Global Action Plan International or GAP International is a network of NGOs that specialises in sustainable behaviour change and is best known for its projects revolving around ESD. GAP International's mission is to empower people to live and work increasingly sustainably, at school, at home and at work. There are programmes designed for households and communities, schools and youth, and workplaces.
Global Action Plan was first established in 1989 on the initiative of David Gershon (USA) and Bessie Schadee (Netherlands). Together they worked to produce the first draft EcoTeam workbooks in 1989. The Household EcoTeam Programme is an action programme designed to improve pro-environmental behavior in the household. GAP was quickly joined by other countries, with Canada, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and UK being among the first. The programme has continued to develop to this day. [1] [2]
In April 1995, Marilyn Mehlmann became the General Secretary of GAP International, a position she holds to this day. In 2011, Mehlmann was awarded the Rachel Carson Prize for her long-term efforts to involve individuals, companies and NGOs in acting sustainably. [3] In January 2016, GAP International announced its partnership with the 17Goals Network.
GAP International is an international network of organizations. Members are either organizations or personal members. An up-to-date list of members can be found on the website of Global Action Plan International.
GAP International is registered as a charitable organization and is based in Stockholm, Sweden. GAP International also has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council or ECOSOC. [4]
The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, responsible for coordinating the economic and social fields of the organization, specifically in regards to the fifteen specialized agencies, the eight functional commissions, and the five regional commissions under its jurisdiction.
AIESEC is an international "youth-run" and led, non-governmental and not-for-profit organization that provides young people with business development internships. The organization focuses on empowering young people to make a progressive social impact. The AIESEC network includes approximately 40,000 members in 120+ countries.
The International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY) is an international liberal youth organization. It consists of a global membership of national youth organizations. These are often but not exclusively affiliated with political parties that are members of Liberal International.
The Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) is a global association of people and communities (ecovillages) dedicated to living "sustainable plus" lives by restoring the land and adding more to the environment than is taken. Network members share ideas and information, transfer technologies and develop cultural and educational exchanges.
The consultative status is a phrase that has been in use since the establishment of the United Nations and is used within the UN community to refer to "Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council". Also some international organizations could grant Consultative Status to NGOs. Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) could grant Consultative Status in the form of "Researcher-in-residence programme" : accredited representatives of national and international NGOs are granted access to all records and to numerous topical compilations related to OSCE field activities.
La Strada International (LSI) is an international NGO network addressing the trafficking of persons in Europe.
The United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) is "an autonomous research institute within the United Nations that undertakes multidisciplinary research and policy analysis on the social dimensions of contemporary development issues". UNRISD was established in 1963 with the mandate of conducting policy-relevant research on social development that is pertinent to the work of the United Nations Secretariat, regional commissions and specialized agencies, and national institutions.
The Global Youth Action Network (GYAN) is an international network of youth NGOs spanning 180 countries, and headquartered in New York, near the United Nations. GYAN is a youth-led not for profit organization that incubates global partnerships and increases youth participation in decision-making. GYAN has registered chapters in Brazil, Colombia, France, Ghana, Mexico, and South Africa, with teams working out of an additional eight countries.
OutRight International (OutRight) is an LGBTIQ human rights non-governmental organization that addresses human rights violations and abuses against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people. OutRight International documents human rights discrimination and abuses based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics in partnership with activists, advocates, media, NGOs and allies on a local, regional, national and international level. OutRight International holds consultative status with ECOSOC.
The Institute of Cultural Affairs International is an international non-governmental organization (INGO) based in Toronto, Canada. Its primary objective is to impact global human development by facilitating authentic and sustainable transformations in individuals, communities, and organizations.
Solar Cookers International (SCI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, non-governmental organization that works to improve human and environmental health by supporting the expansion of effective carbon-free solar cooking in world regions of greatest need. SCI leads through advocacy, research, and strengthening the capacity of the global solar cooking movement. SCI has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and was founded in 1987.
The International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) is an independent and non-profit international human rights-based membership organization, whose central charter is to endorse and promote the collective rights of the world's indigenous peoples. Established in 1968, the IWGIA is registered as a non-profit organization in Denmark, with the head office of its secretariat based in Copenhagen. IWGIA's work is primarily funded by the Nordic Ministries of Foreign Affairs and the European Union.
Global Action Plan is an NGO that specialises in sustainable behaviour change, and in particular in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). There are programmes for schools and youth, households and communities, and workplaces.
CropLife International is an international trade association of agrochemical companies founded in 2001. It was previously known as Global Crop Protection Federation and started out as International Group of National Associations of Manufacturers of Agrochemical Products in 1967. Its members include the world's largest agricultural biotechnology and agricultural pesticide businesses namely BASF, Bayer CropScience, Corteva, FMC Corp., Sumitomo Chemical and Syngenta. The international body combines several national-level or continent-wide organisations, each one having the same goals but differing according to local language and custom.
The International Institute For Peace (IIP) was established in Vienna, Austria, in 1956 to conduct research on peace and promote the peaceful resolution of conflict. Operating globally alongside organizations like the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) and United Nations Organization for Education, Science, Culture and Communication (UNESCO), the IIP implements peaceful practices across nations.
Women's Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR) is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) that advocates for sexual and reproductive health and rights worldwide. Based in the Global South, they are a membership-driven organization that "works within the rights, justice and feminist frameworks." WGNRR works towards the realization of the full sexual and reproductive health and rights. WGNRR has consultative status with ECOSOC.
The United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service is a programme of the United Nations mandated to promote and develop constructive relations between the United Nations and civil society organizations. UN-NGLS operates autonomously across the United Nations system and with civil society constituencies and social movements on cross-cutting and emerging issues on the UN agenda. For example, UN-NGLS currently focuses on the UN General Assembly preparatory process for negotiations of a global compact on migration, and high-level events organized by the President of the UN General Assembly. UN-NGLS advises civil society organizations on opportunities to engage with the UN and facilitates their participation in various UN processes and events. UN-NGLS has offices at UN headquarters in New York and is part of the United Nations Department of Global Communications.
The International Federation on Ageing is an international non-governmental organization founded in 1973 and based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada working in the field of ageing, older persons and ageing-related issues such as ageism, The intent of the organisation is for NGOs, the corporate sector, academia, government, and individuals working together to make, according to the IFA’s mission statement, a "change for older people throughout the world by stimulating, collecting, analyzing, and disseminating information on rights, policies and practices that improve the quality of life of people as they age". The IFA has General Consultative Status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
Marilyn Mehlmann is a Swedish environmentalist and educator.
GAP International website Archived 2016-04-22 at the Wayback Machine
GAP International web campus Archived 2016-05-13 at the Wayback Machine