Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is fundamentally cross-sectoral and engages a wide variety of institutions. The effectiveness of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development will depend on the strength and inclusiveness of the partnerships, networks and alliances which it is able to develop, among stakeholders at all levels.

Indeed, something as broad-based and as long-term as a DESD can derive its energy and effectiveness only from partnerships and cooperative relationships to promote on its own. From the outset, therefore, the orientation of DESD partners must be outward-looking, seeking to make connections with initiatives, programmes, groupings and networks through whom ESD will be further promoted and implemented.

A key aspect of partnerships and networking will be the regular and systematic exchange of experience and information with regard to ESD.