Capacity-building

Capacity-building projects allow network members to share with other sustainable development organizations what they have learned about communications through their participation in substantive projects. Capacity building can involve workshops, distributed learning, peer mentoring and consulting arrangements.

International Knowledge Networks for Sustainable Development

Coming soon

Drawing upon four years of experimentation with formal knowledge networks, this book presents learnings useful for civil society organizations coordinating or participating in knowledge networks. Topics include: structure and governance; managing virtual teams; developing external engagement strategies; and the role of young professionals in knowledge networks. Also included are special sections on communicating sustainable development on the web and interpreting web site statistics.

SD Webworks

Ongoing

The SD Webworks is an online community of practice of webmasters and communications specialists sharing knowledge about using the Internet more effectively for sustainable development. It includes online articles and case studies as well as a discussion group of more than 260 participants.

SD Web Communications Initiative (SDWCI)

Ongoing

The SDWCI aims to develop training materials and programs that build the critical communications skills in demand within civil society organizations working toward sustainable development. The SDCN will produce training materials that can be shared through face-to-face 3-day training programs and distributed learning approaches.

SD Web Reviews

March 2001

As an effort to increase the communication between various CSOs dealing with sustainable development, the SDCN began carrying out web reviews free of charge to selected organizations. In total, six members carried out the reviews of twenty organizations in thirteen different countries. The reviewer and reviewed organizations have received hands-on experience in dealing with properly communicating via the Internet. Web Review Guide (23kb).

Knowledge Facilitation Workshop

March 2000

The members of the SDCN presented this half-day workshop as part of the Global Knowledge II conference in Malaysia. The 60 participants examined the issues, challenges and opportunities in using the web to facilitate and promote sustainable development knowledge. The workshop presented examples of how to create effective content for the WWW for sharing and facilitating knowledge; and how to develop interactive applications for discussion and participation.

Member Capacity Building

1998-2000

In Phase II of the Spinning the Web project, financial resources and advice enabled four new members of the SDCN in developing countries to improve their web communications practices. This resulted in improvements to the design and management of their institutional web sites as well as increased repackaging of web content for local sharing.

Founding Member Capacity Building

1996-1998

Through Phase I of the Spinning the Web project, financial resources and advice enabled four founding members to improve their web communications practices. This resulted in improvements to the design and management of their institutional web sites as well as the creation of new online content regarding sustainable development.