The ISA (2019 – 2024)
From 2019 to 2024, the International Sustainability Academy (ISA) stood as a dynamic program for sustainable change, uniting passionate changemakers from the Global South with a shared goal: to drive real-world impact aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Based in Hamburg’s WÄLDERHAUS and spearheaded by the Schutzgemeinschaft Deutscher Wald Landesverband Hamburg e.V. (SDW), ISA functioned as both a personal and project development program. Backed by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the program hosted seven scholarship cohorts of carefully selected fellows: each bringing bold ideas and grassroots projects to life.
At its heart, ISA is more than a scholarship. It was a mission: To advance climate action, gender equality, and sustainable innovation by investing in people and transforming their communities.
Fellows, drawn from countries on the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) list, spent eight months in Hamburg, working intensively on their social, scientific, or entrepreneurial projects. Through structured mentorship, interdisciplinary exchange, and access to SDW’s education and partner networks, they gained the tools, insight, and confidence to elevate their initiatives.
The outcomes are powerful:
- 95 fellows from 41 countries
- 90 implemented projects reaching over 1 million people
- over 40 upscaled projects
- An enduring Alumni Network driving collaboration, peer learning, and cross-continental actions
In 2022-2023, ISA was independently evaluated by the CEval (Center for Evaluation, Saarland University) team, which affirmed its relevance and effectiveness as a development cooperation tool. The program was recognized for its unique model and tangible contributions to SDG implementation.
While core funding was in place until 2024, the global economic crisis led to a pause in direct sponsorship. Yet, ISA’s mission continues. Its alumni are now the engine of its impact: running projects, supporting one another through regional subnetworks, and expanding ISA’s reach through new initiatives like international volunteering.
Now discover ISA from 2025 – ISA PLUS
