Virtual Exhibition E-Discussions: Working Together for Sustainable Development

This report summarizes an electronic consultation facilitated by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) from May 6 to June 11, 2002, on behalf of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Business Action for Sustainable Development (BASD). The consultation, involving over 475 participants, explored the nature, planning, communication, evaluation, and long-term support of partnerships for sustainable development as a contribution to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD).

• The success of a sustainable development partnership is measured by three primary factors: the achievement of immediate goals, the quality of the interpersonal experience (including trust and knowledge sharing), and the 'multiplier effect,' where the partnership generates unexpected benefits that influence policies or practices beyond the original scope.
• Effective partnerships require four core elements: a compelling motive for collaboration, a transition from simple information sharing to actual joint work, a learning process on how to collaborate, and the communication of results to external parties.
• Partnerships often involve asymmetries in resources, size, and influence. While partners do not need identical expectations, they must have mutual clarity regarding their respective objectives. There is a specific need for the equitable treatment of partners from southern or transitional countries to ensure their expertise is utilized and fairly compensated.
• There is a noted gap between the success of community-based initiatives at the local level and the ability of those partnerships to influence the national or international policies that created the original problems. Improving this requires building the capacity of community organizations in engagement and communication strategies.
• Communication tools for partnerships range from digital tools like email and joint websites to artistic methods like theatre. While ICTs help close gaps in knowledge sharing, partners must proactively address disparities in technical infrastructure and familiarity to ensure all members can participate equally.
• Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) are necessary to maintain partner buy-in and ensure objectives are met, yet there is limited understanding of how to implement M&E simply and effectively with limited resources. Participants suggest using 'process type indicators' for internal arrangements and 'outcome based indicators' for policy changes and public awareness.
• Long-term support for partnerships requires a shift in donor behavior away from 'short burst project funding' toward sustained transfers of knowledge and assets. Governments can support partnerships by creating enabling conditions, such as laws promoting public participation, subsidies, and improved communication infrastructure.

APA

Creech, H., & Willard, T. (2002). Virtual Exhibition E-Discussions: Working Together for Sustainable Development. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/networks_virtual_ediscussions.pdf

Chicago

Creech, Heather, and Terri Willard. Virtual Exhibition E-Discussions: Working Together for Sustainable Development. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2002. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/networks_virtual_ediscussions.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Creech |first1=Heather |last2=Willard |first2=Terri |title=Virtual Exhibition E-Discussions: Working Together for Sustainable Development |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2002 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/networks_virtual_ediscussions.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{creech2002virtual, author = {Creech, Heather and Willard, Terri}, title = {{Virtual Exhibition E-Discussions: Working Together for Sustainable Development}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2002}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/networks_virtual_ediscussions.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }