The Sustainable Lifestyles and Education (SLE) Programme was launched in 2014 as one of the six programmes under the UN 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns (10YFP, which is now known as the One-Planet Network). The SLE Programme has supported 25 projects (of which 17 were completed by 2019) that are fostering the shift to more sustainable ways of living, based on the unique contexts of local societies.

Agricultural Extension in Transition Worldwide: Policies and Strategies for Reform
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Rome, (2020)
Prepared by Magdalena Blum, Francesca Cofini and Rasheed Sulaiman V

The purposes of the modules are to review the major reforms being considered internationally – reforms that aim to change the policy and institutional structure and operations of public sector agricultural extension systems, and thus enhance a transition to better coordinated pluralistic, demand-led advisory systems. The advantages and disadvantages of each aspect of these reforms are examined and illustrated by the selected case studies. The modules provide a foundation for extension reform affecting the entire set-up and mode of operation of agricultural extension. This review of reforms is intended to provide insights for senior-level officials and others interested in the development of agricultural advisory systems. The modules review trends, concepts and experiences, and, as such, are not intended to be prescriptive, or to adhere necessarily to any one point of view, but instead to provide a basis for informed decision-making by government policy-makers and senior management of extension and advisory services, as well as agricultural advisors.

Social sciences when reinforced with biological sciences will provide human face of science, because science is for society and hence science without human face is body without soul. Social sciences study the nature, measurement and analysis of needs and aspirations of people so that science can continuously remain relevant and contribute to the welfare of mankind. Specifically, social sciences help organize research and education around societal problems in scientific disciplines by improving focus, design, implementation, evaluation and demonstration of evidences of impact. It is to be noted that despite having so many scientists, scientific establishments and universities in India, our science index is low, human development index is low and our hunger index is alarmingly high. It is time that social sciences of agricultural economics, agricultural extension, agricultural statistics, food and nutrition and home sciences get due attention to play their role as ears and eyes of the National Agricultural Research and Education System (NARES). It has been largely felt that while social sciences could play a larger role currently within NARES, their role is not adequately recognized and more needs to be done to duly recognize them and strengthen the capacities of social scientists.