6 / 40
2002 in review
GRID-Arendal
Annual Report 2002
Section 1
Board report
6
A key focus of GRID-Arendal activities during 2002 was the WSSD in
Johannesburg, where we, together with UNEP, organized a joint UNEP
and GRID-Arendal stand at the
Ubuntu Village
. This presence provided
high profile to our products and services. At this Summit, agreement
was reached to establish the Global Virtual University at GRID-Arendal.
During the year, we benefited from the findings of an independent
external evaluation of GRID-Arendal – the second such evaluation in
the history of our institution. We were encouraged by its conclusion
that GRID-Arendal has been successful in implementing its mission.
Its recommendations will help us improve our technical competence
and professional capacity.
Efforts have been made to improve the management capacity in
GRID-Arendal. This has led to a reorganization of the program
structure. Recruitments were completed for new Program Managers
for the Polar, Web and Information, and the Nordic-Baltic programs.
Our Nordic profile has been strengthened by the co-location of our
Swedish branch office at the Stockholm Environment Institute.
We owe our colleagues in UNEP warm appreciation for very
close and productive working relationships. GRID-Arendal has
been strengthened by a growing network of partners and donors.
We are particularly encouraged by a growing support from the
users of our products and services. During the year they provided
more than 10 000 responses through our new on-line user
feedback system.
We express our special gratitude to members of the Board for
their sage advice and guidance, and to our staff, whose impressive
professionalism and strong motivation have ensured a strong
institutional performance.
Leif E. Christoffersen
Chairman of the Board
Svein Tveitdal
Managing Director