Kenya is set to host the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) World Conference in Nairobi from 13–15 January 2027, marking an important milestone for Education for Sustainable Development and for Africa’s participation in shaping the global education and sustainability agenda.
H.E. Prof. Peter K. Ngure, Kenya’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, will serve as Co-Chair of the ESD World Conference.
The Nairobi conference will mark the first time the global ESD conference is hosted in the Global South, providing an important platform to amplify African and Global South perspectives in discussions on the future of education and sustainable development.
The conference will place young people at the heart of the conversation, while bringing together Ministers, policymakers and global leaders for strategic dialogue on the future of ESD.
Participants will also look beyond the 2030 Agenda and contribute to defining the next chapter of Education for Sustainable Development. The organisation of the conference itself is expected to demonstrate sustainability in practice, reflecting the principles at the centre of ESD.
High-level participation is expected at the Nairobi conference, including the President of the Republic of Kenya and the Director-General of UNESCO.
For Kenya and the African continent, hosting the conference represents an opportunity to contribute directly to the international conversation on how education can equip present and future generations with the knowledge, values and capacities needed to respond to sustainable development challenges.
Reflecting on the significance of Nairobi 2027, Prof. Ngure emphasised that the event goes beyond hosting a major international conference:
“Nairobi 2027 is more than a conference. It is an opportunity for Africa to help shape the global future of education for sustainable development.”
As preparations for Nairobi 2027 advance, Kenya’s role as host and Prof. Ngure’s role as Co-Chair reinforce the country’s engagement with UNESCO in advancing education and sustainable development.
“From Nairobi, let us move from commitment to action.”
— H.E. Prof. Peter K. Ngure
