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Issue 19: September 2002

UNU announces partnership projects
on MEA inter-linkages, mountains

UN University is announcing its participation in several new Type 2 partnerships as one of the highlights of its mission to the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

Alongside high-level declarations and action programmes agreed to by governments, partnerships and initiatives to implement Agenda 21 are expected to become one of the major outcomes of the summit.  These “second type” of outcomes will consist of a series of commitments and action-oriented coalitions focused on deliverables and would contribute in translating political commitments into action.

Two of the new partnerships to be announced in Johannesburg are:

1. Partnership on Inter–linkages between Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs)
This partnership will build upon the 13–country case study, which UNU and its partners have undertaken towards the determination and the transfer of lessons learned for the implementation of MEAs both at the national and regional levels. The framework being promoted by the initiative, which is based on studies on the inter–linkages among the issues that various MEAs deal with, promote ownership and partnerships that deal more effectively and efficiently with these MEAs.  Partners: UNU, Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), European Union (EU), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), South Pacific Regional Environmental Programme (SPREP), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the Japanese Ministry of Environment

2. International Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions
The partnership addresses the priority of improving livelihoods, conservation and stewardship throughout the world’s mountain landscapes. The strategy proposed to help achieve this objective is to improve, strengthen and promote greater cooperation and partnerships between major groups, all mountain stakeholders, such as donors, implementing agencies, NGOs, the private sector, mountain communities, academia, and other field practitioners. The partnership will be guided by clearly agreed goals, its operations will be based on commitments made by partners and implementation will be supported through better linkages between institutions and improved monitoring systems.  Partners: UNU, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

Details of these and other new initiatives are contained in the UNU final report to WSSD, Making Integrated Solutions Work for Sustainable Development.

More WSSD coverage:

UNU submits final report to WSSD

Initiative on science for sustainability unveiled

Slow progress on sustainable development linked to disagreement over approach

Comment: Strengthened international organisations required for World Summit success

Download the report - PDF 690KB
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