1. Community Involvement In And Bottom-Up Approaches To Decision-Making An NGO Perspective

2. Community Involvement and Bottom-Up Approaches to Decision-Making 1) International Agreements/Declaration/Plans 2) Inter-American Strategy for the Promotion of Public Participation in Decision-Making 3) Fundamental Challenges to Community Involvement 4) Best Practices

3. International Agreements/Declarations/ Plans ๕ Principle 10 of the 1992 Rio Declaration ๕ Agenda 21 ๕ 1994 POA of Global Conference on Sustainable Development of SIDS ๕ 1996 Santa Cruz Summit on Sustainable Development ๕ 1998 Santiago Summit of the Americas

4. Inter-American Strategy for Promotion of Public Participation چ Proactivity چ Inclusiveness چ Shared Responsibility چ Openness Throughout the Process چ Access چ Transparency چ Respect for Public Input

5. IAS Policy Recommendations  Create/strengthen communication mechanisms  Expand legal and regulatory frameworks  Develop/support institutional structures, policies and procedures  Develop/strengthen capacity of individuals  Procure/expand financial resources  Create/strengthen opportunities for public participation

6. Fundamental Challenges to Community Involvement  Illiteracy (ALTA)  Lack of Access to ICTs (CNIRD)  Non-User Friendly Information (CNIRD)

7. Fundamental Challenges to Community Involvement  Exclusion from Data Collection (Cropper Foundation)  Conflict Management (CANARI)  Ad Hoc Consultation (CNIRD)

8. Best Practices  ALTA, Trinidad  Adult literacy classes nationwide  CNIRD, Trinidad & Tobago  ICT Training for rural communities; Rural Link-Up; Communication/Consultation networks at community level  The Cropper Foundation, Trinidad  Community involvement in collection and dissemination of information

9. Best Practices  SAD for Toco, Trinidad  Influencing national decision-making at community level  CANARI, Trinidad  Conflict management training/documentation  The Ocean Conservancy, Global  ICC, largest one-day volunteer effort for the ocean

10. Thank You