Global Interdependence Network for Action:
The GINA Project
The Vision
In 2008 in Brussels, CivWorld @ Demos launched its very first Global Interdependence Youth Summit in conjunction with the sixth annual Interdependence Day Celebration and Forum. Youth leaders from nearly a dozen countries (including Israel, Palestine, Azerbaijan, India, Madagascar and from across the EU) participated in conversations on individual development, intercultural dialogue, and respect for diversity and tolerance. Motivated by the dynamic discourse of the summit, youth participants immediately responded with their own initiatives, including a policy paper on a proposed peace settlement in the Middle East based on the concept of interdependence.
As a result of this remarkable meeting in Brussels and at the urging of the numerous applicants and participants we were inspired at CivWorld @Demos to respond to their call to create a place where they can connect, contribute, learn and, most importantly, turn their local visions into global action.
The Design
To fulfill this vision, CivWorld is developing the Global Interdependence Network for Action (The GINA Project), a virtual center for young people to organize both locally and globally. It will introduce fresh and underrepresented perspectives into international discussions and will launch with an already existing and committed user base. Designed to progress in phases, GINA will start with a basic online network. The network will evolve with its members; connecting young individuals to each other, helping youth organizations work together, uniting funders with fund-seekers, and providing tools for building youth capacity.
In time, the network will be augmented by collaborative policy initiatives that help advance new ideas based on interdependence and present them to decision makers, academics and mainstream media. Regular in-person summits on regional and international levels will take place, and will incorporate interactive multimedia, digital archives, and access to a broad range of CivWorld’s diverse and influential personalities from government, politics, religion, academia and the arts. Furthermore, for those areas with limited online access, technical funding and expertise will be made available.
The Technology
The GINA Project stands apart from other networks because of its evolutionary structure that aggregates user-defined and user-generated information into a dynamic networking system. It will allow members to access information geared to the specific interests of their communities. Members will have the flexibility to define their “communities” based on geographic locations, goals, interests (such as environment, conflict resolution, human rights, etc), and any combination of the different parameters. Via collaborative filtering techniques members will then be automatically updated on relevant network updates – getting tips on applicable local events, projects and news as well as proactive recommendations about new or existing organizations and individuals sharing their interests based off their aggregated member information.
To facilitate collaboration on local and global projects, GINA will have project based management systems (GINA Action Centers) in place where members can manage the planning and implementation of their own initiatives.
A unique feature of The GINA Project is the creation of a reciprocal mechanism that connects philanthropists, foundations and funders with organizations that meet their self–defined funding criteria. Facilitated by a point-based vetting system, GINA will help identify these international organizations and provide full disclosure of the organization’s history, non-profit status, project histories, funding and past successes (or failures). More than merely a database, this will also provide funders with the ability to interact directly with fund seekers.
The GINA Project is multidimensional. It will link young people working in their own communities (“real world”) with others across the globe so that they can interact, disseminate information and take the online knowledge, tools and resources offline and back into their communities. It will create a common network for existing youth organizations to collaborate more efficiently, increasing their power while reducing duplication, while also providing the foundation for new organizations to be created by highlighting where gaps exist. GINA offers participants the ability to shape the network in accordance with their evolving needs, and provides an intergenerational aspect by linking young leaders with experienced leaders worldwide.
Finally, while the GINA Project is new, it rests on the real experience of CivWorld @Demos with education, research and international forums ("Interdependence Day") and provides the opportunity to further expand the impact and outreach of the Interdependence message.
