Definitions & rules
ENSI is a government-based network. Only governments, or non- governmental organisations, institutions or associations with a mandate from their government can become full members of ENSI on behalf of their countries Institutions, associations or non-governmental organisations can become associate members of ENSI.
The responsibilities of an ENSI member country
National Country Co-ordinator
Each member country is required to appoint a country coordinator to act as the liaison, coordination and information conduit for that country, and work closely with the ENSI international secretariat to this effect.
The average time commitment this entails is approximately 12 hours per month in addition to participation and contribution to an Annual General Meeting and other international activities and projects of particular interest to that member country. The national coordinator should have a strong pedagogical, research and/or policy background in environmental education and/or school development in his/ her country.
S/he should have a commitment and interest in international cooperation and its contribution to the ESD agenda. S/he should have a good understanding of spoken and written English as this is the official language of the network. On the basis of a mandate, s/he will be responsible for creating a network of professionals involved in ENSI activities and projects at national level and the appropriate space for critique and reflection.
S/he will responsible for collating and sharing information on ESD in the country concerned both in relation to political development and significant innovative research, project work and examples of good practice.
S/he will be responsible also as an ENSI national coordinator to participate in key national level meetings in the framework of the UN Decade on Education for Sustainable Development and other political and programmatic meetings addressing environmental education.
S/he will be responsible for representing his/her country at ENSI governance meetings, and representing ENSI at other meetings when mandated by ENSI.
Hosting ENSI activities
Over the years, many ENSI member countries have hosted ENSI activities – international conferences, workshops, seminars etc. that provide valuable opportunity of sharing national priorities and advances with an international and influential platform and audience.
The secretariat of ENSI provides considerable support concerning the logistics, content and policy orientation of such events, in close cooperation with the national country coordinator.
Payment of an annual membership fee
In addition to the ‘contribution in kind’ in relation to the national coordinator’s role, and participation / hosting of selected ENSI activities, all members of ENSI contribute an annual fee agreed at the Annual General Meeting. At present this fee is 4.000 EUR.
Support from the ENSI Secretariat
As a member of ENSI, you will receive regular mailings on news, work in progress and key developments in relation to ENSI’s work programme and ESD in general, and opportunities to participate and contribute. You will have access to the ENSI intranet to be able to share news and views with other members of the ENSI network. And you will be able to post relevant material and web links on the ENSI website that has a much wider outreach to non-ENSI members and significant players in the world of ESD.
The secretariat will also provide you with specific support on request, in relation to questions on the state of play in other countries, international or EU policy issues
