ST-EP

ST-EP’s origins and activities are both intimately tied to the UN's Millennium Development Goals created to cut by half extreme poverty by 2015. ST-EP is especially focused on people living on less than a dollar a day, the bottom billion, in the world's 49 least developed countries as ranked by the UN Index.

The Sustainable Tourism for Eliminating Poverty initiative, or ST-EP, grew out of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. In 2003 at the UNWTO's General Assembly in Beijing, ST-EP was formally mandated to be implemented. That resolution was unanimously passed by all member states and affiliate members.

After a series of Preparatory Meetings, in 2005 the UNWTO's General Assembly in Dakar unanimously approved the ST-EP Foundation's Constitution, including the establishment of the eight-member Board of Directors, as well as the choice of Seoul for its headquarters. This was made possible by seed money contributed by the Korean Government.

Proposals for projects are gathered by UNWTO, shortlisted and presented to ST-EP Foundation’s Board of Directors. Board then votes for which projects will receive an amount of funding. Projects are then implemented by UNWTO.

ST-EP Foundation has committed $3,043,150 of funds to support 44 projects in 31 countries including projects approved by Board of Directors; 5 projects with IUCN (Small Grants Fund $140,000); with UNWTO and UK Travel Foundation (ST-EP Destination Management Fund $33,000); and, regional training seminars and ST-EP Forums. Extra funds obtained through ST-EP Foundation for 12 projects co-financed in tripartite agreement with UNWTO and SNV ($1.5million); Network of Cross-border National Parks and Protected Areas in 9 Countries of West Africa ($350,000); and, Discover Ghana Billboards Project ($300,000). First 12 ST-EP Projects are undergoing an independent impact evaluation by GTZ

Burkina Faso
Development of a Community-based Tourism Complex ($73,000)

Cameroon
Ecotourism Development at Kirbi ($60,000)

Ethiopia
Konso community tourism project ($80,000)
Dorze Communities and Handicraft Project ($80,000) with SNV

Guinea
Ecotourism Development in Sangareah in theDubreka Region ($25,000)

Kenya
Kitengela Footbridge Project ($30,000)
Market access Enhancement for Community ($200,000) with SNV
*Creation of Vocational Training School & Business Case for Wildlife Conservation with IUCN

Madagascar
Development of Community-based ecotourism in the Anjozorobe-Angavo Protected area ($112,500)

Mali
Strengthening Capacities of Tourism Stakeholders at Douentza & d’Hombori ($20,000)

Mozambique
Community-based Lodges Training Programme ($62,400)
Supporting Platform for Inhambane ST-EP Tourism Initiatives ($100,000) with SNV
Community based Lodges Consolidation Programme($198,000) with Flemish Government

Tanzania
Pangani-Saadani coastal protection ($77,500)
Tanzania Cultural Tourism Enhancement and Diversification Programme ($250,000) with SNV
*Uluguru Mountain Ecotourism project with IUCN

Zambia
Development of Cultural Centres for Promotion of Community-based Tourism ($113,000)

CENTRAL AMERICA: Support Programme for Rural Tourism in the entire region ($52,700)

CENTRAL AMERICA
Connecting Local Tourism Products and Services with Larger Entrepreneurs in Mainstream Destinations, split up in work plans for ($280,000) with SNV
- Honduras
Sales Increase through the Innovation of Culinary Culture Connecting Local Tourism Products and Services with the Marina Copan Hotel in Copan Ruinas
- Nicaragua
Connecting Food Providers with Larger Entrepreneurs in Mainstream

ANDES
Fostering Rural and Community-based Tourism and inclusive Business Practices in the Framework of Effective Destination Management along the Quapac Nan or Inca Trail in ($285,000) with SNV

- Bolivia
Strengthening Rural Community-Based Tourism and Commercial Management to Consolidate Quapac-Nan or Inca Trail
- Ecuador
Fostering Rural and Community-based Tourism and inclusive Business Practices in the Framework of Effective Destination Management along the Quapac Nan or Inca Trail
- Peru
Strengthening Community-Based Tourism in the Framework of Effective Destination Management in Puno
Strengthening Rural Community-Based Tourism in the framework of Effective Destination Management along the Quapac-Nan or Inca Trail in Aypate

Ecuador
New technologies for communication and competitiveness for tourism micro-enterprises ($50,000)
Fostering Sustainable Tourism through Inclusive Businesses in Galapagos Islands ($35,000) with SNV

Honduras
Establishing linkages between Garifunas "Small Businesses and the Bahia de Tela "Los Micos Beach and Golf resort“ ($100,000)

Peru
Sustainable tourism and birdwatching at Luichupucro ($13,500)
Sustainable development for the families of "La Encantada“ ($10,000)
Promoting Exchange of Experiences for Rural Community Tourism in Peru ($26,000)

Cambodia
Mekong River Discovery Trail Phase III ($300,000) with SNV

Lao PDR
Ban Kandone and Ban Tahine village-based tourism development ($36,500)
*Upgrade Facilities to Promote Tourism in Hongsa District with IUCN
*Canopy Walkway and Zipline in Bolikhamsay Province with IUCN

Vietnam
Development of Handicraft Villages Ha Tay Province Phase I ($70,000)

Nepal
Great Himalaya Trail development: linking formal and informal enterprises to tourism markets to reduce poverty ($301,000) with SNV
*small grants fund of $140,000 with IUCN

A UNWTO ST-EP Foundation mission is to attract Public and Private Partners and introduce ST-EP Initiative. Education is a proven way to do this. Thank You Small Libraries are quickly established in poor communities in existing structures. Following partners have contributed all funds needed to establish 80 Thank You Small Libraries.

2,000 to 4,000 books, 4 bookshelves, 5 round tables, 30 chairs, 1 desk and chair, computer, first aid kits, soccer balls, basketballs and hoops, piano keyboard, stationary, pens, pencils, pencil cases, sharpeners, notebooks, educational posters, maps, solar flashlights, solar power generator where necessary (contents vary depending on location)

“… the performance of children in the communities of Abokobi and Danfa where the facilities were provided has improved significantly. The Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results of Danfa Methodist Basic School where one of these facilities is located has since 2007 moved from 80% to 90% in 2008 and 97% in 2009. We are expected to hit 100 % target next year.”

During the UN MDGs Forum at the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon highlighted the ST-EP Foundation’s Thank You Small Library project. He acknowledged Member of the MDG Advocacy Group, Dho Young-shim by saying that, “I appreciate Ambassador Dho for your very generous support. For this, Thank You Small Library project. And I know she has established at least 80 Small Libraries which have been very much appreciated by many young people.” The Forum brought together esteemed guests such as H.E. Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Prime Minister, Spain, and co-Chair of UN MDG Advocacy Group, H.E. Jacob Zuma, President, South Africa and H.E. Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister, Vietnam as well as over 100 National Assembly Members and 30 Diplomatic Missions to Republic of Korea represented.
UN Secretary-General Ban has focused a great deal of attention on Least Developed Countries and efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Poverty alleviation is a key pillar of his first term and ST-EP Foundation was honored to be recognized.

(left to right) Amb. Dho Young-shim, Chair, UNWTO ST-EP Foundation, Oh Jee-chul, CEO & President, Korea Tourism Org., Francesco Frangialli, Secretary-General, UNWTO, Rahim Mashaee, Vice-President, Iran, Mamata Bako. B Djaouga, Minister of Tourism, Benin, Elimane Hamidine Sy, Tourism Rep., Senegal, Jeffrey Sachs, Special Advisor to Secretary-General on MDGs, and Yu In-chon, Minister of Culture, Sports & Tourism, Korea

Co-chairs President Kagame, Rwanda and Prime Minister Zapatero, Spain Members: Akin Adesina, V.P., Alliance for Green Revolution, Africa; Mukesh Ambani, Chair, Reliance Ind; frm. Chilean President M. Bachelet; Stine Bosse, CEO, TrygVesta A/S; Ray Chambers, UN Sec-Gen Special Envoy for Malaria; Dho Young-shim, Chair, UNWTO ST-EP Foundation; P. Douste-Blazy, UN Sec-Gen Special Ad. , Innovative Financing for Dev.; J. Eliasson, frm. UN Gen. Assembly President; Julio Frenk, Dean, Harvard School Public Health; Bill Gates, Chair, Microsoft; Bob Geldof, Political Activist; Wangari Maathai, 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate; H.H. Sheikha Mozah, Qatar, First Lady; Graca Machel, President, AWEPA; J. Sachs, UN Sec-Gen Special Ad. MDGs; T. Turner, Chair, UN Foundation; W. Yingfan, fmr. Vice-Chair, Foreign Affairs Comm., China; H. Yonekura, Chair, Japan Business Federation; M. Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

Heads of State Jacob Zuma, President, South Africa & Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister, Vietnam. Plus, Juan Somavia, Director General, ILO; Jean Ping, Chair, African Union Commission; Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General, ASEAN; Donald Kaberuka, President, Africa Dev. Bank; Dho Young-shim, UN MDG Advocate; Jeffrey Sachs, UN MDG Advocate; Robert Orr, Assistant Secretary General, UN; Thomas Stelzer, Assistant Secretary General, UN; & Kim Won-soo, Dep. Chief de Cabinet, UN (G20 Seoul Summit, Nov. 11, 2010)

H.E. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations, H.E. Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Prime Minister, Spain, H.E. Jacob Zuma, President, South Africa, & H.E. Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister, Vietnam

Amb. Dho Young-shim, UN MDG Advocate & Advisor to MDGs Forum, Hon. Park Hee-tae, Speaker of the National Assembly, Co-Chairs of MDG Forum of the National Assembly Hon. Lee Ju-young, Hon. Lee Nak-yeon & Hon. Lee Sang-min; Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, UN MDG Advocate

On December 11, 2008, Ambassador Dho Young-shim was awarded the title of Commerdatore dell’Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana (High Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. The Order of Merit was founded as the senior knighthood by Italy’s 2nd President H.E. Luigi Einaudi in 1951 as the nation’s highest ranking honour. The award is given to those exhibiting high merit in the fields of literature, the arts, economy, public service, and social, philanthropic and humanitarian activities.