Monitoring and Evaluation during the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development

Abstract

Monitoring and evaluation has been identified as one of seven key strategies for advancing the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD). The UN International Implementation Scheme for the Decade has called for the development of relevant and suitable indicators at all levels. Choosing appropriate education for sustainable development (ESD) indicators requires clearly articulated goals for DESD and an understanding of what indicators can and cannot assess. Recent experiences with ESD indicators can help us navigate our way through what can be complex territory. This paper reviews current ESD indicator initiatives worldwide and focuses on the UNECE and UNESCO-IUCN Asia-Pacific efforts. These initiatives help identify relevant indicator frameworks and valuable learnings about engaging stakeholders in the development and implementation of indicators. Work on ESD indicators is positioned within the UNESCO Global Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, to be released in mid 2008.