Together with two other organizations, NaDEET was awarded the 2018 UNESCO Japan Prize on Education for Sustainable Development for outstanding work in the field of ESD. The NaDEET approach and programme at NaDEET Centre on NamibRand Nature Reserve was recognized for its unique way of offering quality education. Embracing environmental awareness, cultural change, sustainable living skills, empowerment and social transformation, the programme is working towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by integrating key sustainable development issues into teaching and learning.

The award was launched in 2014 within the framework of the Global Action Programme on ESD to recognize organizations that showcase good practices through “Innovative and effective initiatives, practices, approaches, and processes that support implementation of the GAP will be given visibility and shared widely for scaling up.”

NaDEET won the award based on the following criteria:

• Transformative education
• Integrated approach
• Innovative practice
• Replicable and scalable, with high impact: an example for local communities around the world.

A regional appreciation event for the award was hosted in Windhoek to celebrate this achievement together with ESD stakeholders and previous winners from Africa. The event was well-attended with key note speakers from the Namibia National Commission to UNESCO, UNESCO Windhoek Office and the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture.