The DESD envisages a world where everyone has the opportunity to benefit from education and learn the values, behaviour and lifestyles required for a sustainable future and for positive societal transformation. The vision also includes preparing people of all walks of life to plan for, cope with, and find solutions for issues that threaten the sustainability of our planet. 

The DESD is such a broad endeavour that it calls on individuals and stakeholders at all levels – local to international – to be involved. Governments, civil society, NGOs and business/industry can and should have a role.

While the range of DESD-related activities varies widely, stakeholders can apply the following seven strategies both in their own institutional frameworks and in the networks and alliances in which they function:

• vision-building and advocacy
• consultation and ownership
• partnership and networks
• capacity-building and training
• research and innovation
• use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)
• monitoring and evaluation