Starting with an initial consultation with UN partners in September 2003, UNESCO shared a framework for the draft International Implementation Scheme (IIS) worldwide. More than 2000 contributions were received, many of these representing the consolidation of opinions of hundreds. The draft Scheme was reviewed by leading academics and experts in the field, before it was submitted, in July 2004 to the High Level Panel on the Decade, which advises the Director-General of UNESCO on this topic. It was presented at the 59th session of the UN General Assembly on 18-19th October 2004 in New York.
While this document reflects the agreement of many partners and stakeholders, it is awaiting formal recognition by the Executive Board of UNESCO in April 2005.
The draft IIS sets out a broad framework for all partners to contribute to the Decade. It is not prescriptive, but provides overall guidance and shows why, how, when and where the enormous range of partners can develop their contributions based on their particular contexts. It briefly presents the ESD challenge and outlines the kind of education that, collectively, partners consider essential in order to facilitate sustainable development. It addresses the wide range of stakeholders in the Decade and outlines seven key strategies.
Mary Joy Pigozzi
Director, Division for the Promotion of Quality Education
January 2005
