The overall objective of the Innovation Programme is to initiate and support projects that will serve as good examples for the implementation and promotion of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in the Asia-Pacific region.
Based on global consultation to prepare the International Implementation Scheme (IIS) for the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD), the Programme designated non-exclusive priority areas/themes of projects for its first phase (2006-2007) as follows: Rural development, disaster prevention and mitigation, human rights, gender equality, cultural diversity and intercultural understanding, health and poverty reduction. Accordingly, a panel of experts selected ten projects listed below from applications which had been pre-screened with the support of the National Commissions for UNESCO in their respective countries in Asia and the Pacific.
Non-formal Education
Strategic Action for Enhancement of Farm Products for Poverty Reduction in Rural Communities through Non-Formal Education (Bhutan)- Capacity Building of Community-Based Disaster Risk Assessment and Mitigation on West Java Volcano Hazard (Indonesia)
- Moyog Family Literacy Project (Malaysia)
- Non-Formal Education Capacity Building for ESD in Mongolia (Mongolia)
- Integrated Environmental Literacy Programme for Poverty Alleviation through Income Generation Programme and Quality of Life Improvement of Girls and Women and Disadvantaged Populations through Community Learning Centres (Nepal)
- Vocational Education focusing on Facilities Maintenance Officers Training (Palau)
- Developing a Model for Home-based Early Intervention (EI) for Children with Disabilities (Viet Nam)
Primary and Secondary Education
- Education for Sustainable Development in Rural Primary and Secondary School (China)
- Participatory Learning Leading to Integrated Community Development; A Case Study Bansunkong school (Thailand)
- Creation of Experimental Special Groups in Kindergartens and Secondary Schools for Introduction of Inclusive Education (Uzbekistan)
While each of these projects focuses on a specific area of expertise and takes a unique approach to addressing socio-economic challenges and opportunities being faced locally, the overarching goal of the Programme is to prompt a positive behavioral change in the individuals/communities concerned towards a sustainable livelihood. This common goal across the individual projects will be pursued by carrying out educational and awareness-raising activities at the community, sub-national or national levels in the areas of Non-formal Education, Primary/Secondary Education and the media.
Furthermore, knowledge and experiences gained from implementing concrete projects under the Innovation Programme for ESD are expected to feed into broader discussion to refine and continue promoting the global ESD movement by giving it momentum.
Prospectus of the 2006-2007 ACCU-UNESCO Asia-Pacific Innovation Programme for ESD 