MESA International Conference on ESD
In the lead-up to the 2009 World ESD Conference, the first International Conference of the Mainstreaming Environment and Sustainability in Africa (MESA) Programme will be held from 24 to 28 November at the UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. Organizers of the event are the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), UNESCO, Horn of Africa Regional Environment Centre and Network (HoA-RECN), the Association of African Universities (AAU), and the Southern African Development Cooperation–Regional Environmental Education Programme (SADC-REEP).
The conference with the theme “Environment, Development and Climate Change: Universities Responding?” aims at providing a forum for South-North and South-South dialogue, exchange and collaboration on challenges and best practices of ESD implementation in higher education institutions. Furthermore, knowledge of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD 2005-2014) shall be disseminated amongst higher education stakeholders in order to build capacity and strengthen the voice of African universities with regards to environmental, climate and development issues. The conference will produce recommendations and contributions from Africa that will inform the forthcoming World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development in Bonn, Germany.
During the conference, the Second MESA Awards will be presented to recognize and support innovations in higher education institutions in Africa which respond to the most pressing economic, social and environmental challenges and opportunities of the continent.
The event is under the auspices of UNEP’s Mainstreaming Environment and Sustainability in African (MESA) Universities Partnership.
