WEC advances solutions to global sustainability challenges through a variety of approaches, including capacity building—mobilizing people and organizations to improve economic conditions and environmental and social quality. Capacity building consists of:

• Training to build knowledge and skills on technical issues, enterprise management, community relations and other issues.
• Implementing management systems to achieve sustainable performance objectives and reduce public health and environmental risks.
• Advancing capabilities to utilize cleaner and more efficient technologies.
• Applying best practices and other tools for improving sustainability performance across the value chain of companies.
• Building institutional capabilities through partnerships with the public and private sectors, non-governmental organizations and the university community.

The goal of WEC’s capacity building initiatives is to plan and achieve concrete, measurable results in such areas as conservation of natural resources, energy efficiency, reduction in releases to air, land and water, and worker and community safety. Such results contribute both business and societal value and assist participating companies in becoming more competitive. This approach to capacity building emphasizes the development of cooperative relationships with business partners, government agencies, communities, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders.

Current Projects

Greening the Supply Chain Initiative

In today’s global economy, global enterprises rely on an extensive and critical supplier base. Most of these suppliers are small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). In emerging economies, SMEs often lack the expertise and resources to address process-related sustainable development issues. However, these SME’s have the greatest opportunity to minimize the environmental effect of their production while also improving productivity and competitiveness.

In 2003, the World Environment Center (WEC), together with USAID, developed a model to promote the adoption of cleaner production and energy efficiency by Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. WEC initially partnered with Alcoa, Dow and Johnson & Johnson and worked with their Mexican and Brazilian suppliers. The projects resulted in cost savings, higher productivity, improved health and safety practices while significantly reducing the resource use of water, energy and raw materials per unit of output.

Relying on the initial success of this initiative, WEC tailored and implemented additional projects for the supply chains of General Motors in China, Johnson & Johnson in Brazil, and Alcoa in Romania during the past two years. The following documents provide additional information about WEC’s methodology and illustrate successful examples:

Capacity Building: Advancing Sustainable Solutions brochure

• Frequently Asked Questions on the Initiative (English)
• Frequently Asked Questions (Romanian)
• Frequently Asked Questions (Mandarin)
• USAID Frontlines Article reporting on the Initiative
• Download - Romania Project Report

For more information about this Project, contact:



Mr. Frank Werner
Director, Global Capacity Building Programs
World Environment Cente
tel: +49 821 598 3563
fwerner@wec.org







Greening the Supply Chain in China

Supported by General Motors, the China Greening Supply Chain Pilot Project was implemented by Shanghai General Motors (SGM) and WEC. SGM invited eight top-level suppliers to participate. After a short training course, the suppliers evaluated opportunities to improve quality and reduce environmental impacts, and lower costs. Through the evaluation, suppliers were able to identify actions and investments that ultimately resulted in a combination of net financial savings as well as improved environmental performance, including:
– Replacing electric powered utilities with wind-powered utilities
– Eliminating or reducing electric lighting by installing transparent roofing and walls, dimmer switches and lower wattage lighting
– Eliminating leaks in air and water systems
– Reducing the necessity for emergency deliveries and the energy necessary to complete them
– Installing sensors on conveyor belts that turn off power when no parts are present
These improvements, among others, by the suppliers have resulted in the following aggregate project-to-date benefits:
– Net savings of over $200,000 USD
– Reduction of over 1,800 tons of CO2
- 43 million gallons of water saved

 WEC Alliance for Private Sector Competitiveness in El Salvador

In November, 2005, the World Environment Center (WEC) established the Alliance for Private Sector Competitiveness in El Salvador under funding from a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID). The goal of the program is to promote economic development in El Salvador through strengthening the ability of Salvadoran businesses to produce products, goods and services more competitively, using less energy and in a sustainable and environmentally responsible manner. WEC emphasizes techniques and partnerships that will enhance the competitiveness of Salvadoran businesses and capabilities of their employees, so that they may be better prepared to take advantage of local and regional trade opportunities such as through the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). At the same time, WEC is working with Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN) and Ministry of Economy (MINEC) in helping build institutional capacity by creating a framework for collaborative public-private approaches for improved environmental performance. This work is additionally guided by a high-level executive steering committee comprised of senior representation from not only MINEC and MARN, but also the National Association of Industry Associations (ANEP) and the National Agro-Industrial Association (Camagro).

The companies receive assistance to improve their consumption of resources, by making more efficient their manufacturing processes. Depending on each company needs, technical assistance is directed to energy efficiency, conservation of water, subsequent waste water pre-treatment, electrical efficiency and power quality issues, quality performance, among other areas in order to support companies to develop to a more sustainable and competitive level.

Download - El Salvador Project Factsheet

For more information about this Project, please contact:

Mr. Ernesto Samayoa
Chief of Party


World Environment Center



tel: +503 2231 5606




esamayoa@wec.org

A Forest of Hope

Conserving the Maya Forest of Mexico, Guatemala and Belize

A Forest of Hope is a unique business-NGO partnership to build capacity for conservation activities in the Maya Forest of Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. The World Environment Center, The Nature Conservancy and Rainforest Alliance will combine the resources and skills of their organizations to support capacity building along three “tracks”:

• Establishing a trinational coalition with the purpose of conserving the transnational Maya Forest
• Promoting sustainable livelihood through training and market incentives
• Strengthening the protection of parks and private reserves

Download - A Forest of Hope presentation

Download - Project Report

For more information about this Project, please contact:

Ms. Gwen Davidow
Director, Global Corporate  Programs


tel: 202 312 1281



gdavidow@wec.org