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awareness of the potential impact of research projects at the community level as well
as the reproduction of traditional training and research away from community needs
exacerbates the problem. ESD Networks in Mexico, Japan, Greece and Italy agree
that further community engagement needs to be supported by interdisciplinary,
innovative and rigorous research designs with cohesive KPIs, aims and strategies.
5.4.4.2 Fostering Factors
There are various factors that can unleash the potential of stakeholder networks
globally. Participants reported on four main factors that can help stakeholders collaborate and engage more effectively, namely, knowledge and expertise, skills
across stakeholder networks and research approaches and resources.
Evidence from ESD Networks in Greece and Brazil indicate that stakeholder
networks have broad knowledge and expertise on sustainability and the sustainable
development goals (SDGs). According to ESD Network in Portugal and Uganda,
such knowledge is rooted on firsthand experience, projects connecting society and
the environment as well as climate change and social sustainability issues at the
local level. Research found that leveraging such knowledge and expertise across
networks can boost stakeholders’ impact on research and education for sustainable
development. ESD Networks from Nigeria, Sweden, Thailand, Germany, Ecuador
and India reported other fostering factors such as leadership, collaboration and
openness to collaborate, goodwill, negotiation skills and stakeholder’s diversity. A
successful case on ongoing stakeholder engagement and collaboration can be found
in the ESD Network in Mexico and its stakeholders:
…(the Department) … has more than 30 years working in conservation and natural resource
management projects, as well as in social development and particularly in the development
of environmental education projects. It is the Department that has the largest number of
collaboration agreements in the region with various institutions and has the coordination of
the ‘network’.
If allocated effectively, both skills and knowledge can foster impact research on
sustainability. According to participants, research is a factor that can also enable
existing collaborative initiatives towards sustainability. ESD Networks in Colombia,
Albania, the United States, Guatemala and Japan agree that research projects should
be participatory, community-focused, indigenous-orientated and context-based.
Regarding resources, only a few ESD Networks in developed locations, namely,
Italy and Sweden, have reported on availability of financial and physical resources.
Findings show that in some cases, ESD Networks in developed countries reported
better performance due to more effective allocation of resources compared to those
based in developing countries:
We have a large variety of groups, across sectors, that collaborate via many networks... 1)
We have hosted a variety of different events and collaborated with multiple partners, to
serve diverse audiences, across sectors, integrating the skills and resources of a variety of
partners, with numbers exceeding our targets. 2) Different working groups have offered
their time and expertise to plan and execute the events.
I. B. Franco and E. Derbyshire
awareness of the potential impact of research projects at the community level as well
as the reproduction of traditional training and research away from community needs
exacerbates the problem. ESD Networks in Mexico, Japan, Greece and Italy agree
that further community engagement needs to be supported by interdisciplinary,
innovative and rigorous research designs with cohesive KPIs, aims and strategies.
5.4.4.2 Fostering Factors
There are various factors that can unleash the potential of stakeholder networks
globally. Participants reported on four main factors that can help stakeholders collaborate and engage more effectively, namely, knowledge and expertise, skills
across stakeholder networks and research approaches and resources.
Evidence from ESD Networks in Greece and Brazil indicate that stakeholder
networks have broad knowledge and expertise on sustainability and the sustainable
development goals (SDGs). According to ESD Network in Portugal and Uganda,
such knowledge is rooted on firsthand experience, projects connecting society and
the environment as well as climate change and social sustainability issues at the
local level. Research found that leveraging such knowledge and expertise across
networks can boost stakeholders’ impact on research and education for sustainable
development. ESD Networks from Nigeria, Sweden, Thailand, Germany, Ecuador
and India reported other fostering factors such as leadership, collaboration and
openness to collaborate, goodwill, negotiation skills and stakeholder’s diversity. A
successful case on ongoing stakeholder engagement and collaboration can be found
in the ESD Network in Mexico and its stakeholders:
…(the Department) … has more than 30 years working in conservation and natural resource
management projects, as well as in social development and particularly in the development
of environmental education projects. It is the Department that has the largest number of
collaboration agreements in the region with various institutions and has the coordination of
the ‘network’.
If allocated effectively, both skills and knowledge can foster impact research on
sustainability. According to participants, research is a factor that can also enable
existing collaborative initiatives towards sustainability. ESD Networks in Colombia,
Albania, the United States, Guatemala and Japan agree that research projects should
be participatory, community-focused, indigenous-orientated and context-based.
Regarding resources, only a few ESD Networks in developed locations, namely,
Italy and Sweden, have reported on availability of financial and physical resources.
Findings show that in some cases, ESD Networks in developed countries reported
better performance due to more effective allocation of resources compared to those
based in developing countries:
We have a large variety of groups, across sectors, that collaborate via many networks... 1)
We have hosted a variety of different events and collaborated with multiple partners, to
serve diverse audiences, across sectors, integrating the skills and resources of a variety of
partners, with numbers exceeding our targets. 2) Different working groups have offered
their time and expertise to plan and execute the events.
I. B. Franco and E. Derbyshire