Our Impact

Education for Sustainable Development in Africa

Since October 2008, UNU Institute for Sustainability and Peace (UNU-ISP) worked with a group of leading African universities to explore the possibility of jointly establishing a postgraduate programme on sustainable development in Africa in order to shape a new generation of professionals to face the challenges of Africa’s sustainable development, with three-year seed funding support from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The project was based on UNU’s network with higher education institutions in Africa and elsewhere which are active in education for sustainable development, including international organizations such as UNESCO, UNEP and UN-HABITAT. The process of implementing the project was carried out by the ESDA steering committee, which included members of African partner universities as well as cooperating universities and organizations from Africa, Asia and Europe.

After three years of solid work by the partner universities and institutions including UNESCO, UNEP and UN-HABITAT as well as selected Japanese and Northern European universities, the project developed Master’s-level education programmes covering the three areas: Sustainable Urban Development (SUD), Sustainable Integrated Rural Development in Africa (SIRDA) and Mining and Mineral Resources (MMR). Kenyatta University and the University of Nairobi in Kenya are implementing SUD, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University for Development Studies, University of Ghana in Ghana and University of Ibadan in Nigeria are implementing SIRDA. University of Cape Town in South Africa and University of Zambia in Zambia are effectuating MMR.

Another fundamental impact of ESDA was establishing the Next Generation Researcher (NGR) team. NGR comprises young researchers tasked with generating and promoting action-oriented research that contributes to the generation of learning resources to be utilised in delivering the 3 masters degree in 8 participating African countries. The NGR team’s other focus areas were research on rural-urban linkages, governance issues such as gender and corruption and collaborations between African and Asian scientists in research.

Transforming Universities for a Changing Climate Project

Climate-U involves qualitative and quantitative studies and setting up participatory action research (PAR) groups in participating universities. The PAR approach provides equality, equity and inclusion of marginalized individuals and groups affected by a particular challenge in the design and execution of an intervention. Participatory Action Research Groups (PARGs) have been formed in participating universities to guide the implementation of the project. PARG comprises diverse stakeholders from the university, immediate communities and professionals from the relevant private organisations and government agencies.

The PARGs identified and implemented appropriate interventions at their university and communities. PARGs in three participating universities in Kenya, Kenyatta University, Kisii University and Kenya Methodist University (KeMU) have reviewed diverse courses, such as the Growing Leaders Programme at Kenyatta University, a certificate course offered to all final-year students. At KeMU, two courses were revised, the Environmental Science and Environmental Health courses. On the other hand, Kisii University introduced a new common course, Introduction to climate change management, to be offered to all students in their first year of education. Modes of delivery of the four courses in the three participating universities include interactive lectures, local case studies, audio-visuals, student discussions, tutorials, projects, or fieldwork that will facilitate the co-creation of knowledge with the students and local communities.

Moreover, through research and Participatory Action Research (PAR) approaches, a range of campus greening activities were developed and piloted at the three Kenyan universities. The activities include the establishment of Kenyatta University Green Education Hub (GEH) in 2022. The Hub spearheads research, co-design of teaching and learning materials on climate change, sustainable development and green education. Another key role of the Hub is coordinating the student clubs and offering them a platform to take climate action through the co-creation and dissemination of knowledge and community service advocacy activities. KeMU’s climate action includes waste management and afforestation initiatives. While Kisii University is spearheading clean energy and smart farming initiatives.