1-5 ESTABLISHMENT OF CHINA'S INTERNATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (CITCSD)

1-5

Project Scope and Relationship to China's Agenda 21

This project seeks to improve participation in international cooperation on sustainable development, to build capacity for sustainable development, especially in terms of human resource development, and to strengthen cooperation between the scientific community and decision-makers. This project is based on programme area 2B of China's Agenda 21, and is related to areas 5A, 6B, 6C, and 20E.

1. Background

The Administrative Centre for China's Agenda 21 (ACCA21) is responsible for formulating and implementing sustainable development policy, and facilitating international cooperation, particularly in the area of capacity building for sustainable development. At present, insufficient experience and capacity in the field of sustainable development has become a major constraint to the implementation of CA21, particularly in local governments, industrial sectors, and communities. The top priority is to strengthen the capacity of administrative personnel to integrate the principles and practices of sustainable development into all respects of the decision-making process and to enhance public awareness of sustainable development.

During the nearly two-year preparation of China's Agenda 21, it has become clear that the key to a successful transition towards a sustainable future is to involve all sectors of society in the ongoing development process, which to a large extent depends upon the attitudes and capacity of decision-makers at all levels to address environment and development issues. One of the most important tools to fill gaps in the necessary knowledge and skills, and to increase awareness, will be training (with a focus on the formulation and implementation of sustainable development policies, plans, and programmes).

Building endogenous capacity to implement Agenda 21 will require the efforts of developing countries in partnership with relevant United Nations organizations, as well as with developed countries. As one of the first countries to formulate and implement a national Agenda 21 strategy China is prepared to establish an international training centre to share experiences within the field of capacity building for sustainable development with other countries in the Asian region. In view of the comparatively weak institutional linkages and insufficient information exchange between China and other countries, the establishment of China's International Development Training Centre for Sustainable Development (CITCSD) will help to create partnerships to facilitate the implementation of Agenda 21. While aiming at building capacity in the area of sustainable development in China, the Centre will also help other developing countries to strengthen their capacity to deal with environment and development issues.

2. Objectives

• Long-term Objectives
  • To establish China's International Development Training Centre for Sustainable Development (CITCSD) to assist government officials, enterprise managers, and community leaders to strengthen their capability and capacity for formulating and implementing sustainable development strategies, plans, and programs in China and other countries. This training will be provided in cooperation with government agencies, academic institutes, and international counterparts.

• Immediate Objectives
  • To establish CITCSD as an effective international training, technical assistance, and advisory agency and to recruit well-qualified staff.
  • To develop a core curriculum based on the Priority Programme for China's Agenda 21 and training systems appropriate to the needs of key stakeholders.
  • To create professional and institutional linkages between various government and nongovernmental organizations in China and its counterparts in the international community through workshops, and symposia related to the implementation of Agenda 21.
  • To develop an electronic information network on sustainable development linked to internal and external networks to access information and to aid in outreach/cooperation.
  • To provide expertise and materials in support of a major ongoing public awareness and participation campaign for sustainable development.

The implementing agencies will be the ACCA 21 and the China's Science Society for Social Development. Duration will be four years. The main purpose of the activities is to establish the CITCSD and have it in full operation at then of four years. The emphasis of the project will gradually shift from activity 3.1 to 3.5 during the duration of the project.

• 3.1 Infrastructure development include:
  • preparation of housing facilities;
  • procurement and installation of training and office equipment;
  • establishment of an electronic information network - this will play an important role in facilitating information exchange and technology cooperation with regard to the implementation of Agenda 21, both within China and with overseas partners.

• 3.2 Delivery capacity development: by the end of project duration, CITCSD will have developed 24 training modules, and established institutional linkages with 120 domestic organizations and 60 international agencies. In normal operation, CITCSD will deliver approximately 20 regular training courses, convene about 6 international workshops or conferences, organize focused study tours for approximately 8 groups, and provide 20 fellowships. Three-quarters of the training courses will be offered by Chinese trainers. In order to reinforce the Centre's international perspective, the remaining quarter will be delivered by experts from international partners. Specific activities will include:
  • recruitment of core staff (such as administrative, support, and training personae);
  • professional development, including in-country training and workshops, internships and placements abroad in cooperation with the international partners;
  • development of the core curriculum (made up of 18 training modules by the year 1997);
  • development of software for operation and administration of the centre and to aid effective development of training modules and outreach materials.

• 3.3 Institutional linkage development: a wide range of ventures in domestic international cooperation for sustainable development will be undertaken, including exchange of information and experience with networks such as the SDN, exchange of personnel, hosting of international workshops and symposiast, provision of training materials and methods, and transfer of environmentally sound technology. The capacity building program is designed to provide CITCSD with the ability to operate as a strong partner in international networks and exchanges to foster the effective implementation of Agenda 21 world wide. Specific activities will include:
  • analysis of service requirements;
  • identification of potential partners;
  • conduct of joint projects, and exchange of training materials and approaches.

• 3.4 Developing educational materials and pilot training programs according to the Priority Programme: CITCSD will play a very important role in developing and introducing various educational materials, success stories, models, and learning tools to support China's nationwide sustainable development campaign aiming at educating the general public, and improving public awareness and participation concerning environment and development. Specific activities will include:
  • collecting and publicizing experiences and success stories relating to sustainable development at the grass-roots level;
  • developing (in collaboration with mass media in China) popular broadcasts, television programs, and films on the subject of sustainable development that will be presented on China's Central Television and local television stations, and distributed as video cassettes for presentation in schools, and distributed as video cassettes for presentation in schools, industry, etc;
  • developing and disseminating training modules and learning tools to be shared by both Chinese and other countries' counterparts;
  • developing and publishing a regular newsletter on China's progress in sustainable development and the implementation of Agenda 21;
  • delivery of short-term training courses and seminars in accordance with the training modules developed and the requirements of implementing Agenda 21 and at the initial strategies will mostly be from domestic;
    • conduct of workshops and symposia relating to specific areas of sustainable development;
    • assignment of study tours and fellowships.

• 3.5 Advisory capacity development: CITCSD will provide key organizations and agencies within China (e.g., planners, program managers, sectoral managers, regional executives) with the necessary information and methodologies to enhance their capacities for integrating sustainable development principles and practices into decision-making processes at various levels. Specific activities include:
  • provision of relative information service;
  • conduct of training of instructors from other industrial and management training programs in order to incorporate environmental training components into their regular programs;
  • delivery of on the job training and in-site diagnoses;
  • provision of consulting services on the formulation and implementation of sustainable development policies, and programs.

• 4.1 Chinese Inputs

  The Chinese Government will provide core personnel, including staff members of the ACCA21, the China's Science and Technology Society for Social Development and Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau, national experts of appropriate qualifications and levels for training, research, consulting activities, as well as translators, interpreters, and support staff. Altogether, 80 person/years will be provided. Salaries, domestic travel expenses, and per diets for above-mentioned personnel will be paid by the Chinese Government. Four international workshops and four study tours will be sponsored by China. These tours will involve participants from both China and foreign partners.

  The Chinese Government will provide suitable housing and living facilities, basic office and training equipment in support of operation and administration of the centre, and delivery of training courses. China also will provide supporting facilities to establish the electronic network on sustainable development.

• 4.2 International Cooperation

  Through the duration of the project, a total of approximately 50 foreign experts will be recruited to support the activities relating to institutional building, curriculum development, in-country training of trainers, delivery of key lectures, assistance in establishment of the electronic network, etc.

  During the four years of the project, 20 core staff members of CITCSD will be assigned to the international partners for internships or placements for an average period of 3 months each. This is designed to establish ongoing linkages with key international partners and to reinforce the expertise of core staff in strategic areas. A fellowship program consisting of approximately 10 fellowships per year will be established and participants will be assigned to international institutes for an average period of 3-6 months to strengthen specific areas of expertise. Altogether, 40 Chinese experts associated with CITCSD will be assigned to participate in international workshops, conferences, and other cooperation activities. This will allow CITCSD to strengthen specific subject areas important to its programs.

  In the course of 1994-1996, 8 study tours will occur outside China and will require external funding. This will permit Chinese participants from different agencies to gain access to current best practices in their field. In addition, it will establish ongoing relationships between Chinese managers and specialists and their foreign counterparts. Each study tour will be made up of approximately 15 persons and last for two weeks on average.

  Workshops and in-country training sessions in other parts of China will be held to broaden the Centre's influence and to permit it to address specific Agenda 21 issues in the regions where they are most important. The funds will cover the preparation of materials, and provision of appropriate facilities.

  External funding is required to provide the necessary office and training equipment [particularly for that equipment which must be procured outside China] in support of the curriculum development, operation and administration, conduct of workshops and conferences, and delivery of training courses. The establishment of an electronic network system will require funding to cover the hardware and software of the system as well as the design and implementation of a suitable information system, including initial training of operating personnel. The system will also serve the functions of financial management and trainee management.

The direct beneficiaries of the project will be the participants in the training sessions, study tours, and fellowships from the public and private sectors both in China and from other countries. As well, the CITCSD core staff will benefit by building expertise.

The domestic target beneficiaries include governmental agencies (such as the State Planning Commission, the State Science and Technology Commission, the State Economy and Trade Commission and other line ministries), academic institutions, industrial sectors (including township and village enterprises), as well as community leaders who will develop upgraded capabilities and capacities concerning sustainable development by means of training, consulting, and technical assistance.

Other Asian countries will benefit from participation in the training and consulting activities delivered by the CITCSD, application of training modules and learning tools developed by the centre, and information exchange and technology cooperation regarding environment and development. As a result, the CITCSD will be able to contribute to the transition of this region towards sustainable development by means by upgrading the capability and capacity of integrating economy and environment. And in turn, the global population will benefit from the transition of China and other Asian nations towards sustainable development.

CITCSD will, from its inception, adopt an international focus, seeking partnerships and cooperation with institutions worldwide with regard to sustainable development. The Centre will develop initially with international support: potential supporters include the United Nations agencies(such as UNDP and UNEP), the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, assistance agencies from several donor nations, as well as international foundations or other donor agencies. In developing and implementing its program, CITCSD will actively seek partnerships with non-governmental organizations, international institutions (such as Unesco, IUCN and IIED), and similar environment and development training institutions in other countries. Capacity building at CITCSD will enable it to participate effectively in international fora and take a strong lead in sustainable development in the Asian region.