Twelve project proposals from civil society groups, research institutes, and an environment ministry in Asia Pacific received an award of up to US$ 30,000 for their novel approaches to development. The 12 proposals were selected from among nearly 300 proposals received under the Asia Pacific Forum for Environment and Development (APFED) Showcase Programme in 2007.

The APFED Showcase Programme, which began in 2006, grants up to US$30,000 to Asia Pacific projects that demonstrate innovative approaches to development, implementation, monitoring, and information dissemination.

“A key criterion for selection of these projects is that they generate tangible outcomes. This can be through improving environmental performance, changing behaviours, or encouraging business practices that enhance sustainability,” said Mr. Hiroshi Nishimiya, Coordinator of the APFED Showcase Facility Secretariat.

The Showcase projects were selected at the APFED Showcase Panel meeting held in Chengdu, China, on 23 August 2007 by the following judges:

Prof. Akio Morishima
Special Research Advisor, IGES, Japan
Dr. Kim Myung-Ja
Former Minister of Environment, Korea
Prof. Tongroj Onchan
President, Mekong Environment and Resource Institute, Thailand
Dr. Vinya Shanthidas Ariyaratne
Executive Director – Sarvodaya, Sri Lanka
Dr. Parvez Hassan
Former Chairman of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Law Commission, Pakistan

These projects, including those selected for 2006, will be shared with stakeholders through the APFED Good Practice Database to encourage replication in other countries in the region. The projects will be also monitored and evaluated by the Network of Research Institutes for Sustainable Development (NetRes) established under APFED.

 
“We sought proposals that led to innovative policies, that use emerging technologies for prevention, mitigation or adaptation, or proposals that encourage creative social practices by civil groups and that stimulate multilevel partnerships. Most of the projects that we received this year met at least one of these requirements, and it was not an easy choice to make,” said Mr. Nishimiya.