UNESCO brings together countries from Central and South Asia for a regional webinar on the implementation of the ESD for 2030 programme
On 5 August 2026, the UNESCO Regional Offices in Almaty and New Delhi jointly organised a regional webinar of the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) 2030’ programme network for countries across Central and South Asia.
In the face of growing environmental, social and economic challenges, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is taking on particular significance. Going beyond traditional approaches to education, ESD equips learners and communities with the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes needed to understand the interconnections between environmental, social, and economic systems, make informed and responsible decisions, and actively contribute to building a more sustainable future. For this reason, advancing ESD has become a global priority, while strengthening regional cooperation and facilitating the exchange of best practices are becoming essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
The programme is guided by Framework for the implementation of ESD beyond 2019 and the ESD-2030 Roadmap, which set out strategic directions and support mechanisms for Member States. A key component of the programme is the implementation of the National ESD-2030 Initiatives, which serve as an important mechanism for integrating the principles of sustainable development into national education systems and advancing progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
The event took place at a significant moment, as the international community is taking stock of the mid-term progress of UNESCO’s ‘Education for Sustainable Development by 2030’ (ESD for 2030) programme, launched in 2020 to support Member States in integrating sustainable development principles into education policies and practices. In 2025, the External Mid-Term Review of the programme’s implementation for the period 2021–2024 was completed. It confirmed the significant contribution of country-level initiatives to advancing education for sustainable development and their relevance to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. At the same time, the review identified the need to improve monitoring mechanisms, further strengthen national initiatives and expand cooperation between governments and partners. In this regard, the regional webinar is intended to serve as a platform for exchanging experiences, discussing common challenges and formulating recommendations that will be used in the preparations for the UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development, to be held in January 2027 in Nairobi (Kenya).
The meeting enabled participants from Central and South Asia to exchange experiences and best practices in the implementation of ESD, as well as to develop recommendations for improving the mechanisms for implementing, monitoring and evaluating national initiatives. The proposals and feedback provided by Member States will be used in the preparation of the draft outcome document for the 2027 UNESCO World Conference on ESD.
Education for sustainable development is not a separate branch of education; rather, it is an essential approach to preparing societies for the challenges of the 21st century. Only through the collective efforts of governments, educational institutions, researchers and international partners can education go beyond the transmission of knowledge to foster the values, competencies, and sense of responsibility needed to build a more sustainable, equitable, and peaceful future. This is why regional dialogue and the exchange of experiences are more important than ever, serving as a foundation for accelerating progress towards sustainable development through education.
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