20 Free Sustainability Courses from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

If you’re passionate about sustainable development, food security, and global goals, FAO offers a wide range of free online courses designed to help learners understand key sustainability concepts and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators. These courses are available through the FAO elearning Academy and related platforms — and most offer certification upon completion.

Below is a curated list of free, sustainability-focused FAO courses along with direct links to the official course pages when available:

📘 Food Security & SDG Indicators

1. Using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES)
   Learn how the FIES is used as an SDG indicator to measure food insecurity worldwide.

2. Sustainable Agriculture (SDG Indicator 2.4.1)
   Understand sustainable agriculture methodologies and reporting for SDG Indicator 2.4.1.

3. Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries
   This course focuses on monitoring progress for SDG Indicator 14.b.1 on small-scale fisheries sustainability.

4. Fish Stocks Sustainability (SDG 14.4.1)
   Learn about managing and reporting on biologically sustainable fish stocks.

5. Labour Productivity & Income of Small-Scale Food Producers
   Covers SDG Indicators 2.3.1 and 2.3.2 related to productivity and income levels.

6. Food Loss Index (Sub-Indicator 12.3.1.a)
   Explore how food loss is measured and strategies to reduce it in supply chains.

7. Prevalence of Undernourishment (PoU)
   Dive into SDG Indicator 2.1.1 — prevalence of undernourishment — and its global implications.

8. Change in Water-Use Efficiency Over Time (SDG 6.4.1)
   Focuses on measuring improvements in how water is used across sectors.

9. Plant and Animal Genetic Resources (SDG 2.5.1 & 2.5.2)
   Support for analyzing and reporting genetic resource indicators.

10. Equal Tenure Rights for Women on Agricultural Land (SDG 5.a.1)
    Understand data, methods, and policy contexts for land tenure equality.

11. Agriculture Orientation Index (SDG 2.a.1)
    Learn how budget orientation affects agriculture performance.

12. Introduction to SDG Indicators Under FAO Custodianship
    A great starter course on how FAO supports global SDG monitoring.

13. Ensuring Women’s Legal Rights to Land Ownership and/or Control (SDG 5.a.2)
    This course explores women’s land rights and reporting methods.

14. Level of Water Stress (SDG 6.4.2)
    Learn about measuring and analyzing water stress.

15. Forest Area & Sustainable Forest Management (SDG 15.2.1)
    Focus on forest indicator monitoring and sustainability.

16. Food Price Anomalies (SDG 2.c.1)
    Explore methods to analyze sudden food price changes.

🌐 Advanced & Policy-Oriented Topics

17. Stakeholder Engagement – Learn about participatory methods in sustainability.

18. Voluntary National Reviews & the High-Level Political Forum – For policymakers tracking SDG progress.

19. Initial Preparation & Organization of Voluntary National Reviews

20. Voluntary National Reviews Assessment and Analysis