News

UNESCO organises a regional workshop on advancing Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) policy development in Eastern Africa from 8 to 10 May, 2018, gathering 13 countries in Eastern Africa to learn from each other's experiences on national policies on ESD and to promote a sector-wide approach with various stakeholders in the countries collaborating to integrate ESD into their curricula and national education systems.

UNESCO defines ESD as a concept that 'empowers learners to take informed decisions and responsible actions for environmental integrity, economic viability and a just society, for present and future generations, while respecting cultural diversity. It is about lifelong learning, and is an integral part of quality education. ESD is holistic and transformational education that addresses learning content and outcomes, pedagogy and the learning environment. It achieves its purpose by transforming society'.

As the lead agency for ESD, UNESCO promotes and coordinates the Global Action Programme (GAP) on ESD endorsed by the UNESCO General Conference. For the UN General Assembly, the GAP is a follow-up to the UN Decade for Sustainable Development, around five Priority Action Areas: 1) Advancing policy; 2) Transforming learning and training environments; 3) Building capacities of educators and trainers; 4) Empowering and mobilizing youth; 5) Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level.

In this context, UNESCO supports countries to develop or strengthen policies on ESD based on cross-sector and multi-stakeholder approaches including integrating ESD into international and national policies on education and sustainable development. UNESCO helps ministries of education and other sectors worldwide to design and implement policies on ESD to integrate ESD into curricula and national quality standards and develop indicators to establish standards for learning outcomes.

Venue: Southern Sun Mayfair

Dates: 8-10 May 2018

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Contacts:

Virginia Mumo Ntheketha, v.ntheketha@unesco.org

Gaia Paradiso, g.paradiso@unesco.org

Related documents:

• Education for Sustainable Development Goals: Learning Objectives (2017)

• UNESCO roadmap for implementing the Global Action Programme on Education for Sustainable Development

• Information Folder, Global Action Programme on Education for Sustainable Development (2017)

• Education 2030, Incheon Declaration and Framework for Action for the implementation of SDG4, Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all (2016)

URL:

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/nairobi/about-this-office/single-view/news/regional_workshop_advancing_education_for_sustainable_devel/