The United Nations General Assembly requested UNESCO to lead the Decade in 2002 and to develop a draft international implementation scheme for the Decade. Subsequently, UNESCO prepared the International Implementation Scheme in consultation with United Nations Agencies, national governments, civil society organizations and NGO’s, experts and specialists. UNESCO’s leadership role and in fact, the task of Member States are defined by the four major thrusts of ESD
• Improving access to quality basic education
• Reorienting existing education programmes
• Developing public understanding and awareness
• Provide training
UNESCO’s role as lead of the DESD would be fully in line with its functions as laboratory of ideas, standard-setter, clearing house, capacity-builder and promoter of international cooperation. UNESCO would play a pro-active role, and all parts of the Organization would work together in an inter-sectoral manner, to demonstrate the strong leadership and coordination role at the international level in order to ensure success of the Decade. The organization would use its DESD coordination role to
• catalyze new partnerships with the private sector, with youth, and with media groups;
• encourage monitoring and evaluation;
• encourage a research agenda and serve as forum for relevant research on ESD;
• serve as forum for bringing together important stake-holders in the Decade such as: representatives of key multinationals, faith-based institutions, youth associations, ndigenous people etc.;
• share good ESD practices;
• link Member States that have put in place ESD curricula, policies, research etc., with those member states that are requesting help;
• convene flexible working groups on particular topics; and
• fulfill its strategic role with regard to ESD
For more details, visit
UNESCO Paris’ DESD site
and
UNESCO Bangkok’s DESD site |
Join the DESD Discussion Forum
