Education for Sustainable Development

The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), located in Hamburg, Germany, is one of UNESCO’s key education-related institutes and is the only organizational unit in the UN family that holds a global mandate for lifelong learning. Taking a holistic and integrated, inter-sectoral and cross-sectoral approach to lifelong learning as the guiding paradigm for 21st century education, UIL promotes and supports lifelong learning with a focus on adult learning, continuing education, literacy and non-formal basic education. Its activities place particular emphasis on furthering educational equity for disadvantaged groups and in the countries most afflicted by poverty and conflict.

The non-profit association "Bund für Bildung" translates socially relevant issues into educational projects. The focus is on issues of inclusion, participation and democracy.

FAIR for all generations FAIR education - Our campaigns are aimed at schools, kindergartens and day-care centres (Kitas), extracurricular actors in the greater Saarbrücken area and Saarland University. Several "Fair Kitas", "Fairtrade Schools" and "Fairtrade Universities" from the greater Saarbrücken area have already been awarded. School classes and courses from the Saarbrücken region have already received the award "Fair School Class - Fair Trade Class" more than 100 times. Through our young "Fair Trade Ambassadors" as multipliers and through our wide-ranging commitment, we reach a broad public. The guiding principle of our network is Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).

The BMZ is the highest federal authority for development questions. It plans and controls the development policy of the Federal Government and is responsible for its implementation. From our point of view, development policy is more than the simple commitment to creating humane living conditions on a global level. As a form of international structural policy, it can also help to address the common interests and challenges of all peoples in an effective and sustainable manner. The ministry is located in Bonn and Berlin.

Policy on three levels
The BMZ functions on three different levels: on a national level, in affiliated countries, and in international organizations. An effective development policy can help to shape new structures in global trade and to reach effective agreements on environmental policy. Thus, we can ease the debt burden of the poorest countries, stop global warming, secure peace and develop international strategies to counteract poverty. Development programs are carried out in regions where the efforts of the local authorities are insufficient. Through educational work, we also mobilize support among the population in our country.

Rules of cooperation
Development policy can only work well if it is set in the right framework. Our partners have to meet the following crucial criteria: implementation of human rights, the rule of law and the predictability of legal decisions, involvement of the population in the democratic process, creation of a market-oriented and socially just economy, and a general focus on the development process. Other principles include participation and responsibility.

Our tasks
The BMZ creates the guidelines and focal points for development policy. It represents development policy at several international organizations such as the United Nations (UN), the World Bank group and the World Trade Organization (WTO) and helps to shape international agreements. In cooperation with governmental bodies and non-governmental relief organizations, the BMZ carries out projects and programs in our affiliated countries.