Backgrounder

What is SDNP

The Sustainable Development Networking Programme (SDNP) is a catalytic initiative to kick-start networking in developing countries and help people share information and expertise relevant to sustainable development to better their lives. Launched in 12 pilot countries in 1992 as one outgrowth of the Earth Summit, the SDNP currently offers assistance in establishing connectivity to national networks and the Internet, content aggregation and user training in 39 developing nations and 36 small island developing states (SIDSnet).

How it works

After the requisite pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, SDNP provides seed money, typically about $150,000 - $200,000 over two to three years to get the basic operation running while simultaneously sensitizing a wide audience of decision makers in both the private and public sectors and academia [as well as non-governmental organizations and special interest groups such as women, youth, the physically challenged, etc.] to the value of information, and especially to the importance of having access to information. In essence, an SDNP is a national entity with managerial and technical skills, hardware and software, connectivity and training resources designed by nationals, "owned" and managed by nationals, to provide a "meeting place" that services the information needs of all sectors of civil society. Each SDNP is expected to build its own user community and to have shifted from external to domestic financing before the seed money runs out.

SDNPs work in collaboration with existing multilateral and bilateral initiatives to avoid any duplication of effort. The approach is participatory, a model of democratization in action, and focused on using affordable and appropriate technologies. In order to be successful, SDNP has found that it must be a demand-driven, cost effective entity and provide value added services for its market niche of sustainable development.

The results

The bottom line is that there is significant improvement in the way people live, work and communicate if their country has a national SDNP. For example, SDNP has positively impacted land-use planning in Bolivia; educated lobbyists and government officials making environmental policy in Nicaragua; stimulated the provision of Internet access in Africa; and saved lives in Pakistan by locating supplies of rare blood types needed for transfusions. It has also provided a definitive analysis of networking and communication needs for the Heads of State of the Americas.

Recently SDNP has been directed to give high priority to creating the Small Island Developing States Network (SIDSnet). This involves the creation of a computer server capable of providing internet based communication tools to a network of the developing island nations.

Less than two months ago SDNP, jointly with UNDP’s Internet Initiative for Africa, held a Workshop in Maputo, Mozambique which drew representatives from 28 nations of the region and helped to set the stage for accelerated networking activities in that continent.

What else is needed

An additional 44 countries, as well as SIDSnet, are pressing for SDNPs’ intervention. There is neither the staff or financial resources to begin to accommodate all these requests. SDNP needs to expand the number of countries it can help, and is already building the necessary internal mechanisms to handle such an expansion.

It is noted that SDNP has just received the final report of its third External Evaluation Team which summarized their findings in 21 recommendations. A continuation of activities for 3 - 5 years with increased financing and expanded country coverage is urged. Implementing these recommendations is also part of what else SDNP needs to do in the coming year.

For additional information

See SDNP's Website at http://www.sdnp.undp.org, which contains information on Papers, Workshop Reports, Country Status Reports, SIDSnet, Evaluation Reports, Feasibility Studies, Speeches, etc.

SDNP Contacts

| About SDNP | Backgrounder | 1998/1999 Highlights | 1999 Report to BDP | Country Status Table | Partners |