UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development
"UNESCO should reaffirm the centrality of education for development. As United Nations lead agency, UNESCO should advocate a more coherent coordination of good governance, quality education, financing education and reducing disparities based on gender or income. We should aspire to inclusive quality education – primary, secondary and higher...I am convinced that Education for Sustainable Development based on the interdependence of environment, economy, society and cultural diversity, is the key to a better and more just world of the 21st century.”
Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO on Education – the Road Ahead.
The UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014)
Education for Sustainable Development is a dynamic and expansive undertaking that envisions a world where every person has the chance to benefit from educational opportunities and to learn the lifestyles, behaviours and values necessary to create a sustainable future.
In order to support these objectives, UNESCO Bangkok completed a Situational Analysis of ESD in the Asia-Pacific Region, and its complementary the Working Paper: Asia-Pacific Regional Strategy for ESD.
Key sections of this Strategy were drafted at the “Workshop: Regional Strategy for the DESD in the Asia-Pacific,” the purpose of which was to enhance ownership during the Decade by encouraging early consultation of, and contributions from, a wide range of diverse stakeholders.
Weblink:
- UN Decade of Education on Sustainable Development, UNESCO Paris
- FAQs on the Decade of ESD
Astrolabe for ESD Coordination
The Astrolabe for Asia-Pacifc Coordination is a tool for building ESD capacity and coordinating ESD initiatives.
The Astrolabe assists countries in building on the lessons learned from the workshops, by identifying thematic and programmatic priorities to guide ESD, engaging stakeholders from across sectors and linking ESD to ongoing education initiatives, activities and current funding mechanisms.
Monitoring and Evaluation
In order to assess the implementation of DESD goals, UNESCO established a Monitoring and Evaluation Expert Group (MEEG) in 2007 to advise on appropriate monitoring mechanisms for assessing (i) global progress in the implementation of the DESD and (ii) to assess UNESCO’s own contribution to the implementation of the DESD. Read more...
Asia-Pacific Inter-Agency Steering Committee
In the implementation of the activities under the decade of Education for Sustainable Development international agencies are faced with numerous challenges and it is imperative that these are addressed in a concerted effort and in a coordinated fashion. Read more...
Accounts of the First Half of DESD
Since the global launch of the Decade of ESD in March 2005, countries in the Asia-Pacific region have shared innovative approaches to initiating ESD through the establishment of national ESD committees, conducting national workshops and seminars and through online discussions. Read more...