Programmes and expertise
Education
Education transforms lives and lies at the core of UNESCO’s mission to promote peace, reduce poverty, and support sustainable development. As the only UN agency dedicated to all aspects of education, UNESCO leads the Global Education 2030 Agenda.
UNESCO provides global leadership in education, supports stronger education systems, and addresses global challenges through inclusive and gender-equal learning. From early childhood to higher education, it helps countries develop effective policies, protect the right to education, and strengthen capacities through training, curriculum development, data collection, and distance learning.
Natural Sciences
UNESCO rethinks science for a sustainable future, helping countries harness knowledge and innovation to tackle pressing scientific and societal challenges. We advance research, foster cooperation, and promote knowledge-sharing while building capacity, supporting evidence-based policies, and providing technical assistance to ensure science drives sustainable development and global action.
Our flagship initiatives advance water knowledge, promote sustainable interactions between people and nature, strengthen Earth science research and education, and build fundamental scientific capacity worldwide.
We also highlight the value of traditional knowledge in global climate science and policy, and deliver timely, policy-relevant insights into water management and development, drawing on international networks and the experience of UNESCO-designated sites such as biosphere reserves, Global Geoparks, and natural World Heritage sites.
Culture
UNESCO celebrates culture in all its forms, from historic monuments and museums to living heritage practices and contemporary art, enriching lives and helping build inclusive, and resilient communities.
We support countries in protecting and safeguarding cultural and natural heritage, fostering creativity, and strengthening dynamic cultural sectors. These efforts address today’s complex challenges, from climate change and inequality to the digital divide and emergencies, guided by a human-centred approach based on mutual respect and intercultural dialogue to promote lasting peace.
Communication and information
UNESCO promotes freedom of expression, media independence, and pluralism while supporting inclusive knowledge societies through universal access to information and innovative digital technologies.
The Organization helps countries strengthen these freedoms through capacity-building, policy advice, international cooperation, and monitoring, ensuring fundamental rights are protected online and offline. UNESCO also promotes the ethical use of emerging technologies, media diversity, and 21st-century skills to support informed and inclusive societies.
Ocean
UNESCO protects and promotes the health of the world’s oceans through its initiatives. It supports scientific research, monitors marine biodiversity, and helps countries better understand and respond to issues like climate change, pollution, and overfishing.
Through programs such as the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, UNESCO also promotes international cooperation and shares knowledge to improve ocean governance. Its goal is to ensure that oceans remain sustainable, resilient, and able to support both ecosystems and human communities in the long term.
Supporting Africa's development
UNESCO and its partners engage with 54 African countries through a targeted strategy to advance the continent’s progress. We help build the foundation for an integrated and resilient African Economic Community by promoting regional cooperation, strengthening institutions, and fostering inclusive policies for sustainable development.
Our work spans education, culture, science, communication, and heritage — from supporting higher education and cultural innovation to advancing open science and technology. By reinforcing capacities, expanding access to knowledge, and nurturing strong partnerships, UNESCO helps African societies unlock their potential and shape a prosperous, inclusive future.
Empowering through equality
UNESCO works to eliminate all forms of gender-based discrimination, recognizing it as a human rights violation. Women still face significant barriers worldwide — they represent less than a third of researchers, make up the majority of adults without basic literacy skills, and are disproportionately exposed to threats and violence in professions such as journalism.
We promote gender equality as a global priority, ensuring that women and men have equal opportunities, choices, and power to shape their futures. By equipping girls and boys, women and men with the knowledge, values, and skills to overcome gender disparities, UNESCO helps build more just, inclusive, and sustainable societies for all.
Social and Human Sciences
UNESCO leverages Social and Human Sciences to support inclusive and sustainable societies in a world facing major transitions, including climate, digital, demographic, and inequality challenges. We guide social transformations, strengthen the science-policy nexus, and ensure emerging technologies—such as AI, neurotechnology, and climate engineering—are governed ethically, while fostering trust in science and the safety of scientists.
We support countries in addressing racism and discrimination, promoting intercultural dialogue, empowering youth and women, and harnessing the ethical and social impact of sports. We also bring together the global community through partnerships and dialogue, while building capacities for social innovation, ethical governance, and the management of societal change.