The Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) will support 19 projects around the world in 2023, funded by the International Astronomical Union, for a total of €124,011. These projects will address various socio-economic and sustainable-development challenges using astronomy and basic sciences based interventions. The OAD is organizing an onboarding session for the project teams to introduce them to the concept of using basic sciences for development.

All the funded projects will be using astronomy and other basic sciences to promote sustainable development in 2023. The new projects span the globe, with activities taking place in Africa, Europe, Asia, North America, and South America. They include: a programme that will train young women teachers to promote science education in rural Botswana; astro-tourism initiatives in Malaysia and India; development of an astro-tourism academic curriculum in Tanzania; and an after-school astronomy programme for families in a disadvantaged part of Northern Ireland.

Also among the funded initiatives are: inclusive astronomy projects targeting persons with disabilities in rural Guatemala, and blind and partially sighted persons in Canada, Mexico, and the US; an inspirational astronomy-based programme for soon-to-be-released prison inmates in Nigeria; physics and astronomy training for young women in parts of Pakistan affected by conflict; and mentorship programmes for school girls in rural Kenya, and marginalised students from Central America and the Caribbean.