Outcomes of MESA International Conference on ESD
The 1st International Conference on Mainstreaming Environment and Sustainability in African Universities was held in Nairobi, Kenya from 24 - 28 November 2008. The meeting was attended by university professors and lecturers, university leaders, government officials, students, and partners, including the private sector and scientific organisations, in total over 200 people from 40 countries.
Many important African Networks like the 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), all key stakeholders of the MESA Partnership, were present.
Officially opened by Hon. John Michuki, Kenya’s Minister of Environment and Mineral Resources, the Conference also hosted Mr Achim Steiner, the Executive Director of UNEP, who addressed the delegates to the conference during his keynote speech at the opening ceremony.
The conference was the occasion to review progresses already made and to exchange best practices within the Network. The 2004-2008 MESA Report, which presents achievements made so far, was presented and different sessions gave network members the opportunity to present their own way of mainstreaming environment and sustainability in their universities.
The second Mesa innovation Awards went to Mr. Alexander Paterson, awarded in recognition of his role in building the ESD Abilities of Africa’s Lawyers at the University of Cape Town and Mr. Gelvan Lule Kisolo, awarded for his role in the community engagement practice for Sustainable production and sales of agricultural inputs, development of marketing opportunities, and improvement of the nutritional situation in Nkozi sub-county Uganda at the Uganda Martyrs University.
Acting toward a deeper implementation of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014), conference participants endorsed recommendations which will inform deliberations at the 2009 World Conference on ESD. The MESA recommendations are structured along the four objectives of the Bonn Conference and touch upon issues such as trans-disciplinarity and the inclusion of traditional knowledge in research and teaching or the importance of international exchange of knowledge and mutual learning in ESD.
