Three projects from West Africa, Brazil, and Panama were awarded the 2025 UNESCO–Japan Prize on Education for Sustainable Development in recognition of their innovative, inclusive, and transformative approaches to education for sustainable development.
The three laureates, selected from 120 nominations submitted by UNESCO Member States and organizations in official partnership with UNESCO, are:
• Culture at the Heart of Development (CACD-NGO): Preserving forest heritage and climate resilience – Benin, West Africa The project "Restoration and Innovative Management of the Ookpo Sacred Forest in Pobè" was launched in 2019. Its curriculum integrates topics such as forest regeneration, species conservation, and climate change through hands-on, experiential learning. The project reaches 32 schools and over 2,700 children annually, nurturing a new generation of environmental leaders. Its community-wide benefits, including environmental conservation, youth empowerment, and job creation, lay a solid foundation for long-term social transformation.
• Instituto Akatu – Edukatu: Rethinking consumption through educational platform – Brazil The Edukatu initiative was launched by Instituto Akatu in 2013. It is an interactive educational platform promoting conscious consumption and sustainable lifestyles. By engaging schools across Brazil, it offers hands-on activities, gamified online materials, and collaborative challenges that empower youth to rethink habits and co-create sustainable solutions. Its wide reach across the country promotes knowledge sharing, healthy competition, and community engagement, while ensuring accessibility for schools in underserved areas. The platform has reached 9,000 schools, trained 19,000 educators, and engaged hundreds of thousands of students nationwide.
• Fundación Pro Eco Azuero – Spider Monkey School Initiative: Youth-led reforestation and environmental education – Panama Implemented since 2010, the "Spider Monkey School Initiative," led by Fundación Pro Eco Azuero, fosters environmental stewardship and ecosystem restoration in rural Panama. It aims to preserve the cultural and spiritual significance of the Ookpo Sacred Forest, dedicated to the Ondo (Oranyan) deity, through conservation, ecotourism, and heritage education. The project offers a transformative model of Education for Sustainable Development rooted in cultural heritage, combining traditional knowledge with digital campaigns to engage communities in the protection and promotion of sacred forests. It also empowers women through the creation of seed banks and tree nurseries led by rural women.
An independent international jury of five Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) experts recognized the three initiatives for their excellence in advancing sustainability through education and community engagement. The 2025 laureates represent diverse educational contexts and approaches, from cultural heritage conservation and sustainable consumption to youth-led environmental restoration, all demonstrating the power of education to transform societies and strengthen climate resilience. Each laureate received an award of US $50,000 during a ceremony held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on 20 November 2025.
