversity conservation andobtain due recognition from the international
community.

Empowerment of the participating
NGOs

NGOs in Asia generally do not have sufficient
opportunities to participate in the international
discussions on ESD, such as international
conferences and workshops by UN and otherinternational organizations. This has resulted
in the lack of opportunities to share, exchange

the views and opinions about their efforts anddiscuss issues of their concerns. In anotherwords, they lack opportunities to empower thecivil society sector in ESD field. The workshop
was a precious opportunity to the NGOs to
get to know similar NGOs in other countries,
and to share experiences on ESD to encouragethem for improving their efforts in respective
countries. Since the workshop was conductedin an interactive way, we were able to inspire
proactive discussions.

Discussion opportunity based on“hands on learning experience”

PPLH was selected as a venue for theworkshop in order to enrich the discussion by
putting ourselves in the real local community
settings. Meeting the local farmers, women,
other community people, seeing their issues
and knowing how they overcome their issues
provided the important, tangible and intangible
information to develop fruitful discussions.

Input to CBD COP10

The message to CBD/COP10 contributed to
COP10 discussions by distributing it at the
CBD COP10 venue, and by presenting it at the
CBD/COP10 side event on ESD and CBD.

PPLH site

The participants visited the PPLH facilities, and saw
how they make effort to minimize the impacts on
the surrounding environment. The facilities include,
accommodation buildings, restaurants, medical and herbal
plant garden, sewage treatment facility, solar panel andequipment for the heated water and so on.

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2010 Project proceedings for the establishment of Asia NGO Network on ESD

9International Forum in Japan
10“Networking Asian NGOs on ESD by 2014, End of the Decade expected role of UN, Japanese government and NGOs to realise thefunctional and proactive NGO network”

Summary of Presentations
Keynote Speech 1

Keynote Speech2

12th December 2010, Rikkyo University, Tokyo, Japan“Role of civil sector organizations inpromoting sustainable development/
ESD -based on the experience in India”
Mr. Ramesh Savalia, Programme
Coordinator, CEE, India/AGEPP Network
Member“Vision and Issues towards second
half of DESD in Asia Pacificregion”
Mr. Mikko Cantell, Programme Specialist
for ESD, Chief a.i., ESD Unit, UNESCO
Bangkok

The role of CSO’s during the DESD has been
exceptionally significant as the governmenthas been unable to reach in rural areas. This
failure is because ESD not only emphasizes
formal education but also focuses on non- andinformal education, which the government has
been unable to engage in. CSO’s efforts with
community are based on the understandingthat community is one of key agents of change
for ESD. This is based on two phenomenaprevalent in India. Firstly, rural communities
even today form the largest demographic
constituency, which are primarily dependent
on the natural resources both for their lifeand livelihoods. Secondly, although they are
dominant in number they remain on the margins
of receiving benefits from development.
This again, is a product of exploitation of
resources they are primarily dependent on,
adversely impacting the future opportunities
for SD. Thus, CSO’s interventions are basedon the understanding that ESD is necessary
in the process of bringing visible, viable andsustainable improvement in rural communities’
quality of life and livelihood.

ESD in the Asia-Pacific has been from theoutset a little different, - different due to theexistence of strong proponents like Japan, anddifferent due to the diversity of countries andcontexts. UNESCO has, in consultation with
its Member States, arrived at the conclusionthat in order to have impact, the delivery of
DESD must be focused. Due to the serious
challenges that natural disasters pose to the
population of the region, disaster risk reduction
has been made a priority area. We know from
ample evidence that development by any
measure can be taken back by several decades
when a disaster strikes. We also know fromexperience and countries like Japan that nations
can shield themselves against natural hazards. It
makes sense to build up our defences and while
doing so, target the most vulnerable groups andcommunities. Again, communities play a keyrole in this as they often possess knowledge
which constitutes natural coping mechanisms.
NGOs are doors to communities, which willbring societal positive values. In coordination
with NGOs and private sectors, UNESCO tries
to seek a proactive way and work more andmore with them.

Based on the Surabaya Workshop results, ESD-J organised an International Forum on
12th December, 2010, in Tokyo, Japan. Fifteen organisations that have expertise in ESD
participated in the International Forum, from civil society/NGO sector in Japan and Asia,
international organisations, and international cooperation agencies. The Forum was consisted of twoparts: a closed meeting session in the morning only with limited key experts for intensive strategy
discussions and an open discussion session in the afternoon for wider audience to disseminate
the importance of cooperation/collaboration among Asian countries. At the Open Session of theForum, the outcomes from Surabaya Workshop were shared amongst the participants, clarifying
the aims and functions of a possible Asia NGO Network on ESD and emphasising an importantrole of NGOs in the promotion of ESD in Asia. Following the keynote speeches from UNESCO
Bangkok and Centre for Environment Education, India, 8 organisations of Japan that have deeplycommitted in ESD in Asia, such as ministries of Japan, NGOs, and bilateral corporation agencies,
presented their effortsin the field of ESD international cooperation in Asia, and obstacles in its
implementation. Based on the shared information on ESD initiatives and efforts, discussions were
held on the possibility of strengthening cooperation and collaboration with Asia NGO Network on
ESD and the existing initiatives and efforts by these respective organisations.

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International Forum in Japan

ESD efforts in international cooperation in Asia by respective organisations
Ministry of Education, Culture,
Sports, Science and Technology(MEXT)
Mr. Takashi Asai
Director, Office for International
Cooperation, Division of International
Affairs

United Nations University
Mr. Shinichi Arai, Senior Research
Fellow, Institute for Sustainability and
Peace
Ms. Sachiko Yasuda, ESD Section
Programme Associate, Institute ofAdvanced Studies“MEXT defines ESD as “Education to create
leaders in creating a sustainable society”. We
have been committed to the promotion of
ESD, especially through UNESCO Associated
School System )UNESCO school) as a part ofinternational cooperation in ESD field. Now,
237 schools in Japan became our member,s andwould like to integrate the school activity into
the local sustainable community development
process”.

UNU has been conducting multiple activities
in the area of ESD, including University
Network for Climate and Ecosystem
Change Adaptation Research (CECAR)
Network, UNU Postgraduate Courses of
Sustainability, Development and Peace, Cooperation with Integrated Research System
for Sustainnability Science (IR3S), Activities
of Global Environmental Outreach Centre
targeting Satoyama Project and research
activity for Rio+20, and three-year-project
ESD Africa. UNU-IAS has taken Regional
Centres of Expertise on ESD (RCEs). There
are 75 acknowledged RCEs as of 2010. RCEs
contribute to developing an innovative platform
for multi-stakeholder dialogue – a platformthat enables diverse groups to interact, learn
collaboratively and take collective decisions
and actions towards SD.

Ministry of the Environment (MoE)
Mr. Taku Ohmura
Office of Odor, Noise and Vibration,
Environmental Management Bureau
Former Director, Environmental
Cooperation Office, Global Environment
BureauMoE has been organizing regional Ministrial
meetings on sustainability issues, such as
climate change and air and water pollution. We
have also been working closely with JapaneseNGOs to support them in strengthening
communication among different sectorsof network the Japanese NGOs that havecommitted in the international cooperation
field in Asia, in particular, local community
development field. The NGOs are now
developing recommendations to promote suchinternational cooperation efforts to contribute tosustainable development in the communities in
Asia. The proposal will be submitted to MoE,
and will be considered when the current Basic
Environmental Law is reviewed in 2011.

12environmental education policy formulation,teaching material development, media
advertisement, and partnership with local
NGOs. For developing further ESD in the fieldof international cooperation, it is necessary todevelop some kind of indicators for ESD, tomake the linkage with existing networks, and toprioritize the targets.

The Japan Foundation
Ms. Hisae Shiwa, JENESYS Program
Coordinator
In the field of ESD, the Japan Foundation has
been conducting, “Japan-East Asia Network of
Exchange for Students and Youths East Asia
Future leaders Programme (JENESYS)”, since2007. JENESYS targets NGOs, researchers,
government officials, media and businessfrom ASEAN countries and 6 others andconduct case studies, debates and exchange
opinions based on ESD related topics such as
Minamata and depopulation and urbanisation.
JENESYS participants have learned alternative
sustainability model society based on slow
growth and affluence that cannot be measured

with GDP.

Asian Community Center 21(ACC21)
Mr. Michio Ito, Representative of ACC21,
Professor, Asian Institute for Intellectual
Collaboration, Rikkyo University
ACC 21 is an NGO that has been working on
ESD field under the vision of Asian people
living together, supporting each other, a justsociety and has four missions to seek 4 kinds of“flows” and human development, that is, flowof funds, flow of people, flow of knowledge andinformation, and flow of policy/institutional
reform. In order to promote the natural farming
methods and poverty alleviation, we developed
collaboration with the Korean Natural Farming
Research Center, and have been working onmaterial development, leader training, local
community networking, and public advocacy,through the Center. For developing our projectfurther, we need to secure funding as well the
network to bridge the multistakeholders such as
NGOs, Universities, farmers’ associations andso on.

Japan International
CooperationAgency (JICA)
Mr. Hiroto Mitsugi, Deputy Director
GeneralForestry and NatureConservation Group,
Global Environment Department
JICA has been working for ESD in particularfor: (i) capacity development of local
residents for natural resource utilization andmanagement, (ii) ecosystem maintenance forbiodiversity protection, (iii) sustainable forest
resource management, and (iv)climate change
mitigation and adaptation. In particular, JICA
has been conducting the activities such as

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International Forum in JapanOISCA Japan
Ms. Emi Osaki, International Cooperation
Division
OISCA (Organization Industrial Spiritual
Cultural Advancement) is a Japan based NGO,
that was established in 1961. OISCA has
been working for the building of “Furusato(hometown)” in creating a sustainable society
suitable for the environment of each region,over 28 countries and areas. In order to breakthe vicious circle of environmental damage andpoverty in developing countries, OISCA has
been conducting activities that can bring thelong term benefits to the natural environment
as well as people’s livelihoods, and develop
the pride in the local people about the local
culture and nature, by developing a cycle ofsustainable production, capacity building andenvironmental conservation activities.

Network should consolidate and analyse
NGO’s efforts, practices and specialised
knowledge and skills under the ESD umbrella. The network should develop theframeworks and plans of actions based on
the expertised knowledge.
NGOs often play a role of focal points
in the local communities. In order toavoid duplication of initiatives and efforts
amongst related governments, bilateral
cooperation organisations, other NGOs
and UN organisations, it will be important
to develop partnership with local NGOs.
The network will enhance solid partnership among multistakeholders.
Stocktaking the existing efforts by NGOs
will be important to avoid duplication andenhance effective collaborations for ESD
in Asia.

Ehime Global Network
Ms. Yoshiko Takeuchi, Representative /ESD-J Board member

The Significance of the International Forum
Shared recognition on the Asia NGO
Network on ESD

NGOs on ESD and possible steps towards
Asian NGO Networks were shared among theparticipants of the Forum.

Through keynote speeches and otherpresentations, it was emphasized andreconfirmed that civil society plays thesignificant role in achieving sustainable
development in the Asian local communities,
by tackling socio-economic issues, peace andhuman rights issues closely linked with people’slife. While there are a lot of good ESD practices
by the Japanese Government or government
funded organizations as well as individual ESD
efforts by civil society organizations, many ofthem are not labeled as ESD. Many actors whoare substantially committed to do ESD activities
are not included in the ESD community in
Asia and therefore often miss the chances forexchanging their views and experiences withothers. The importance of networking AsianFirst opportunity for ESD stakeholders
in Japan to share respective effort forthe promotion of ESD/DESD in Asia
Pacific region.
Ten organizations from the United Nations,Japanese government, bilateral aid agency,
UNESCO associated organizations, NGOs got
together for this event. This was the first time
for them to share each organization’s vision andeffort in the field of regional cooperation for
ESD. The Forum was very effective to clarify
the overlaps of the activities and to promotepossible collaboration not only with Asia
NGO Network on ESD but also amongst all
stakeholders.

Ehime Global Network (EGN) is a Japan
based NGO that was established in 1998.
In order to build a sustainable future, EGN
set the motto, “think globally, act locally,change yourself” and has been working on the
projects that promote i) Education (promotionof ESD), ii)Action (practicinginternational
cooperation/environmental conservation,iii)Connection (construction of networks/
partnerships).In particular, we are connecting
the activities supporting the building of peacein Mozambique toactivities/education aimed atsolving the problem of illegally-parked bicycles
in Matsuyama City, EhimePrefecture andpresenting this as a practical example of ESD

Major Findings
In the open discussion with the floor, thefollowing points were emphasised:

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Towards 2014, the Final Year of UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development

2010 Project proceedings for the establishment of Asia NGO Network on ESD

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