The Future Generations Programme was launched by UNESCO in the early eighties. Responsibility for running the programme was handed over to the University of Malta in 1987.

In accordance with UNESCO’s Medium-term Plan, the Future Generations Programme organised three regional conferences to explore regional perspectives in the context of the global future generations debate. The first meeting was held in Buenos Aires for the Latin American region in December 1985; the second meeting was held in Bangkok for the Asian and Pacific region in January 1987; the third regional conference was held in Nairobi for African countries in 1990. Those conferences brought together academics, decision-makers, educators, public communicators and other persons to discuss potential means of safeguarding the interests of unborn generations. Also on the agenda at those meetings was the need to promote awareness of future generations issues through education and public awareness campaigning.