The concept

Rationale

The Consumer Citizenship Network (CCN) and now the Partnership for Education and Research about Responsible Living (PERL) are European-based initiatives which have captured international attention as:

• a concept - the active, critical, conscientious consumer and citizen
• a model - research, exchange of information, testing, assessing, creating teaching materials and methods, translating and adapting learning materials, courses, seminars and conferences
• a resource – by providing content for core curricula, modules, and teaching materials
• a point of reference - for other regions taking initiatives on consumer citizenship and education for sustainable consumption.

During the last six years, the CCN has been approached by a number of NGOs and universities outside of Europe with the idea of replicating the PERL network and perhaps some of the projects in different regions.

PERL, with the support of UNEP, UNESCO and the Swedish Ministry of the Environment is establishing Regional PERL Networks in Asia/Pacific, Latin America and in Africa.

Purpose

The Regional PERL Networks are to focus on the core issues in CCN and in PERL - education and research about responsible living and sustainable consumption. Within these issues, the Networks are to focus on

• meeting the needs of the region
• contributing to the overall PERL project by collaborating with the Core Unit, Steering Group, other Regional PERL Networks and other PERL Work Groups.

Development

It is intended that networks in Asia/Pacific and Latin America be established first. The networks are made up of representatives from countries in the region, and focus on the needs of the region, with a focus on 'developing countries'. The networks will develop subject to the availability of funding and the capacity of the busy members.

For more information see the Regional PERL Networks generic Terms of Reference.