About the SDM
The Satoyama Development Mechanism (SDM) is one of the collaborative activities of the International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative (IPSI). It serves as a financing mechanism to facilitate the implementation of activities under IPSI.
The SDM was established jointly by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) and the Ministry of the Environment of Japan (MOEJ).

Objectives
The SDM funds projects that contribute to the maintenance and enhancement of biodiversity in socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes (SEPLS) and other global frameworks such as the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and thereby embody the IPSI Strategy and Plan of Action and the three core objectives of the SDM. The SDM selects the projects proposed by IPSI members, and then awards each selected project with up to USD 10,000. By enabling these projects, the SDM also gives them the visibility they may need to attract additional resources. Overall, there are three core objectives in the SDM as seen below.
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Core objective 1
Promote the implementation of activities under the IPSI Strategy and Plan of Action
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Core objective 2
Promote the development of model practices for living in harmony with nature through sustainable use of SEPLS and contribution to the Aichi Biodiversity Targets
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Core objective 3
Provide an incentive for IPSI members to strengthen partnerships and to generate a knock-on effect from joint activities for the sustainable use of SEPLS
Project types
There are four types of projects in the SDM as seen below. The recipients select one of them in line with their project objectives.
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Type 1
Community / field-based implementation
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Type 2
Research activities
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Type 3
Partnership building
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Type 4
Capacity building
Governance
The SDM organisation is composed of three entities, the Executive Board, the Advisory Group, and the SDM Secretariat.
Executive Board
The Executive Board is responsible for making decisions on, and supervising the implementation of, the SDM. This includes the selection of projects, review and evaluation of achievements, and dissemination of information on the SDM.
It is represented by the following organisations:
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Ministry of the Environment of Japan (MOEJ)visit website
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The United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS)visit website
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The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)visit website
Advisory Group
The Advisory Group provides advice on the design of the SDM. Their advice helps ensure the relevance of SDM projects to the IPSI Strategy and Plan of Action and other global frameworks including the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They also advise on the compilation and dissemination of SDM outcomes.
The following members of the Advisory Group have been appointed by the Executive Board:
- IPSI members with relevant experience and qualification in similar grant management and activities of the CBD, and
- the Chair of the IPSI Steering Committee
SDM Secretariat
The SDM Secretariat is mandated to implement SDM operations including, but not limited to, the tasks listed below. These tasks are subject to the decisions made by the Executive Board and implemented under its supervision.
- Planning and implementing the SDM project selection process
- Contracting and disbursing funds to the selected Grant recipients
- Monitoring and evaluating the SDM projects
- Collecting, organizing and disseminating knowledge generated by the SDM projects
- Reporting on the above activities to the Executive Board
The Secretariat staff are staff of the following organisations:
- Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
- United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS)