From Assessment to Advocacy - Global Civil Society Network Focuses on Impact

The Access Initiative (TAI) is the only global civil society network dedicated to assessing and improving environmental governance (i.e., access to information, justice, and public participation in environmental decision making). Founded in 2000, TAI is in an important transition, moving from a focus on assessment of environmental governance to a new focus on advocacy for improvement of that governance.

On June 5 and 6, civil society leaders from around the world - each representing not just a civil society organization but a network of civil society organizations in their respective countries - convened in Washington, DC to discuss the future roles they will play in expanding the TAI network. Participants hailed from Uganda, Cameroon, Poland, Ukraine, Chile, Mexico, Thailand, the Philippines, Ireland, Sri Lanka and the United States.

Previous TAI trainings have taken place, but have focused on researching the state of environmental governance, rather than on creating change. Moving forward, the TAI network will focus on improvements including but not limited to the creation of freedom of information laws, training of judges, raising citizen awareness of various rights, and creation of pollutant release transfer registries.

In addition to discussing the evolving TAI methodology, sessions included creation of strategic communications plans, choice of case studies to illustrate governance challenges, and best engagement of governments to work for change.

Over the past few years, TAI has grown to include networks of civil society partners in 40 countries. The map above shows where TAI assessments have been completed, and where they are ongoing or planned. These are also the locations of the civil society organizations best positioned to improve environmental governance in their respective countries, by engaging governments around the findings of national assessments based on an international, standardized methodology.

A Global Report, summarizing the finding of the TAI work to assess environmental governance in countries around the world, is expected later this year.