ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the trajectory of UN involvement in advocacy, programming and policy related to formal education systems around the world as a means to boosting the global knowledge quotient. The chapter goes on to explore trends and priorities associated with the key UN agencies education agendas, as well as their normative and programming contributions on a global scale. From the outset, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have been the principal UN body focusing on education, as its name implies. Most reviews of UN involvement in global education do not include International Labour Organization (ILO). This is unfortunate since ILO has been active in shaping national and international technical and vocational education and training since the early 1900s even before the organization became an official part of the UN. Though its financial contribution to global education has been considerable, the UN system is more noted for its policy and advocacy involvement. This influence manifests through numerous mechanisms.
