Beirut, 15 October 2025
In a collective effort to advance sustainable development through education, education leaders and key stakeholders from across the Arab States have convened in Beirut on 14 and 15 October 2025 for the ESD-NET Arab Region 2025 Regional Workshop. This high-level strategic meeting aims to accelerate the integration of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into national education systems and strengthen regional collaboration to drive progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
Hosted by the UNESCO Regional Office in Beirut, in partnership with the UNESCO Regional Office in Doha, the workshop serves as a key milestone in supporting Arab Member States to operationalize the ESD-NET Global Network framework. It focuses on confirming the ESD-NET Terms of Reference, finalizing the 2026–2027 Regional Roadmap, and aligning collective efforts to mainstream sustainability within education systems in the region.
“This workshop is not just a meeting, but a new beginning towards a green and sustainable Arab education. UNESCO, through its offices in Beirut, Doha, and its headquarters in Paris, is fully committed to supporting countries in this journey—strengthening education systems, empowering teachers, developing curricula, and building strong partnerships with communities and the private sector.” said Ms. Maysoun Chehab, Officer in Charge of the UNESCO Regional Office in Beirut.
ESD is a critical enabler for achieving sustainable and inclusive development. It equips learners with the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes needed to respond to complex global challenges, including climate change, social inequality and health crises, while fostering the systemic transformation required to build just and resilient societies. By bringing together decision-makers, practitioners and youth representatives, this regional workshop creates a platform to align national priorities with collective regional action.
This gathering builds on the momentum generated by the 2025 ESD-Arab NET webinar series, which mobilized governments, civil society, the private sector and academic institutions to strengthen the ESD ecosystem in the Arab region. A key highlight of the workshop was the official launch of the Arabic language versions of the Greening Education Partnership’s resources, including the Green Schools Quality Standard (GSQS) and the Greening Curriculum Guidance (GCG). “These important resources will support countries in transforming learning environments and curricula to be more climate-responsive and action-oriented” said Mr. Salah Khaled, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for the Gulf States and Yemen.
“Lebanon has actively engaged in the Global Network for Education for Sustainable Development and was also a founding partner in the Greening Education Partnership, because in this country we believe that sustainability is not a complementary option, but the very essence of educational reform itself.” said H.E. Dr. Rima Karami, Minister of Education and Higher Education, Lebanon.
The two-day event featured strategic dialogues, peer learning sessions and technical discussions designed to accelerate the implementation of national ESDfor2030 initiatives and foster cross-country collaboration. Participants also engaged in an immersive site visit to Lebanon’s Green Demonstration Room in Jounieh, showcasing a practical, interdisciplinary approach to greening education in action.
This regional workshop aimed at enhancing the coordination among Member States, strengthening national capacities, and consolidating a shared vision for advancing ESD and greening education systems across the Arab region. It also underscored UNESCO’s commitment to supporting countries in achieving transformative education outcomes that empower learners to shape a more sustainable future.