UNESCO mainly focuses on providing people with the skills and abilities for critical reception, assessment and use of information in their professional and personal lives through information literacy programmes.

UNESCO also focuses on training and lifelong learning for media and information specialists, especially in developing countries.

Another area is capacity building in the use of ICT for education, particularly as regards to improving literacy and teacher training.

Special attention is given to building capacity in e-governance with the aim of improving information and service delivery, encouraging citizen participation in the decision-making process and making government more accountable, transparent and effective.