SSATL-ESD

Sub-Saharan Africa Teacher Leadership for ESD

Teresa Ruckelshauß, M. Sc., Lasse Grimmer, M. Phil., Prof. Dr. Alexander Siegmund

The three-year SSATL-ESD project is dedicated to promoting leadership skills for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in teacher education across five countries in southern Africa. By 2030, it is estimated that more than 15 million teachers will be needed in Sub-Saharan Africa to achieve Goal 4 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In collaboration with universities, civil society, and the private sector, the SSATL-ESD project develops innovative curricula and practice-oriented ESD projects to address key challenges such as youth unemployment, circular and green economies, gender equality, and the digital divide.

The SSATL-ESD project addresses these challenges directly by advancing ESD in teacher education in South Africa, Zambia, Namibia, Malawi, and Kenya. Through targeted capacity building and the joint development of innovative curricula, the project brings together students, teachers, civil society, and the private sector to initiate change projects on central topics such as youth unemployment, green economies, gender equality, and digital inclusion.

Upon completion, SSATL-ESD will have trained over 400 ESD leaders, implemented more than 45 innovative curriculum projects, and established lasting partnerships with over 40 organizations. These measures lay the foundation for a sustainable transformation of education and society, support the new African Union Framework for Competences and Standards for the Teaching Profession, and set an example for sustainable development leadership in the region and beyond.

Project period: 01.11.2024 – 31.10.2027

The ERASMUS+ CBHE-STRAND-2 project is co-funded by the European Union.