Enriching our Knowledge and Understanding

The natural world and humanity's place within it continue to evolve. Some argue that the rate of this change is faster now than in previous times, fed by globalization along with rapid-fire communications and swift transportation. Concurrently, global environmental systems are pushing back and, in some cases, capitulating to society's unrelenting onslaught.

Making sense of all this requires building awareness, stretching our thinking, and reaching for new insight and innovation. Sustainable development is not easy. In recognition of these challenges, IISD actively builds an organizational culture that promotes the ongoing enrichment of employee and associate knowledge and understanding. And one that encourages innovative thinking and moving our ideas into action.

We have several mechanisms in place that are designed to stimulate thinking and action including:

Training and Development Fund

A Training and Development Fund of $50,000 CAD is open to all employees (except program directors). One of the primary aims of the Fund, which is managed by a staff committee, is to ensure equitable access for training and development opportunities. These funds are retained in a common pool and requests are dealt with as they are made. Criteria for evaluation of requests include the usefulness of the training or development opportunity to the organization and the individual. The fund does not track training opportunities available to project staff through the delivery of fot heir project work, which could include formal training if authorized by the funder.

Indicators:

Training and Development Fund Operations

Fiscal Year

Total # Requests

% Requests to Fund by Employee Category

Total Money Disbursed (CAD$)

Amount of Money Disbursed by Employee Category (CAD$)
   

Core Services Staff

Researchers

  

Core Services Staff

Researchers

2003–2004

12

57%

43%

9,388

n/a

n/a

2004–2005

27

59%

41%

26,920

20,190

6,730

2005–2006

15

67%

33%

17,335

7,974

9,361

2006–2007

30

80%

20%

26,900

25,286

1,614

2007–2008

32

81%

19%

34,221

27,719

6,502

2008–2009

25

60%

40%

21,420

13,316

8,104

2009–2010

23

60%

40%

36,870

25,440

11,430

2010–2011

21

90%

10%

8,470.22

6,352.67

2,117.55


Ideas Marketplace Bulletin and Innovation Fund

IISD believes innovation is necessary to advance sustainable development. We actively foster innovative thinking and action through our Ideas Marketplace Bulletin, which inventories new ideas for research; an Innovation Fund open to employees and associates; and by holding brainstorming and information sharing sessions on a regular basis.

Indicators:



IISD's Innovation Culture

Fiscal Year

# New Ideas in the Ideas Marketplace Bulletin *

% Researchers Contributing Ideas

# Proposals Submitted to Innovation Fund **

# Innovation Fund Grants Given and their Value ** (CAD$)

2001–2002

36

n/a

n/a

n/a

2002–2003

21

n/a

n/a

n/a

2003–2004

44

55%

n/a

n/a

2004–2005

56

57%

11

5 ($73,000)

2005–2006

44

63%

8

5 ($95,000)

2006–2007

40

54%

9

4 ($101,000)

2007–2008

52

72%

6

4 ($112,185)

2008–2009

52

43%

 

 

2009–2010

49

33%

n/a

n/a


Research Library

Since IISD's inception, the Research Library has contributed to IISD's innovation and learning culture through the development of information and knowledge sources on sustainable development. Three unique databases have been created—SD-Cite, ProKnow and Expertise databases—which are continually updated. Several other products and services support IISD's efforts and those of researchers worldwide.

Indicators:

Product or Service (http://www.iisd.org/ic) Audiences
SD-Cite: on-linedatabase of sustainable development information Public database (at Web site)
ProKnow: on-line database of IISD publications and projects Public database (at Web site)
Expertise: database of IISD expertise Internal (Intranet)
Tables of contents delivery Internal (Intranet)
Reference desk: queries about sustainable development Public (e-mail, telephone or in person)
Literature searches and reviews Internal. Fee charged for external requests
Document delivery Internal
Print collection lending Internal
Journal subscriptions Internal
Web pages Public


Research Library Resources Allocation per IISD Employee and Associate

Fiscal Year

Research Materials Budget Per User (CAD$)

IC Staff Time Per User

# Journal Subscriptions Per User

# Books and Reports Added to SD-Cite Per User

2006–2007 (n=78)

$705.00

42 hrs

1.2 titles

26 titles

2007–2008 (n=84)

$655.00

41 hrs.

1.6 titles

15 titles


Eco-Living Series

IISD employees and associates are interested in keeping up with new eco-technologies and methods that they can use to enrich their lives outside the workplace. Consequently, several staff volunteers developed a series of lunch-hour activities under the banner of ‘Eco-living.' These activities are facilitated by ISDAR.

2007–2008 series:

2008–2009 series:

2009–2010 series:

2010–2011 series:

 

*Normalized data due to irregular collection.

**Innovation Fund started in 2004–2005