GEN emphasizes the need for decentralization of decision-making and initiative. Activities today GEN s activities in its first phase have been primarily directed towards establishing communication between existing communities around the globe, so that ecovillages can learn from each others successes and failures. In particular, establishing regional and sub-regional networks has received a high priority. At this time there are roughly 20 national networks active in Europe. The Western Hemisphere consists of eight regions covering the whole of North and South America.
Asian networks are less well developed to date due to that region s size and complexity.
Many ecovillages are quite active in their outreach and educational programs, while others are focussed more on building their infrastructure. In addition, GEN has carried out a Permaculture Program over the past eight years, sponsoring the first permaculture courses in roughly thirty countries that had not previously had exposure to this important design methodology. This program cooperated directly with dozens of NGOs doing grassroots sustainability work in all continents. As the ecovillage movement matures, GEN's emphasis will shift from internal communication and capacity building to outreach programs to create bridges to the mainstream, build partnerships and to encourage others to make fundamental shifts in their ways of living. A second trend is to support ecovillage income creation, through educational programs, ecovillage tourism, therapy and other services, and sale of locally produced products.