United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

7, place de Fontenoy
75352 Paris 07 SP, France

Mission

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It contributes to peace and security by promoting international cooperation in education, sciences, culture, communication and information. UNESCO promotes knowledge sharing and the free flow of ideas to accelerate mutual understanding and a more perfect knowledge of each other's lives. UNESCO's programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in the 2030 Agenda, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015. UNESCO is the lead agency for SDG 4: Quality Education. 

Actions

Following the Global Action Programme (GAP) on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), the ESD for 2030 was launched at the UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development in May 2021, with the aim of accelerating the implementation of ESD to deliver all 17 Sustainable Development Goals, with education fulfilling a key role.

The GAP is the follow up to the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014).  IAU fully supported and contributed to the UN DESD and UNESCO GAP on ESD. IAU now is again a key partner in the ESD for 2030 Network and Greening Education Partnership

Contact for sustainable development activities

The ESD Section acts as the Secretariat for the ESD-Net 2030 and Greening Education Partnership. It offers coordination support to Member States, National Commissions, stakeholders, UNESCO programme and thematic areas, and UNESCO Field Offices while helping to ensure the coherence of organization-wide activities. Additionally, UNESCO convenes several ad hoc groups to participate in the implementation of ESD including the partner networks.

International Association of Universities, official partner of UNESCO (associate status)

International Association of Universities is a key partner Network to ESD and within the ESD for 2030 Network. 

Through its actions, initiatives and in particular through the creation of the IAU Global Portal on Higher Education and Research for Sustainable Development  (www.iau-hesd.net) and the IAU HESD Cluster Network, IAU contributes to scaling up action and initiatives developed by higher education institutions, organisations and HE stakeholders from around the world in response to the 2030 Agenda and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. 

Websites

News for this organisation

ANGEL Conference 2023

Conceived as a major, internationally focused gathering, the ANGEL Conference 2023 aims to bring together interested parties from all backgrounds for two exciting days of sessions showcasing and discussing research, projects, and new developments connected to Global Education and Learning or Global Citizenship Education, and other related fields
such as Development Education, Human Rights Education, Education for Sustainable Development, Education for Peace, and Intercultural Education.

ESD Okayama Award 2023 - Open for applications!

Okayama City and the ESD Okayama Award Steering Board are calling for initiatives that contribute to the spread of ESD in local communities in Japan and abroad and serve as models for the world. The award is looking for projects that educate and develop people to learn from each other and take action toward the creation of a sustainable society from various perspectives, such as environmental conservation, community development, inheritance of traditional culture, and diversity and inclusion, and more. Be sure to send your applications!

ESD-Net 2030 Learning Webinar on ESD Pedagogies

The third edition of the ESD-Net learning webinar which will take place on Wednesday, 31st of May 2023, 13:00-15:00 CET. This will be the occasion to take part in distinct workshops that will highlight innovative practices and key competencies in ESD through a broad range of topics and issues. You will be invited to contribute to knowledge-sharing activities, collaboration, and mutual learning to strengthen your knowledge of ESD pedagogical approaches and capacity to implement ESD in your local context.

Nominations open for 2023 UNESCO-Japan ESD Prize

Do you know of an innovative and established project for ESD? Consider suggesting it for nomination for the UNESCO-Japan ESD Prize!

ESD-Net 2030 Learning Webinar on ESD Pedagogies - Recordings Available!

To promote knowledge sharing, collaboration, and mutual learning ESD-Net 2030 is organizing a series of learning webinars in March, May and September 2023 on ESD pedagogy to highlight and promote innovative practices in ESD. This interactive learning series will focus on sharing and strengthening pedagogical approaches and key competencies in ESD through a broad range of topics and issues.