IICD supported project: Strengthening the Network for Sustainable Development and Environment

Countries: Bolivia [BO]
Sectors: environment

Summary

The Network for Sustainable Development and Environment - Red de Desarrollo Sostenible y Medio Ambiente (REDESMA) - will develop an electronic portal on activities in sustainable development and environment in Bolivia.

Update

Updated: 2005-08-30

Started in 2001, NGO CEBEM has developed a strong portal and
information network for sustainable development. Membership of the
network increased unexpectedly to 13,000 members, 80% Bolivian and 20%
foreign subscribers, making this one of the largest networks in Latin
America. The portal provides information on environment and governance
issues around sustainable development. Services include specialised
information bulletin and institutional and expert databanks. Members of
the network provide most information. It is found that, despite efforts
to gain income through membership fees and custom-made information
services, the nature of the information seems not prone to
possibilities for income generation. New ways to find support from the
government are to be explored to ensure sustainability.

Introduction

The Network for Sustainable Development and Environment - Red de Desarrollo Sostenible y Medio Ambiente (REDESMA) is established with the objective to enhance the exchange of information and knowledge on specialised themes between specialists and institutions from the government, non-gouvernmental, academic and private sector.

To support the information and knowledge exchange, the project will provide an electronic portal on activities in sustainable development and environment in Bolivia. Beneficiaries include academics, politicians, development workers, NGO and local governments. Participation of grass-root organisations and citizens in isolated areas are also encouraged to participate. Currently, REDESMA has 1,500 subscribers, of which 70% are found in Bolivia, 20% in Latin America and 10% in the rest of the world.

Objectives

The network will focus on the improvement of existing services and the development of new electronic services offered through REDESMA. The selection of services is based on a detailed market study among current and potential subscribers and include: 1) Thematic newsletters; 2) Information on projects, events and conferences and 3) A virtual library and 4) Directory of Institutions and Experts in environment; 5) Discussion forums and electronic conferences and 6) Design, hosting and maintenance of web sites.

Most information is developed by the same participants in the network, complemented by information collected by CEBEM. Currently, most subscribers are informed through 2-weekly messages by e-mail. The subscribers are stimulated to move to the services offered through the REDESMA website. For this, the current website of REDESMA will be converted into a leading environmental national portal, including a combination of static information, database driven information and interactive services.

Development Impacts

The development objective of the project is to enhance the democratisation of information and knowledge, enhance awareness and to stimulate the dialog between stakeholders and awareness in the areas of environment and sustainable development by means of the Internet. The diffusion and exchange is to take place between grass-root organisations, NGOs and academic institutions as well as the central government and departmental and local governments, contributing to the transparency of government. As such, the network aspires to be an instrument and contribute to poverty alleviation and participatory, equal and sustainable development.

Market and finance

The project foresees in an increase in the membership of REDESMA from currently 1,500 to 7,000 subscribers in the fifth year. The market study among current and potential users has indicated that a full recovery of project costs is not feasible. To reach this number of beneficiaries and thereby fulfilling the objectives of wide access to and the democratisation of information, it is required to offer basic information services for free.

The users are, however, prepared to contribute to special electronic services. By means of the expansion and development of paid interactive electronic services, it is planned to enhance the auto sustainability of REDESMA. At the end of the fifth year I is calculated to: 1) have 240 institutions and experts listed in the Environmental Directory, paying an annual fee of respectively US$ 20 and US$ 10; 2) organise and facilitate annually 3 discussion forums and 3 electronic discussions on specific at a price of respectively US$ 1,000 and US$ 2,500, financed by larger interested development agencies and companies; 3) develop annually 5 websites for organisations at US$ 20 each and host web sites for 35 organisations at a price of US$ 100 per year.

In total, these services will generate around US$ 18,000, representing a 32% of the total project costs. To cover part of the financial gap, CEBEM will provide a contribution in terms of human resources. To finance the project, a financial gap of US$ 220,000 is found for the 5-year project period.

Project Owner : Centro Boliviano de Estudios Multidisciplinarios (CEBEM)

Project Partners : LIDEMA, FDMAD, CI, HIVOS, IICD

Contact Organisation : CEBEM (www.redesma.org)

Project Contact : Heleen Weeda