Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) was born from a moment of deep reflection and unwavering resolve. In 2007, during field assignments across Ethiopia’s rural communities, our founder—a visionary Ethiopian by birth and Swiss by citizenship—witnessed the harsh realities faced by women and children: limited access to education, entrenched poverty, and systemic exclusion. With a strong academic foundation and experience in international development, she chose not to turn away. Instead, she turned compassion into action.

What began as a grassroots initiative focused on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) quickly evolved into a multi-sectoral movement. ESD pioneered community-based ECCE models years before national policy frameworks were introduced, setting the stage for a broader mission: to empower communities through inclusive, rights-based, and sustainable development.

Today, ESD operates across six regions of Ethiopia, reaching over 1.62 million individuals—nearly 60% of them women and girls. Our work spans education, youth employment, women’s empowerment, climate resilience, and humanitarian response. We collaborate with government institutions, local communities, and global partners to deliver programs that are locally rooted and globally informed.