Events

October 2009
1st Global Network Conference on RECP in Luzerne
October 2011
2nd Global Network Conference on RECP in Nairobi
September 2013
3rd Global Network Conference on RECP in Montreux
October 2015
4th Global Network Conference on RECP in Davos
 

Overview

The Global Network for Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production

Objective and Functions

The primary objective of RECPnet is to contribute to the effective and efficient development, application, adaptation, scaling up and mainstreaming of RECP concepts, methods, policies, practices and technologies in developing and transition economies. Additionally, RECPnet aims to facilitate North-South, South-South and South-North-South collaboration, including the transfer of RECP-relevant knowledge, experiences and technologies.

RECPnet follows a three-pronged strategy to promote RECP globally, consisting of:

Capturing and promoting best practices RECP information and knowledge

Improving the knowledge and skills bases of Members

Advocating the relevance, needs and benefits of RECP for enterprises and other organizations

The network accomplishes these objectives by providing the following functions:

Innovation and knowledge sharing

Institutional capacity building

Awareness-raising and advocacy

Quality assurance and branding

Organization

RECPnet consists of a Members’ Assembly, Regional Chapters, an Executive Committee and a Secretariat. The constituent elements of the network are linked as follows:

Members’ Assembly

The Members’ Assembly is the highest decision-making body of RECPnet, determining organizational aspects and the strategic direction of the network. The Members’ Assembly consists of all members of RECPnet, of which Regular and Associate Members enjoying voting rights.

Regional Chapters

RECPnet is divided into Regional Chapters for each of the five geographic regions which it serves:

  • Africa
  • Arab Region
  • Asia and Pacific
  • Eastern Europe, Caucus and Central Asia
  • Latin America and Caribbean
Executive Committee

The Executive Committee consists of five Regional Executives, each representing one of RECPnet’s Regional Chapters. The Executive Committee guides and administers the network under the authority of the Members’ Assembly, in line with the RECPnet Charter and in conformity with the mandates and procedures of the network’s Patron Agencies.

Donors

The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) Switzerland is the primary donor of RECPnet. Other donors include the governments of Austria, Norway and Slovenia, the European Commission and select multi-donor trust funds.

Secretariat

The RECPnet Secretariat supports the day-to-day activities of RECPnet and facilitates the work of the Members’ Assembly and the Executive Committee. At present, the Secretariat of RECPnet is hosted by UNIDO.

History

RECPnet was formalized by its Charter and became operational in November 2010 with 41 founding members, who then adopted the Nairobi RECPnet Declaration in 2011. In the spirit of the Declaration, RECPnet has further developed, in particular through the launch of regional chapters, the introduction of a formalized web-based knowledge management system, capacity building initiatives and ongoing RECP projects.

  • At the Glob­al RECP net­work­ing meet­ing in Luzern in Oc­tob­er 2009, par­ticipants de­cided to es­tablish RECPnet.

  • RECPnet was for­malized by its Chart­er and be­came op­eration­al in Novemb­er 2010 with 41 found­ing mem­b­ers.

    • The second RECP networking meeting included the first Members' Assembly of RECPnet and took place in Nairoby, Kenya, in October 2011.
    • Members and other participants adopted the Nairobi RECPnet Declaration.

The Nairobi declaration of RECPnet

At the inaugural Members’ Assembly of RECPnet held on 19 October 2011 in Nairobi, Kenya, 32 members and 10 affiliated organizations endorsed the Nairobi Declaration of the Global Network for Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production in Developing and Transition Countries. The declaration set out to mainstream and scale up the application of RECP concepts, methods, policies and techniques nationally and globally in developing and transition countries, based on national and regional socio-economic, environmental and industrial circumstances and priorities.

Through the Nairobi Declaration, members resolved to:

1. Intensify

Intensify national, regional and global cooperation and the sharing of knowledge, including best practices and techniques, in particular among members to improve delivery of such RECP services as information dissemination, professional and ongoing education, technical assistance and policy advice.

2. Engage

Engage at the highest levels with government, business and community leaders to foster the achievement of international consensus and commitment towards RECP as core building block for a green economy and green industry for achieving green growth, including in particular to contribute to the preparatory process for Rio+20 and the climate technology mechanism under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and consider their outcomes for implementation.

3. Commit

Commit to support the wide-spread adaptation and adoption of RECP concepts, methods, policies and techniques in particular among small and medium-sized enterprises and other organizations in member countries.

4. Request

Request the joint UNIDO-UNEP RECP Programme to continue and where possible expand its support to RECPnet, including through the provision of executive secretariat, creation of a knowledge management system, support for professional and institutional capacity building and advocacy for RECPnet.

5. Consolidate

Consolidate and expand the network into a worldwide catalyst for RECP.

RECPnet Brochure

Download a brochure on RECPnet in PDF format here: RECPnet Brochure.