Literacy Initiative for Empowerment (LIFE) is a framework of collaborative action and a mechanism for technical support services and facilitation by UNESCO in the areas of policy, advocacy, partnership building, capacity-building and innovations. It focuses on creating learning opportunities for illiterate adults particularly for women in 35 countries; in these countries the literacy rate is less than 50% and in some cases the illiterate population is larger than 10 million, this includes Pakistan. LIFE was initiated as a ten-year key operational mechanism (2006-2015) within the United Nations Literacy Decade to accelerate literacy efforts in those countries which are at risk of not reaching EFA Goal 4. It emphasizes to take relevant policy measures, create well planned programmes and sustained allocations to ensure that effective learning opportunities are provided to those without learning competencies. Its programmes aim to mainstream gender and be gender responsive ensuring that not only are women and girls targeted and enrolled in literacy classes but that their strategic needs are addressed.

The Government of Pakistan has made commitment to the Literacy Initiative for Empowerment (LIFE) to achieve the Education for All (EFA) and United Nations Literacy Decade (UNLD) goals.Life is an initiative to facilitate and contribute towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals and the EFA goals.. READ MORE