The principle of sustainable development makes an explicit linkage between the environment, development initiatives and people’s lives, arguing that reducing poverty and environmental protection are not incompatible objectives. Our challenge is to envision and promote approaches to development that create opportunities for people to build healthy communities and to increase incomes in ways that protect or even enhance the natural environment. Capacity development supports this strategy by building new frameworks and enhancing the ability of people to see change as an opportunity rather than a cost.
There have been a number of successful programs supported by the international community to realize people-centred development that also addresses environmental concerns. FIT builds upon these initiatives by developing capacities within the structures that traditionally perceive environmental protection as a threat to development—economic policy makers, small- and medium-sized enterprise owners and managers, and political decision-makers. We approach this work by stressing the positive connections between environmental, economic and social development.
Canada-Jiangsu Small and Medium Enterprises Applied Management and Environment Project (SMEEP) - China
Using an integrated approach, this project developed environmental and enterprise management skills among owners and managers of SMEs, enabling them to reduce their pollution levels and improve workplace safety through application of low cost/no cost solutions. An Environmental Revolving Fund (ERF) provided loans to enable selected SMEs to install cleaner production technologies. These enterprises in turn served as demonstration plants for others in their industry. As a result of the project, SMEs have increased their profits through lower energy costs and waste reduction, achieved measurable reductions in air and water emissions, and created greatly improved environments for workers.
Biogas Technology and Integrated Farming – Sri Lanka
The Sri Lanka National Development Foundation’s (NDF) objective was to develop and expand its program in biogas technology and integrated farming to help the rural poor use water buffalo waste as an efficient source of farm energy and fertilizer. A technical resource team was selected and trained to help the rural poor build biogas digesters and develop integrated farming techniques. A team of women trainers was developed to ensure that gender equality issues and the special needs of rural women would be met through the project. FIT advised the NDF on training methods and materials for use in seminars and workshops, and village extension workers were trained to provide technical assistance to farmers.
Capacity Building for Environmental Protection/Black Sea University – Romania
This program provided a unique opportunity to bring together regional managers and local environmental professionals to address common problems related to the sustainable management of the Black Sea ecosystem. In cooperation with the Black Sea University, based in Romania, FIT organized and delivered courses by leading Canadian environmental managers and policy makers, as well as representatives of environmental technology industries. The courses also fostered the development of new linkages and networks with the objective of initiating joint endeavours to address the needs of the Black Sea and its threatened ecosystem over the long-term.
Project Management for Sustainable Development – India
In partnership with the Asian Institute for Rural Development (AIRD), the Vocational Education Society (VES) and the Institute for Integrated Rural Development (IIRD), FIT conducted a series of workshops on project management for sustainable development in northern India. Custom-designed learning materials covered topics such as managing the project cycle, conducting environmental impact assessments on project proposals, integrating environmental and development objectives in project design and implementation, and fostering community participation in environmental decision-making.
Environmental Management Training – Global
Project Learning was a concept developed by FIT to synthesize state-of-the-art knowledge on sustainable development and make it user-friendly for decision makers. A series of learning materials was produced, including: On Common Ground: An Introduction to Sustainable Development; The Challenge of Sustainability: Examining Tools and Techniques Available to Enhance Environmental Decision-Making; and the Environmental Evaluation Guidebook. These have been used by a wide range of policy makers from the public sector in Africa and Asia, as well as by UN agencies to promote environmental concepts in development programming.
Sustainable Development of Natural Resources and Wetland – Romania
FIT and the Black Sea University designed and a delivered a course to build capacities to protect fragile ecosystems through development planning. This course brought together 21 managers and scientists from Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia for an intensive two-week series of workshops designed to address wetland management, coastal zone issues, environmental protection approaches and the development of information sharing linkages.
Promotion of Sustainable Agriculture – Columbia
FIT assisted Colegio Verde to build its capacity to support environmentally appropriate practices among small farmers. This work included a baseline study of techniques and programs in use in Colombia to support sustainable agriculture. Following the study, models for sustainable agriculture were developed and validated though national consultations and seminars.