learningforsustainability.netWill Allen
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This site was originally developed as part of my PhD study undertaken through the Institute of Development Studies at Massey University. This provided the opportunity to bring together information from the range of community-based processes required for effective information sharing and collaborative management and planning. The site began as NRM-changelinks (1998-2006) and is being updated as Learning for Sustainability. The resulting site structure (see the index on the left) has come out of my own paid and unpaid work experiences in different community sectors (including local, national and international NGOs, commercial farming, government agencies, the United Nations, and research organisations). This experience includes regional experience with participatory approaches in Australasia, East Africa and the Pacific.
An on-line copy of my dissertation can be found at: Allen, W.J. (2001) Working together for environmental management: the role of information sharing and collaborative learning. PhD (Development Studies), Massey University.
I am currently working for Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research NZ Ltd. with particular interests in the development of collaborative adaptive natural resource management approaches, along with the multistakeholder management information systems (MIS) and participatory monitoring and evaluation (PM&E) programs required to support these. (see also http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/research/social/.
Another related initiative is my management of this Learning for Sustainability website as a portal that deals with the intersection of social learning and sustainable development. In particular this site attempts to link people and information that spans the health, environmental and development sectors. More recently I have initiated the sparksforchange blog which has been created as a way to educate myself, and hopefully others, about the many ideas and people out there that are making a positive difference for social change.
I am currently the CISV Christchurch Chapter President, and CISV New Zealand webmanager. CISV is worth checking out as a unique international youth exchange programme, which supports peace and cross-cultural friendship. Travel opportunities and local programs sponsored by CISV are designed to give youth (11 years and up)the opportunity to grow through leadership, team-building and international experiences. You can check out more about this initiative through the New Zealand CISV website.
Other organisations and activities that I am currently involved in are:
- Steering Committee member for IUCN Collaborative Management Working Group
- Member of Advisory Panel on Gender, Institutions and Participation for CGIAR Challenge Program global research portfolio on Water, Food and Environment
- Editorial Committee member: Kotuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences on-line
- Internet list convenor, New Zealand Action Research Network (NZARN)
- Co-chair, Christchurch Chapter, anzea (aotearoa new zealand evaluation association)
I can be contacted through this site at , or at:
Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research NZ Ltd., PO Box 40, Lincoln, NEW
ZEALAND
Telephone: +64-3-321 9600
E-mail:
allenw@landcareresearch.co.nz
highlighting people and ideas that encourage constructive change 