With the mission of contributing to peace and human development in an era of globalization, UNESCO considers cooperation with the private sector as a necessity, not just an option.

Partnerships with the IT industry are joint ventures between an ethically-based approach and high-level technical know-how. For UNESCO, they offer a way in which its vision can be put into practice. 

The policy framework for UNESCO’s partnerships with the private sector derives from the Guidelines adopted by the United Nations in 2000. This is underpinned by the Global Compact whose nine universal principles provide a framework of standards for the business world and facilitates the integration of social values into the processes linked to the production of commercial goods and services. These partnerships serve to illustrate the close link between sustainable development and the creation of wealth through commercial activity.