The core purpose of UNESCO’s Education programme is to achieve Education for All (EFA). Seen in its broadest sense, it means Education for all, at all levels, throughout life. Three elements define the context for pursuing this purpose.  These are:

• Promoting education as a fundamental human right in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

• Improving the quality of education through the diversification of contents and methods, and the promotion of universally shared values; and

• Promoting experimentation, innovation and the diffusion and sharing of information and best practices as well as policy dialogue in education.

The contribution of UNESCO New Delhi’s education programme to achieving Education For All (EFA), is essentially through focused programming in the areas of: Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), Secondary Education (out-of-school children), Technical and Vocational Education & Training (TVET), Higher Education, Literacy and Life-long learning, Teachers, Gender Equality, ICT in Education, HIV/AIDS & Adolescent Reproductive Health and Youth Health Services, Enhancing sector-wide policy formulation, planning, monitoring and evaluation for achieving EFA.

Target Groups and Key Partners

The Education for All partnership includes member states, multilateral organizations like the EFA convening agencies, teachers, civil society, academia and the private sector.

Multilateral agencies

Five EFA convening agencies, UNESCO, UNICEF, the World Bank, UNFPA and UNDP are collectively responsible for the follow-up of the Dakar Framework for Action. ILO and UN-Women are also strongly behind EFA.

Civil society

The Collective Consultation of NGOs on EFA (CCNGO/EFA) network includes nearly 300 national, regional and international member organizations.

Private Sector

Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) play an increasingly important role and UNESCO’s relations with the private sector encompass cooperation with business corporations, small and medium enterprises, philanthropic foundations, professional and economic associations as well as other organizations of the business community, individuals, communities, parents and families.