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Committee of Peers for RCEs meeting in Paris on 5 December 2006 recommended United Nations University (UNU) to acknowledge 23 new RCEs. RCE Bogor, which was one of the 23 recommended RCEs, was acknowledged as the first RCE in Indonesia. The formal launch of the RCE Bogor was held on the 6th February 2006 at SEAMEO BIOTROP Campus. SEAMEO BIOTROP acts as the host of RCE Bogor secretariate.

A RCE is a network of existing formal, non-formal and informal organisations, mobilised to deliver education for sustainable development (ESD) to local and regional communities. A RCE programme is an instrument for implementing agenda of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. The RCE concept is in line with the program thrusts of SEAMEO BIOTROP and its partners in the region. Activities of the RCE include coordination of stakeholders efforts, governance, research and development and transformative education. SEAMEO BIOTROP has performed a number of consultations and discussions with important stakeholders within and outside the region. Among those discussions are meetings with the RCE facilitator at UNU-IAS two large-scale stakeholders meetings with the potential stakeholders and several bilateral discussions with the organisations interested in collaborating with the particular RCE programmes. As a result, the concept of the ESD and RCE is communicated to some key organisations and the initial alliancies are formed.

The stakeholders consultations in November 2006, held in conjunction with the International Seminar on Education for Sustainable Development : Biofuel for Sustainable Development, lead to the formulation of the initial programme of the RCE. It was agreed that the focus of the education and capacity development of the RCE should be on the poverty alleviation in the Bogor area and beyond. Research centers, public and private universities, private sectors and local governments in Bogor region attended the meeting as the networking partners.

The first step of the process development was the identification of the conducted and on-going programs related to ESD including the commitment of stakeholders (MOUs, participation in the programs etc.) according to the challenges faced by Bogor region.

Bogor region faces the similar major Indonesian problem that is poverty alleviation. Bogor area plays an important role in providing the Jakarta metropolitan with enough food, water and manpower. On one hand, there is a high pressure on the environment by opening forest land for extended agriculture development caused by rapid increase of the area population and limited job opportunities. This results in rapid urbanization and illegal exploitation of natural resources which cause escalating deterioration of the environment. On the other hand, the increase of poverty reduces the quality of life of the residence. It leads to increased criminality, high rate of school drop-out, low buying power as well as reduced quality of living environment. Many poverty alleviation programs have been conducted by the government but the number of poor people continue to increase. Limited financial resource is one of the constraints faced by the Indonesian Government. Integrated planning program by all stakeholders, including government, private sectors, civil society organisations might be a solution for increasing job opportunities and the welfare of the society. By linking with various institutions, RCE Bogor lends an oportunity for contributing to this challenge through education and capacity development.

SEAMEO-BIOTROP acts as a coordinator of many projects to be conducted under the RCE umbrella, including education of street children, capacity development of the poor, etc. In addition, it will specifically contribute to the programmes related to its own mandate.

All the key stakeholders are encouraged, with their own capacity and expertise, to contribute to the development of ESD. The interconnectivity between these programs and activities will create opportunities for more sustainable regional development.

The next steps of RCE Bogor development will comprise the formulation of the working groups around specific project ideas where specific steps and responsibilities will be discussed and planned. As the first RCE in Indonesia, RCE Bogor is commited to share experiences of own mobilization with upcoming RCEs in Indonesia for example RCE candidate Jogyakarta, and in the region.

For more information, please contact

RCE Bogor, SEAMEO BIOTROP
Jalan Raya Tajur km 6, Bogor
Phone/Fax (0251) 383510
Email: edc[at]biotrop.org
Website: rce-bogor.biotrop.org