Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is a key tool in fighting societal challenges. This was revealed by speakers and participants during an ESD-Net 2030 regional webinar held on March 16, 2023 as part of UNESCO’s efforts to consolidate its longstanding community of practice on Education for Sustainable Development and to support countries in Eastern and Southern Africa with the implementation of the principle under current ESD for 2030 programme.
Education for Sustainable Development: Towards achieving the SDGs (ESD for 2030) is a global framework for implementation of ESD for the period 2020-2030. The framework builds upon lessons learned from the Global Action Programme on ESD (GAP, 2015-2019), in response to the increased importance placed on ESD to promote the contribution of learning content to the survival and prosperity of humanity.
In her opening remarks the UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa Director, Prof Lidia Brito, reiterated that “there is no better inroad than education to address the existential threat of climate change, mass loss of biodiversity, pandemic diseases, extreme poverty and inequalities, rapid technological change, violent ideologies and conflicts and democratic backsliding, among others.”
Participants shared promising regional practices that include the Sustainability Starts with Teachers (SST) programme in the Southern African region, where UNESCO and its partners have a long-lasting experience on capacity building of teachers on ESD.
“The purpose and outcomes of ESD and the SST programme must be in the transformation of societies because transformative learning is a necessity for our survival and the survival of future generations”, said Prof Heila Lotz-Sisitka of Rhodes University.
Prof. P. Aloo-Obudho, from Kenya presented guidelines to mainstream ESD and Global Citizenship Education (GCED) into the programmes and activities in universities in Kenya to re- orient university education towards sustainable development and creation of a more peaceful, tolerant, inclusive and secure world.
Eswatini, Kenya, Uganda and South Africa shared their ESD for 2030 country initiatives. The well-advanced programmes showed a potential for country-wide impact, built on existing activities on ESD that ensure country wide engagement of diverse stakeholders from both education and sustainable development. Initiatives rolled out include the development of national ESD policy frame works, networking, research and evidence building for ESD; advocacy among youth and teacher development, greening curricula and schools as well as greening TVET.
Going forward, UNESCO will continue to support countries in the development of ESD for 2030 country initiatives in the region through an Africa regional meeting to be held in Addis Ababa from 3-4 May 2023, which will bring together MOEs and strategic partners in the region to strengthen synergies of existing projects and invite other countries to engage in the country Initiatives process.