Every year, the Office of Astronomy for Development provides grants and supports projects around the world that apply astronomy in the pursuit of sustainable development. In 2021, the OAD funded 21 projects for a total of 110,000 Euro. Despite the continuing threats posed by the pandemic, these projects addressed local and global challenges through astronomy-related innovations. They include the development of astronomy video content for television lessons in Pakistan; training programs for displaced populations in refugee camps in Algeria, Spain, Italy and Uganda; motivating prisoners in Nigeria through astronomy; teaching coding using astronomical topics in Portugal, Mozambique and East Timor; mentoring and inspiring girls in primary schools in rural Kenya; and astronomy projects to celebrate indigenous culture and help students identify with their ancestral roots in Chile, Brazil, Cape Verde, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, Angola, and Portugal.
As projects draw to a close, the OAD arranged for them to present their outcomes and achievements. Each project gave a (very) short presentation to an invited audience of OAD staff, regional offices, IAU Offices, reviewers, collaborators, and others.
