The basic vision of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (UN DESD) 2005 – 2014 is a world where everyone has the opportunity to benefit from education and learn the values, behavior and lifestyles required for a sustainable future and for positive societal transformation. Understanding how such a vision can be achieved will require the interaction of governments with other stakeholders at all levels.

The International Implementation Scheme for the DESD endorsed by the UN General Assembly and the Working Paper (prepared to inform an Asia-Pacific Regional Strategy for Education for Sustainable Development) provide guidance about processes for initiating the DESD. Both documents focus on collaboration and networking as underlying key elements, and emphasize the importance of coordination due to the great number of issues, stakeholders and sectors involved in education for sustainable development.

Perhaps the greatest challenge for the Decade is that of very different groups learning to work together towards a common goal. Different missions, mandates and visions mean that there will be different approaches to sustainable development. A host of different challenges arise when attempting to coordinate the work:

• How can we begin to bring such diverse groups together?
• How do we make the concept of ESD meaningful to those who have previously had little involvement or
• interest in the subject?How do we build a common vision for ESD?
• Why do partnerships appear easier for some countries to manage than for others?
• Once we have established partnerships, how do we go about maintaining them?
• How do we make the most effective use of partnerships?
• What skills and other resources are required?

This publication takes a look at how some Asian and Pacific countries have attempted to forge partnerships to begin developing initiatives for the Decade. While there have been many successes, it is clear that many challenges remain and new ones have been identified. It is hoped that the experiences highlighted in this publication will serve as a guide for other countries as they take steps towards implementing the Decade. Many of the initiatives highlighted in this publication have been assisted by the Funds in Trust for ESD contributed to UNESCO by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan. This continued support is gratefully acknowledge. The preparation of the document has been the culmination of work carried out by the ESD Unit at UNESCO Bangkok, and many thanks are due to Derek Elias, Aya Yokoi, Rikka Vuorela, Seema Deo, Hayden Montgomerie, and Joel Bacha.

As the lead agency for the DESD, UNESCO continues to mobilize partnerships, initiatives and resources to increase the capacity of Member States in order to build and consolidate national ESD initiatives.

© UNESCO 2008

Published by the

UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education

920 Sukhumvit Rd., Prakanong

Bangkok 10110, Thailand

Chief Editor: Caroline Haddad

Design/Layout: Sirisak Chaiyasook

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