OVERVIEW OF THE RCE ON ESD NETWORKUnited Nations University

Institute for the Advanced Study

of Sustainability (UNU-IAS)

REGIONAL CENTERS OF EXPERTISE (RCES) ON EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (ESD)

An RCE is a network of existing formal, non-formal, and informal organisations that facilitate education for sustainable development in local and regional communities (secretariat usually higher education institution)

Because of this unique synthesis of actors from different sectors, an RCE can access a pool of experts from different fields Helps break down silos

Gives overview of critical issues due to multiple stakeholders

Pool of experts can support and facilitate change

RCE CORE ELEMENTS

RCE

Governance

Collaboration

Research & Development

Transformative Education

WHY RCE?

Need for local initiatives –from global agenda to local actions

Need for partnerships of expertise of communities, professions, NGOs, civil society, private sector and governments

Need for an innovative platform for multi-stakeholder dialogue— that enables diverse groups to interact, learn collaboratively and take collective decisions and actions towards SD and ESD

2005

7 99 120

2009

74

Mid-Decade Review

Framework for

the UNDESD

2013 2018 and Beyond2007 2011

47

DESD Launch

2004 Development of RCE Concept

UNESCO ESD

(Bonn, Germany)

8th International RCE

Conference (Nairobi,

Kenya)

1st International

RCE Conference

9th International RCE

Conference (Okayama,

Japan)

End of DESD

UNESCO ESD

(Aichi-Nagoya)

Launch of GAP

2008 Emergence of thematic & strategic

networks

Assessment of RCEs/ Engagement with

international processes and capacity development

2007 Emergence of continental

networks

138

Development of RCE Network

149 166…

2014 2015

1st Thematic RCE

Conference (Okayama,

Japan)

NEWLY ACKNOWLEDGED RCES

Global Network

•166 RCEs worldwide:

Asia-Pacific: 61

Europe: 44

Africa and the Middle East: 37

Americas: 24

New RCEs:

• 8 RCEs were acknowledged in December 2017

Asia-Pacific: RCE Hangzhou (China), RCE Kuching (Malaysia)

Europe: RCE Galica (Spain), RCE Warsaw (Poland)

Africa and the Middle East: RCE Greater Yenagoa (Nigeria), RCE Ilorin (Nigeria), RCE Ogun (Nigeria)

Americas: RCE Greater Atlanta (United States)

UBUNTU COMMITTEE OF PEERS FOR THE RCES MEETS YEARLY TO REVIEW RCE APPLICATIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGE NEW RCES

Ubuntu Committee Members

• Clemens Mader – COPERNICUS Alliance

• Hilligje van’t Land – International Association of Universities (IAU)

• Bernard Combes – UNESCO

• UN Environment – contact point in transition

Regional Advisors to the RCEs

Americas:

• Charles Hopkins, UNESCO Chair, York University, Toronto, Canada

Europe:

• Joseph Hermans – Chair and Co-founder, NGO COMMEET (COMMunity Empowered Entrepreneurship training and TVET support)

Regional Advisors to the RCEs

Africa:

• Goolam Mohamedbhai – Former Secretary General, Association of African Universities

• Akpezi Ogbuigwe –Director, Advancement and Linkages Center, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Asia-Pacific

• Kiran Chhokar –School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, India

• Mario Tabucanon – Emeritus Professor, Asian Institute of Technology

RCE CONFERENCES

11th Global Conference 2018

• Cebu, the Philippines (7-9 Dec. 2018)

Regional Conferences 2018

• Africa: Zomba, Malawi (Aug. 8th-10th, 2018)

• Europe: Vannes, France (Aug. 29th-31st, 2018)

• Asia-Pacific: Sydney, Australia (Sep. 25th-27th 2018)

• Americas: Posadas, Argentina (Oct. 17th-19th, 2018)

International Association of Universities

• Panel on RCEs: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Nov. 13th-15th, 2018

1st Thematic Conference, Okayama, Japan (2017)

OTHER RCE ACTIVITIES

• Thematic Working Groups (Continuous)

• Biodiversity (Participated in CBD COP 13 – Dec. 2016)

• Climate Change (Action for Climate Empowerment w/ UNFCCC – Apr. 2017)

• Higher Education

• Sustainable Consumption and Production

• Disaster Risk Reduction

• Youth

•GAP Meetings, Workshops (Nov. 2017, Apr. 2018)

• IPBES Training Workshops (Jul. 2017, Nov. 2017)

•Asia Pacific Action Plan (Nov. 2017)

•RCE Youth Network

• Asia-Pacific running SDG Challenge (focal points Western Sydney & Yogyakarta)

• Africa active with webinars (Kano and Nairobi)

•RCE Awards (Dec. 2018)

RCE PUBLICATIONS

Recently completed projects:

•Ensure Healthy Lives and Promote Well-being For All: Experiences of community health, hygiene, sanitation and nutrition within Regional Centres of Expertise on ESD

•Academia and Communities: Engaging for Change – Learning Contributions of RCEs on ESD

Upcoming projects:

•Publication of Asia-Pacific RCE cases with UNESCO Bangkok

•Publication of DRR book

RCE PORTAL AND RCE FACEBOOK PAGE

http://www.rcenetwork.orghttps://www.facebook.com/Global-RCE-Network-890558397679571/

RCE BULLETIN

Issued monthly

Upcoming ESD-related Events

Latest News

Invitations for collaboration

New Publications and Resources

Created a template for RCEs to submit

an article to the bulletin