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What is the Peer Review Committee?

Review on the examples by third party experts

This is a review and comments by third parties, including the secretariat and a group of experts in various fields who have been involved in the Virtual Conference project.

Major focus is whether the examples can be duplicated elsewhere

A successful story can be very much location-specific, or situation-specific. A good example in one country may not work in other countries, or may not work even in different areas in the same country. One may view the outcome of a project very successful while others may think differently. Moreover, some programmes started with good intentions may somehow result in an unsatisfactory outcome. But the others can learn from such experiences by analysing the critical factors to be taken into considerations when they apply similar programmes. Therefore this box tries to critically review the applicability of each example to other cases according to 'criteria for good examples'

The rating is not success or failure of the examples

Please note that this is not an assessment of 'successfulness' of the cases, but an assessment of 'applicability' of the examples. The scoring of the "goodness" of the example is based on the following criteria.

Items in the table   1 2,..4 5
Improvement in either the environment or economic condition with no harm to the other. Criteria for "successful" example for sustainable development The practice must result in either:
a. an improvement in the environment situation with at least no deterioration in the socio-economic situation, or
b. an improvement in the socio-economic situation with at least no deterioration in the environment situation

  An environment or socio-economic improvement is achieved at the cost of deterioration of the others.
Sustainable over time (not one-off) the practice must be sustainable over time and not a one-off event   The practice is not time bound.
Participation of the community The factors for "good practice" in the process of decision making and implementation. Participation is a major determinant of a successful outcome   Participation is not a major determinant of a successful outcome
Participation of resource owners/users Participation by resource owners is a major determinant of a successful outcome   Participation by resource owners is not necessarily the major determinant of a successful outcome
Partnerships between various actors (Governments, NGO, Academia, Private) Partnerships between various groups are a major determinant of a successful outcome   Partnership between various groups is not the major determinant a successful outcome
Degree of coordination and cooperation between government departments. Coordination and cooperation play a key role in successful outcome   Coordination and cooperation is irrelevant to the success or failure of this example
Ability to attract political interest/support The practice in the example can attract political support   The practice is not politically very attractive
Procedures for feedback and review. The process of feedback and review is a key determinant of successful outcome   Feedback and review process is not an important determinant of the outcome
Cost efficient.   The example is efficient in terms of
· Economic (opportunity ) cost
· Institution (transaction)cost
· Exercise of due diligence
  The example involved substantial financial, administrative, and other costs
Location adaptability (can the project be done in other places?) Factors influencing applicability and replicability Whether the specific (geographical or political) location is the crucial factor to replicate this example elsewhere   This example is location specific
Socio-cultural adaptability. This example can be applied in different cultural background   This example can be applied only in a specific cultural context
Level of development adaptability. This example can be replicated in countries/regions with different stages of development   This example can be replicated only in countries/regions with a specific stage of development
Style of government adaptability. This example can be applicable to whatever style of the government   This example can be applicable only to a certain style of the government
Degree of decentralization adaptability. This example can be replicated no matter what degree the system is decentralized   This example can be replicated in cases with a specific degree of decentralization

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