UNESCO and Education

Education is a fundamental human right and
a public good and, as such, has been at the core of UNESCO’s work since its inception.

Education is also the path to sustainability – to poverty alleviation, better health, environmental protection and gender equality.

As the only United Nations agency with a mandate to cover all aspects of education, UNESCO was entrusted in 2015 to lead the coordination and monitoring of Sustainable Development Goal 4, as part of the new Global Education 2030 Agenda.

Goal 4 aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all,” and renewed UNESCO’s and Member States’ commitment to a vision of education that is holistic, inspirational and which leaves no one behind.

This commitment is reflected in the size and scope of the Education Sector, the largest in UNESCO, with staff working at its Paris Headquarters and spread across a global network of field offices and specialized institutes and centres. With its close links with education ministries and other partners, UNESCO is strongly placed to press for action and change.

UNESCO’s Education Sector supports Member States in developing education systems that foster high-quality and inclusive lifelong learning for all, empowering learners to be creative and responsible global citizens while leading the debate to help shape the future international education agenda.

There is no stronger, no more lasting, investment a country can make than educating its citizens. The Education Sector exists to further this collective vision worldwide by transforming lives one by one.