Education

UNICEF was established in the aftermath of World War II to help children whose lives and futures were at risk – no matter what country they were from. More than 75 years after UNICEF’s founding, the world faces a variety of momentous crises including armed conflict, the effects of climate change, economic downturn and the fallout from the COVID-19…, 6 WAYS UNICEF GETS RESULTS, 1. Local presence, global reach, UNICEF is active in more than  190 countries and territories . Our vast network of skilled and committed staff means we can take successful approaches from one place in the world and adapt them to meet challenges elsewhere, helping drive results for children and young people at a global scale.  Safe births: A mother and her newborn 356 million…, 2. Unlocking greater impact for children, As one of the world’s largest buyers of lifesaving supplies such as vaccines and ready-to-use therapeutic food, UNICEF has unique leverage with suppliers. Our expertise in anticipating demand, a strong knowledge of markets and ability to work with industry enables UNICEF to consider production and supply chain challenges, provide timely access to…, 3. Emergency response and readiness, UNICEF is on the ground before, during and after humanitarian emergencies. Our global supply chain and local presence mean we can get help to where it's needed fast – we can ship lifesaving supplies almost anywhere in the world within 72 hours. Just as important, UNICEF stays and delivers. How we respond in crises lays the foundation for long-term…, 4. New solutions to old problems, Innovation is at the heart of UNICEF’s ability to achieve results for children and young people. Our global innovation centre helps scale up proven solutions, while a dedicated innovation fund provides financial resources to promising early-stage projects. The results? A new wave of technologies and products to help us reach the hardest-to-reach…, 5. Powerful partnerships, Strong partnerships with governments, NGOs, civil society and the private sector make UNICEF’s work for children possible. In turn, our credibility, impartiality and record of achieving results make us a partner of choice. Global brands – from Ikea and Lego to Microsoft – leverage their resources and drive innovation to help children and young…, 6. An influential voice for children, UNICEF is the world’s leading voice for – and with – children. Impartial and non-political, we are never silent about violations of children’s rights. Our research and reports are a leading source of data and information on the situation of children and young people around the world for journalists, researchers, policy makers and advocates. Our…

← Back to Education UNICEF works day in and day out, in some of the world’s toughest places, to protect children’s rights and safeguard their futures. On the ground in over 190 countries and territories, we reach more children and young people than any other international organization. Explore our education programmes, initiatives and partnerships., Global partnerships and initiatives, Reimagine Education, In a world facing a learning crisis, digital learning should be an essential service. UNICEF aims to have every child and young person – some 3.5 billion by 2030 – connected to world-class digital solutions that offer personalized learning. Learn more, Learning Passport, A TIME Best Invention of 2021, the Learning Passport enables high-quality, flexible learning for children anywhere, to close the learning poverty gap. Learn more, Generation Unlimited, If the largest generation of young people in history is prepared for the transition to work, the potential for global progress is unlimited. We enable young people to become productive and engaged members of society. Learn more, Giga, The Giga Initiative was launched to connect every school to the internet and every young person to information, opportunity and choice. Learn more, Education Cannot Wait, Education Cannot Wait is the United Nations global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises. We support and protect holistic learning outcomes so no one is left behind. Learn more, EdTech Hub, EdTech Hub is a global research partnership that empowers people by giving them the evidence they need to make decisions about technology in education. Learn more, Global Partnership for Education, GPE is the world’s only partnership and fund focused on providing quality education to children in lower-income countries. Learn more, Global Education Cluster, The Global Education Cluster works towards a predictable, equitable and well-coordinated response addressing education concerns of crisis-affected populations. Learn more, United Nations Girls' Education Initiative, Through evidence building, coordinated advocacy and collective action, the UNGEI partnership works to close the gender gap in education. Learn more, All in School, In collaboration with the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, this initiative provides governments with actionable data to identify barriers that lead to exclusion and develop policies and programmes that put more children on track to complete their education. Learn more, Learn more

Governments and education stakeholders around the world are urged to endorse the  Commitment to Action on Foundational Learning  to ensure all children, including the most marginalized, develop foundational learning to realize their full potential and participate in society. Nearly six-out-of-ten children globally are estimated to be affected by…, Commitment to Action on Foundational Learning, Ensure foundational learning as a key element to transform education 1.    Low learning levels – the barrier children face   a.    The pre-COVID learning crisis has been made even more severe by the pandemic. Currently it is estimated that, globally, six out of every ten children suffer from learning poverty: they are unable to read and understand…, Endorsements, NEW REPORT: Less than half of all countries surveyed have a specific focus on foundational literacy and numeracy in their national curriculum. > learn more 🔎 See which government are  making progress on foundational learning From Governments Argentina Armenia Belgium Belize Brazil Bulgaria Cambodia Central African Republic Chile Colombia Cote d…

To help you provide your students with a safe and supportive learning environment, here are some ways to support your student’s well-being. Did you know? During times of stress and crisis, children observe adults’ behaviours and emotions for cues on how to manage their own., Emotional check-ins, Returning to school can be an emotionally trying time for everyone and children can be greatly impacted in a number of ways. Conduct routine emotional check-ins with your students. To check-in emotionally is to ask children “how they are” in a direct or indirect way. One method is to ask children "What colour do you feel today?" Ask children to…, Identifying signs of distress, Children have different reactions to adverse events in their environment. Culture influences the ways in which we express emotions. In some cultures, for example, it is not appropriate to show strong emotions like crying loudly, while in others it is widely accepted. Based on the culture you work in, be alert for signs that children are not doing…, Activities to reduce stress and support student well-being, These activities can be done with students in order to help reduce stress, support well-being and provide them with positive coping strategies. These activities are also beneficial for you, and you and your students can do them together.   Belly breathing Often when we are stressed our breathing becomes shallow, high in our chests, and we forget…

Teaching can often be a highly stressful career. However, there are steps you can take to help cope with the pressures of the job and manage stress levels. As a teacher, you might be exhausted juggling work and family obligations, and concerned about how best to help your students make up for learning lost from school closures during the COVID-19…, Ways to cope, While people react differently to stress, people often do better over the long-term if they: Feel safe, connected to others, calm and hopeful Have access to social, physical and emotional support Regain a sense of control by being able to help themselves If you recognize signs of stress and how they affect different aspects of your well-being, you…, What is self-care?, The World Health Organization defines self-care as “the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a healthcare provider.” Self-care is any activity that we do intentionally in order to take care of our mental,…, What is burnout?, One of the negative consequences of accumulated stress is burnout. Burnout is a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion that results from prolonged exposure to job stressors or work situations that are emotionally demanding. It is emotional exhaustion and can result in a sense of reduced personal accomplishment. Burnout includes many…, Making time for self-care as teachers, Too many people work until they can't go on or they view rest and sleep as something which is not important. It is important to view rest as an essential tool for maintaining well-being. Resting can be as simple as just turning off the lights in your classroom for a few minutes after your students have left. Or try and limit the time you spend…, Hope and well-being, It is important to remind yourself and your students that you have control over different aspects of your life and that you can bring about change. When you are facing challenging times, it can be difficult to feel hopeful that things can improve. When we feel hopeful, it helps us to focus on change, look to the future, and actively look for…

Additional resource collections Education programme case studies Education programme case studies Education knowledge management dashboard Education knowledge management dashboard Education related COVID-19 resources Education-related COVID-19 resources  , Learn more about education

The world is facing a learning crisis. Millions of children and young people are not developing the skills they need to break out of poverty. The growth of technology and the increasingly broad range of actors providing online learning means we can deliver learning opportunities anywhere, at any time. But more than half of the world’s children and…, Are we listening to the Unstoppable?, Fostering partnerships across public and private sectors – and with young people themselves – is the only way to do this. That is why the Reimagine Education initiative is asking partners to come together in a global movement. As this revolution advances around the world, UNICEF is calling for: The most vulnerable children and young people to be…, Resources, Read a review of evidence documenting the effectiveness of digital learning solutions . Check out our  Summary Case for Investment  in digital learning. Download the Reimagine Education brochure . Watch former UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore on the vision to revolutionize education through connectivity and quality digital learning for…

Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about UNICEF on our Frequently Asked Questions FAQ page . For more specific questions and contact details, check out the websites of these UNICEF offices: UNICEF Careers Careers UNICEF Regional and Country Offices Headquarters, Regional and Country Offices UNICEF National Committees UNICEF Supply…

Violence, exploitation, discrimination – all everyday threats to the safety of refugee and migrant children and children affected by the horrors of conflict. The dangers to these children have only intensified as countries across the globe have battled the COVID-19 pandemic. As we plan for the future and  reimagine a fairer world for every child,…, Donate to help children unlock their full potential, The children behind the game, It goes without saying that in the real world, these children’s journeys are anything but a game. The challenges Pouya, Sama and Nora have faced – physical and emotional – have required them to draw upon deep reservoirs of strength and determination. But none of this has dulled their passion or optimism. Read about their lives, what motivates them…, How you can make a difference, UNICEF works every day to help make communities more inclusive for refugee and migrant children and ensure they are given a fair chance: from campaigning for the rights of displaced children, to educating and empowering them with new skills and opportunities, to helping them settle into their new lives. When we work together, we can do things…

UNICEF works for the rights of every child, every day, across the globe

UNICEF’s Data Must Speak Initiative (DMS) helps countries unlock existing data to expand access to education and improve learning for all. DMS provides direct technical assistance in Chad, Madagascar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, the Philippines, Togo and Zambia. Our profile cards have also been a source of inspiration in countries like Kenya and Uganda…, Madagascar, In Madagascar, DMS has supported the development, production and use of district and school profile cards that provide comparative education data. The profile cards are shared with policymakers, school management and community members to catalyse discussions on how to improve school performance. General presentation DMS Madagascar .pdf General…, Nepal, In Nepal, DMS helped develop an equity index that can be used to inform government planning and budgeting and direct support to lagging school districts. The Government of Nepal used the index in 2016–17 to identify the five most disadvantaged districts and provide additional funding to reduce the number of out-of-school children in those…, Philippines, In 2016, the Government of the Philippines, with support from DMS, developed a hardship index to determine the level of special allowances to teachers working in the most challenging areas – with the aim of deploying and retaining experienced teachers in disadvantaged schools. The index combines factors of hardship, including travel times,…, Togo, In Togo, DMS has supported the development, production and use of district and school profile cards that provide comparative education data. The profile cards are shared with policymakers, school management and community members to catalyse discussions on how to improve school performance. General presentation of the DMS initiative in Togo Profile…, Zambia, In Zambia, DMS has supported the development, production and use of district and school profile cards that provide comparative education data. The profile cards are shared with policymakers, school management and community members to catalyse discussions on how to improve school performance. General presentation DMS Zambia.pdf General presentation…

To address challenges that keep children from going to school and learning, decision makers need data. Information on who's missing out on education and why is critical for building stronger and more equitable education systems. With reliable data, policymakers, school managers, teachers and communities can identify problems, pose solutions and…, Data Must Speak on the ground, In collaboration with national stakeholders, Data Must Speak develops context-specific tools and resources for understanding education data. These materials can be shared with and adapted for other country settings, arming communities around the world with information on how their schools are resourced and how they perform relative to others…, Related news and stories, Resources, Data Must Speak Formative Evaluation Final Report Positive Deviance Research – UNICEF Office of Research-Innocenti, Contact us, For further information, please contact Nicolas Reuge ( nreuge@unicef.org ).