The Education for All (EFA) process was launched in Jomtien, Thailand, in 1990 to enhance access to basic education, and was strengthened in 2000 through the World Education Forum in Dakar, Senegal, whereupon Member States agreed to reach the EFA six goals by 2015.   In order to achieve these goals, UNESCO implements strategic approaches to promoting education as a fundamental right for all in society, focusing on the creation of a stable learning environment that provides good quality education. UNESCO Beirut organised the Regional Conference on EFA Mid-Term Review in February 2008 which reviewed the state of EFA progress in the region and the advances made in the provision of quality basic education to all.

Within this framework, in-depth thematic studies were undertaken to identify critical issues and challenges, seeking ways to address these issues.  Following the recommendations made during this review, the office maintains EFA as its highest priority, providing technical support to the Arab States in implementing their EFA priorities, and building national capacities in monitoring the progress towards achieving the six EFA goals.

Furthermore, one of UNESCO Beirut’s top priorities is to provide technical assistance to the Arab States in developing a robust literacy and Non-Formal Education database and monitoring indicators. 

It is through the sharing of experiences that innovative strategies and creative solutions to common education problems are found.

On the other hand, the year 2015 is the target date for the achievement of the six EFA goals.

While Arab countries have made significant progress towards achieving some of these goals, such as eliminating gender disparity in access to basic and secondary education, others; such as pre-primary education and quality education; are still relatively far from reach.

Contributing to the agenda setting of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that constitute the new pillar for UN activities in the post-2015 period, UNESCO is coordinating the global consultative processes of defining the future education agenda. The consultations have indicated that the direction of the post-2015 education agenda be anchored in a lifelong and sector-wide perspective, addressing access, equity and quality for all – children, youth and adults - at all levels of education from early childhood (ECCE) to higher education and adult learning across formal, non-formal and informal modalities.