Sustainable Development Web Communications Initiative

This Sustainable Development Web Communications Initiative 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.

Phase I

Core Curriculum Development (April - July 2001)

• CSO Web manager training needs assessment survey.
• Development of SDWCI evaluation framework.
• Benchmarking of current practice through telephone interviews with selected CSOs on Web management skills and challenges as well as archiving of sample Web files.
• Assessment of opportunities for collaboration and partnership with related ICT training initiatives.
• First SDWCI International Writeshop to produce resource kit on up to 10 sustainable development Web communications topics, including case studies of CSO experience. Writeshop will also provide opportunity for Phase II planning of regional activities.

Phase II

Regionalization and Distributed Learning (August 2001 - March 2003)

Test and revise training materials through 6-8 regional Web Communications Train-the-Trainer Workshops to be held in Central America, South America, Eastern Europe, West Africa, East Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia. Each five-day workshop will involve communications staff from 20 organizations per region.

Phase III

Distributed Learning (April 2001 - March 2003)

Adaptation of case studies and materials from international and regional workshops for inclusion in the Sustainable Development Webworks and training CD-ROM. Over 1000 sustainable development Web managers worldwide supported through sd-webworks discussion list.