Problem overview:
Framework for coordination: Environment Council (SEC), a company limited by guarantee, serves as an umbrella organization for all environmental NGOs and also as a facilitator to NGOs and other green groups in Singapore. It also acts as a catalyst for the promotion of public awareness of the environment.
Background in summary:
Singapore Environment Council (SEC): is a nationally oriented, independently managed body to nurture, facilitate and co-ordinate environmental causes and groups in Singapore. It is a non-profit organization with the status of an institution of public character and an approved charity, which therefore offers tax exemption for donors.
The organisational framework consists of the following committees:
- Industry Committee
- Community Relations
- Education Committee
- Research and Publications Committee
- Finance Committee
Role of SEC in Systemizing NGO Participation: SEC serves as a clearing-house for all environmental activities of NGOs and other environmental groups, albeit, not on a mandatory basis. Grassroots participation wosld do well to be affiliated with SEC - not only would SEC assist in obtaining funds but also obtain assistance in coordination.
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Good practice rating:
(1 for the best, 5 for the lowest score) |
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Sustainability
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Efficiency
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| 3 |
 Improvement in either the environment of economic condition with no harm to the other. |
2 |
Cost efficient. |
| 3 |
Sustainable over time (not one-off) |
Process |
| Adaptability |
- |
Participation of the community |
| 2 |
Location adaptability (can the project be done in other places?) |
2 |
Participation of resource owners/users |
| 2 |
Socio-cultural adaptability. |
2 |
Partnerships between various actors (Governments, NGO, Academia, Private) |
| 3 |
Level of development adaptability. |
- |
Degree of coordination and cooperation between government departments. |
| 3 |
Style of government adaptability. |
2 |
Ability to attract political interest/support |
| 2 |
Degree of decentralization adaptability. |
- |
Procedures for feedback and review. |
Comments on this example:
Reaching out to the community, schools and other interest groups is also a good idea, but has to be a two-way communication. Not just educate the public, but to here out their opinions and suggestions as well.
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Sustainability of the project:
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Sustainable over time: An impression arising from this example is that SECs financial status depends a great deal on support from various donors. Charitable donations are for many purposes, some were given under purely innocent intentions and some were given for future benefits of the donor. The fact is 'nothing is for free', so could it be that donations were given to SEC to influence its attitude, activities or action programs to be more advantageous to the donor?
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Adaptability of the project to other situations:
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| Process of decision making and implementation: |
Framework for coordination: The SEC framework has been well planned out and the functions and responsibilities for each committee have been clearly specified, to prevent overlapping of duties. With various NGOs and environmental groups working hand in hand, each can contribute their expertise to create synergistic actions towards sustainable development.
However, one point that should not be looked over is, while the other sectors are taken care of by the SEC, there is no evidence of the co-ordination role with other state institutions in promoting sustainable development. The development activities under taken by other institutions may be pay less attention towards environmental concerns. There may also be a need to take into account the experiences of other countries in environmental management and dissemination.
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Documentation: |
Literature or other written project review references
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Source of Information: |
Singapore Environment Council
No. 21 Lewin Terrace
Fort Canning Park, Singapore 179290
Tel: 3376062 / Fax: 337 6035
E-mail: secnet@singnet.com.sg
Website: http://www.sec.org.sg
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Contacts: |
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Submitted by: |
Ms Koh Kheng-Lian, Director, Asia Pacific Centre for Environmental Law, the National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119260
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