The Euro-African Network for ESD Leadership in Teacher Education is rooted in years of regional collaboration, international policy frameworks, and grassroots educational innovation. Learn how previous UNESCO initiatives and the Erasmus+ programme shaped the establishment of this intercontinental network.
Building on UNESCO’s ESD Legacy
The groundwork for the network stems from regional initiatives such as UNESCO’s “Sustainability Starts with Teachers” programme. These efforts highlighted an urgent need to build teacher leadership capabilities across Sub-Saharan Africa, aligning pedagogical training directly with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4.7) and the global ESD for 2030 framework.
The SSATL-ESD Erasmus+ Initiative
In 2024, the Sub-Saharan Africa Teacher Leadership for Education for Sustainable Development (SSATL-ESD) project was officially launched as an Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education initiative. Coordinated by Leuphana University Lüneburg, the consortium unites 15 higher education institutions and partner organisations across Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe.
Leadership Labs & Change Projects
To move from theory to systemic practice, SSATL-ESD introduced hybrid professional learning pathways, local ESD Leadership Change Projects, and ICT-enabled ESD Leadership Labs across participating universities. These hubs empower teacher educators to design climate-resilient and context-specific curricula.
Establishing the Euro-African Network
Recognising the immense value of cross-continental solidarity and the need for long-term sustainability beyond the formal funding lifecycle, the consortium established the Euro-African Network. Today, the network serves as a permanent collaborative bridge for research, pedagogical co-creation, and international policy dialogue.
