[Summary] 3rd Global Report on Adult Learning and Education: The Impact of Adult Learning and Education on Health and Well-being, Employment and the Labour Market, and Social, Civic and Community Life; Key Messages and Executive Summary

The third Global Report on Adult Learning and Education (GRALE III) draws on monitoring surveys completed by 139 UNESCO Member States to develop a differentiated picture of the global state of adult learning and education (ALE). It evaluates countries’ progress in fulfilling the commitments they made in the Belém Framework for Action, which was adopted at the Sixth International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA VI) in 2009.

In addition, the report examines the impact of ALE on three major areas: health and well-being; employment and the labour market; and social, civic and community life. GRALE III provides policymakers, researchers and practitioners with compelling evidence for the wider benefits of ALE across all of these areas. In so doing, it highlights some of the major contributions that ALE can make to realizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

This report is guided by three goals: first, to analyse the results of a monitoring survey of UNESCO Member States, and to take stock of whether countries are fulfilling the commitments they made at CONFINTEA VI; second, to strengthen the case for adult learning and education with evidence of its benefits on health and well-being,employment and the labour market, and social, civic and community life; and third, to provide a platform for debate and action at national, regional and global levels.