The ‘User Guide’ will aim to help people make smart decisions on how to link environment and development. Given increasing dynamics – in water insecurity, climate change, the growth in ecosystem markets, the rapid expansion of biofuels, etc – such decisions cannot afford to be poorly made, or taken too late. The User Guide will therefore benefit a wide range of audiences who have to keep up with such environmental and developmental dynamics and respond appropriately.
It is envisaged that the User Guide will profile and review a core of about 30 approaches (tools, methods and tactics) according to common criteria. It is likely to include an expanded set of approaches, beyond those that tend to emphasised by technical experts, e.g. those used for civil society/business action.
A decision-making ‘tree’ (guide to choosing approaches) will be offered to help users select the approach that is right for particular problems or tasks. And an overview of areas for which all approaches tend to be weak or missing will also be prepared, to guide further approach development.
Possible format
Work on defining the scope, content and format of the User Guide will start after the first meeting of the International Stakeholders Panel in January 2008.
But we envisage perhaps three main parts:
- Introductory sections that set the scene and deal with overarching issues:
- Concepts and frameworks – covering the four elements of context, goals/tasks, actors and tools. Some of this may be linked to commissioned ‘essays’
- Typology of different kinds of influence that tools can exert
- Who the User Guide is aimed at and how it can/should be used
- A meta decision tree related to entry points for environmental mainstreaming
- Profiles of the selected core approaches – the heart or engine of the Guide - see below.
- Supporting materials on other non-core appoaches, as well as annexes (e.g. sources of further information).
Initial feedback from thecountry studies reflects the generic complexities of mainstreaming, i.e. its multi-issue, multi-layer, context-specific nature. This suggests a possible framework/platform for describing these dimensions – context, goal, user and tool (Figure 1). This might be used for (a) orientating the introductory sections of the User Guide, (b) orientating country reports, (c) shaping case studies
Figure 1: Platform for environmental mainstreaming
The standard profile of approaches (tools, tactics, methods) (possible target 30) will cover:
- Non-technical summary (1 page);
- Technical description (2-3 pages) (e.g. background/origins, main steps, costs, skills, illustrative case box(es);
- User feedback (pros and cons) (1-2 pages) with user testimonies on using the approach;
- Decision tree (1-2 pages) How to decide if the approach is appropriate for task, problem or context, and perhaps information on system development and missing approaches;
- Links to references/resources describing how to use the tool (pointing to tool kits rather than offering a new one).
Use might be made of pictures/images/symbols in the non-technical summary to convey key factual points – e.e. $ – $$$$$ for costs, i – iiiii for information requirements, similar for time and professional qualifications – but not ‘star-rating’ judgements (eg * – *****) about approaches, which depends on contexts
Drafts of the User Guide
These will be available on the website for comment as they become available.
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