Programme Globethics Net

• Forschungsstelle: DEZA
• Projektnummer: 7f-03920.01
• Projekttitel Englisch: Programme Globethics Net

Schlüsselwörter (Deutsch)

Ethik, globale Vernetzung, Kapazitätsaufbau, Diversität des Kontext, gemeinsame Werte

Kurzbeschreibung (Englisch)

Globethics.net intends to foster ethical reflection and action globally by strengthening ethical institutions and related individuals active in the fields of research, publication or teaching, especially in developing and transition countries. This goal is pursued by establishing and running a global network that provides knowledge management and by establishing research partnerships in the field of ethics.

Projektziele (Englisch)

1.         Networking: To share information and research on ethical issues and provide space to create synergies and broaden contextual and global perspectives.

2.         Capacity Building: To strengthen institutions working on ethics, especially in developing and transition countries, mainly by electronic networking.

3.         Teamwork: To facilitate common projects of research, publications, events, statements or action, with a broad participation from developing and transition countries

Abstract (Englisch)

Globalisation leads to exchange and interdependence between countries, economies, cultures and religions. Fast growing global finance and trade are expressions of this development with its multiple chances and challenges including the confrontation of different value systems as well as the need to reflect these and to develop new ones. This is illustrated i.e. as follows: Ecological sustainability needs ethical foundations to be put into practice. The promotion of political sustainability and good governance are facilitated through a strong ethical component.

A prime obstacle to facing such challenges is the lack of ethical institutions and their working in relative isolation from each other. Efforts to establish, build capacity and network among ethical institutions are therefore of great importance. Globethics.net is a network among 30 members, which attempts to link scientific research with development organisations and the issue of poverty eradication. Its goal is to foster ethical reflection and action globally by strengthening ethical institutions active in the fields of research, publication or teaching. This goal is realised by providing knowledge management and by establishing research partnerships worldwide. The principles of this new initiative are, i.e. to share common vales, to respect contextual diversity and to act transparently. Activities encompass international workshops, establishing websites, the joint production of publications, putting e-books at the disposal of users, granting hardware and software support as well as training.

 

Goals and activities of Globethics.net are well in line with the priorities and issues of the SDC research policy. Networking and cooperation between North and South using up to date information technology can be considered an innovative means of realising research partnership, although this approach is still to be explored. A number of SDC’s thematic domains defined in ‘Forschungskonzept 2004 – 2007’ are addressed through the programme, such as social development, governance, conflict prevention and gender. Many participating institutions are working on the ethical aspects of these domains. Globethics.net endorses the “11 Principles of Research Partnership”. The legal form of Globethics.net is an Association according to Swiss law, representing the contractual partner to SDC.

 

The proposal has been discussed between the partner and the director of SDC and consent in principle was reached. SDC’s contribution of CHF 430 000.- towards the cost of a 2-year pilot phase are matched by funds of ‘Brot für Alle’ and other private partners. It supports expenditure for electronic networking, the cost of international conferences, salaries and office cost. The proposed pilot phase will allow the partner to enlarge the network’s present number of members, determine the strategy together with new members and to further develop its concept of research partnership and capacity building based on first experiences. A continuation through a next Phase of i.e. 2 years will depend on the outcome of SDC's evaluation of respective proposal.

Umsetzung und Anwendungen (Englisch)

Activities

 

•          To develop research partnership by animating participants to actively use their websites, share materials and start discussion groups

•          to enlarge the number of participating institutions and individuals by inviting systematically 100-200 additional institutions to join, many from a non-Christian background or from transition countries.

•          to establish an Association according to Swiss law as the legal body of the network

•          to conduct international workshops

•          to produce joint publications online or in print, i.e. to publish the book “Responsible Leadership” in Africa, Asia and Europe/America

•          to agree on common ethical issues concerning research partnership

•          If necessary to provide centres for ethics in developing countries with ICT4D hardware and software for electronic communication by internet and support staff training

•          to offer adequate tools within the scope of the methodology (e.g. bibliographies, selected e-books, monthly lists of web-addresses etc.).