Global Schools Program

What Global Schools Program does

The Global Schools Program is a non-profit K-12 education initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), founded in 2018 and headquartered in New York with operations in Paris. It supports approximately 2,223 pre-primary, primary, and secondary schools across 107 countries in integrating Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into curricula, classroom practice, and school culture. The program delivers its value through a free, open-source content stack — lesson plans, activity guides, three volumes of case study guidebooks, the Greening STEAM Education framework, SDG 7 teaching toolkits, and the Planet Rescuers gamified Minecraft Education Edition game — rather than through a technology product or licensing arrangement.

The program is delivered via a community-led and partnership-driven model. A trained network of 2,463 GSP Advocates recruits and onboards schools locally and has trained 51,637 teachers, reaching 432,300 students and 76,140 educators globally. Distribution is amplified by strategic partnerships with Siemens Energy (Schools for Goal 7 initiative), Possible Lab, Planet Rescuers, AFS Intercultural Programs, Penn State, Knowledge Works, and alignment with UNESCO's Global Action Program on ESD. Marketing and engagement channels span the program's website and blog, four major social media platforms, an email newsletter, international conferences (COP26, ECOSOC Youth Forum, AFS Youth Assembly), and recurring virtual professional development sessions.

The Global Schools Program does not generate product revenue. It is funded by institutional donors, corporate sponsors, and foundations (including Siemens Energy, the Foundation for Environmental Education, BKM Foundation, Mille Foundation, IESEG School of Management, and Bluechip), with all resources provided free of charge to schools and educators. The organization received the HundrED Innovators 2025 and World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) Award in 2025, and its former Director Sam Loni was recognized by NAAEE's EE 30 Under 30 in 2020; current Director Amanda Abrom co-authored the April 2026 release of Case Study Guidebook Volume 3.

Name

Global Schools Program

Legal name

Global Schools Program

Website

https://globalschoolsprogram.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Global Schools Program is an UN SDSN non-profit initiative, founded in 2018, that provides free SDG-aligned curricula, training, and educator resources to roughly 2,223 K-12 schools across 107 countries through a volunteer advocate network and strategic partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Sustainability Education

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Intergovernmental Education Cooperation & Bilateral/Multilateral Programs (EDADALAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

International & Comparative Education Policy Organizations (EDADADAL)

Keywords

• Sustainability education programs
• Curriculum resource libraries
• Teacher professional development
• Education for sustainable development
• K-12 sustainability curriculum

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donor and Sponsor Funding: The Global Schools Program is funded by institutional donors, corporate sponsors, and foundations. The website lists donors and sponsors including unnamed partners and logos. Funding supports program operations, resource development, advocate training, and school network expansion. The organization is an initiative of UN SDSN and operates as a nonprofit education program with no revenue-generating product.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Global Schools Program provides free SDG-aligned curriculum resources, lesson plans, activity guides, case studies, professional development sessions, and trained advocate support to help K-12 schools integrate Education for Sustainable Development into classroom, schoolwide, and community levels. It also delivers specialized initiatives such as the Schools for Goal 7 program (with Siemens Energy) and the Planet Rescuers Minecraft Education game for energy and climate learning.

Product overview

Global Schools Program is an award-winning international primary and secondary education program operating as a unified platform that supports schools worldwide with training, curriculum, and methodologies to integrate Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into education. The core program includes lesson plans, activities guides, case studies, and professional development sessions. Key specialized offerings include Schools for Goal 7 (a gamified energy education initiative with Siemens Energy featuring the Planet Rescuers Minecraft Education game), SDG7 Teaching Resources, and Greening STEAM Education activities. The program maintains an SDG 7 Educators Committee of international experts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Schools for Goal 7: A project in partnership with Siemens Energy aimed at training teachers and students on energy and sustainable development through gamified curricula, targeting 100 teachers and 3,000 students.

Products and services

• Global Schools Program An award-winning international primary and secondary education program working through a network of approximately 2,200 pre-primary, primary, and secondary schools, supporting educators with training, curriculum, and methodologies to integrate Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into education from classroom to policy level.
• Schools for Goal 7 A project by Global Schools in partnership with Siemens Energy, providing gamified curricula and training to teachers and students on energy and sustainable development, covering topics such as the energy transition, renewable energy, climate change, and sustainability.
• Planet Rescuers A Minecraft Education Edition video game in which students learn to tap into their creativity and innovation to build a sustainable world through the generation and consumption of clean energy and their efforts to preserve the environment. Used as part of the Schools for Goal 7 initiative.
• SDG7 Teaching Resources Comprehensive teaching materials including a Guide on Renewable Energy and the Energy Transition, an SDG7 Activities Toolkit, and Printable Worksheets designed for schools and educators to teach about sustainable energy.
• Greening STEAM Education STEAM-based activities connected to the SDGs for primary, lower/upper, and upper secondary education, including activities such as creating fashion from recycled materials, renewable energy challenges, ecosystem studies, and AI-based deforestation identification.
• Lesson Plans Downloadable teaching materials customized by grade level, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, including comics, TED videos, grade-wise lesson plans, and games for classroom use.
• Activities Guides Activity guides and toolkit resources for educators to implement Education for Sustainable Development in classrooms.
• Case Study Guidebook for Educators Case study guidebooks documenting educator and student experiences implementing Education for Sustainable Development projects across varying levels of curricular integration, including implementation strategies for primary and secondary education.
• Professional Development Sessions Online professional development sessions for educators exploring arts education, sustainable development, and innovative teaching approaches, bringing together educators from multiple countries.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,223 schools served across 107 countries
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Siemens EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 October 2024Flagship 'Schools for Goal 7' initiative in partnership with Siemens Energy and SDSN, providing gamified curriculum and training on energy transition and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) to 100 teachers and 3,000+ students internationally. Features Minecraft Education Planet Rescuers platform, STEAM activities, and student showcases at events like ECOSOC Youth Forum.
• Possible LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the Schools for Goal 7 youth showcase at ECOSOC Youth Forum, supporting student innovation and clean energy education alongside Global Schools and Siemens Energy.
• Planet RescuerscoreTechnology or IntegrationMinecraft Education Edition game partner providing the Planet Rescuers gamified learning platform used in Schools for Goal 7 initiative, enabling students to build sustainable worlds through clean energy concepts.
• AFS Intercultural ProgramscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal Schools has been a program partner of the AFS Youth Assembly for three consecutive years (2022–2024), hosting workshops on Youth-Driven Innovation in Global Education at the annual AFS Youth Assembly in New York City.
• Penn StateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Schools Program collaborated with Knowledge Works and Penn State (member of SDSN USA) for the inaugural Penn State K-12 Sustainability Summit, supporting school participants in integrating sustainability into school systems using Penn State and GSP resources.
• Knowledge WorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the inaugural Penn State K-12 Sustainability Summit alongside Global Schools and Penn State, focused on sustainability integration in K-12 education.
• Subject To ClimateminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner organization on the Global Schools website, contributing to climate education resources and outreach.
• Al Akhawayn UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner university listed on Global Schools website, contributing to the program's academic and research dimensions.
• International Baccalaureate (IB) World SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIB World School is listed as a partner, aligning with IB's PYP and MYP curricula frameworks that Global Schools ESD resources complement.
• Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFEE is listed as a donor/sponsor partner supporting Global Schools Program operations and resource development for sustainability education.
• University of Education WinnebaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution listed as a partner supporting Global Schools Program activities, particularly in the African region.
• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Schools Program aligns with UNESCO's Global Action Program on Education for Sustainable Development (GAP on ESD), contributing to UNESCO's framework for embedding sustainability into education systems globally.
• UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Global Schools Program is an initiative of the UN SDSN. SDSN provides institutional backing, governance, and a global network of universities and organizations supporting practical solutions for sustainable development, including implementation of the SDGs and Paris Climate Agreement.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• TakingITGlobal: Global youth engagement platform providing educational content, activism toolkits, and teacher resources on sustainability and global citizenship. Comparable to GSP in offering SDG-aligned K-12 content through a free digital platform.
• Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots: Youth-led environmental and humanitarian program active in 60+ countries, similar to GSP in mobilizing students around SDGs and community projects at the K-12 level, though narrower in curriculum scope.
• Ocean Wise (Ocean Education): Ocean conservation and education organization offering K-12 programs including classroom resources, youth leadership, and teacher training — overlapping with GSP in educator-training and student-led sustainability projects.
• EarthEcho International: Youth-led environmental education organization founded by Philippe Cousteau Jr., providing curriculum, fellowships, and youth programs to students globally. Comparable to GSP in K-12 environmental mission and youth engagement.

Regional players

• AFS Intercultural Programs: Global intercultural learning organization offering youth exchanges, hosted programs, and curriculum — a listed GTM partner of GSP (three-year partnership on AFS Youth Assembly) with comparable global K-12 audience and UN-adjacent positioning.

Direct peers

• UNESCO Associated Schools Network (ASPnet): UNESCO's global network of 10,000+ educational institutions across 180+ countries that integrate ESD and sustainability into curricula. Directly comparable to GSP in mission, target audience (K-12 schools), and UN-system institutional positioning.
• Subject To Climate: Climate-change curriculum provider for K-12 educators offering free lesson plans and PD resources; a listed GSP partner organization and directly comparable in free curriculum content, climate focus, and K-12 audience.
• Eco-Schools (Foundation for Environmental Education): FEE's flagship ESD program operating in 50+ countries with structured curriculum, student-led projects, and award certification for K-12 schools. Closely comparable to GSP in approach, student engagement model, and listed FEE as a donor/sponsor partner of GSP.

Broad incumbents

• Ashoka Changemaker Schools: Global network of K-12 schools focused on empathy, leadership, and changemaking; comparable to GSP in building a school network around social impact outcomes, with broader mission beyond sustainability.
• WWF Education: World Wildlife Fund's global K-12 environmental education programming offering lesson plans, school partnerships, and youth campaigns. Comparable to GSP in sustainability-education mission for primary and secondary schools, with broader geographic and financial footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SDGsInSchools
• Facebookfacebook.com/GlobalSchoolsProgram
• Instagraminstagram.com/globalschoolsprogram
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/globalschoolsprogram

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Global Schools Program