Education and human capital
Every child has the right to learn
Around the world, millions more children go to school than in decades before; but not every child is learning. And not every young person is prepared with the skills they need to secure their futures.
Globally, over 600 million children struggle with basic reading and arithmetic. Lack of trained teachers, inadequate teaching materials and poor infrastructure prevent learning. These deprivations are compounded when students are hungry, forced from their homes or arrive for their lessons tired from work or household chores.
Education and skills training are powerful drivers of economic growth. But many children and young people do not receive the training they need to join the workforce, become entrepreneurs and contribute to their families, communities and the world.
UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight uses data, evidence and foresight to identify solutions that can prepare children and young people to make the most of their futures. Through research and foresight analysis we ask: What can be done to make learning and skills training more equitable for children and young people? What are the pathways for children and young people that are resilient and responsive to global trends, such as the transition to a green and digital economy?
Our research focusses on three areas: i) what works at school level; ii) what works at policy level; and iii) how to scale up solutions. As we provide data and evidence and interpret emerging shifts, our goal is always to protect every child’s right to learn and make the most of their futures.
Explore our work by theme: Early childhood education | Education in emergencies | Education technologies | Foundational learning | Gender, equity and inclusion | Teachers and school leaders
Related projects
Early childhood education
The early years of a child's life lay the foundations for their lifelong learning, development and wellbeing. Providing children with high-quality pre-primary education ensures that the benefits and potential of those early years are realized. But more than 175 million children – nearly half of all pre-primary-age children globally – are not enrolled in pre-primary education, while access remains inequitable for marginalized children. UNICEF Innocenti works to understand how to improve children’s access and the quality of early learning experiences.
Education in emergencies
Around the world, hundreds of millions of children a year have their education disrupted by conflict, displacement, climate change, and other crises. Children in crisis are significantly more likely to be out of school and thus miss out on the social, emotional, and academic benefits of education. UNICEF Innocenti works to understand how best to help children in emergency contexts receive high-quality learning in a protective, supportive environment.
Education technologies
The use of technology in education holds the potential to accelerate learning for children through interactive and personalized experiences, and offers different ways to upgrade teachers skills to improve children’s learning. How can the potential of EdTech be turned into meaningful impact on learning outcomes? UNICEF Innocenti integrates implementation research into EdTech programs to uncover what works and how it can improve learning for the most marginalized children.
Foundational learning
The world faces a learning crisis where the majority of children cannot read a simple text by the age of 10. While there are solutions to address and improve foundational learning needs, we need to understand how to scale these solutions effectively. UNICEF Innocenti conducts research into what works at the system and program levels to enhance foundational learning, especially in difficult contexts.
Gender, equity and inclusion
Children with disabilities, girls, and those from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds are far more likely to be out of school. UNICEF Innocenti integrates research on gender, equity and inclusion across all research areas and conducts specific research aimed at addressing barriers to creating more equitable and inclusive education systems.
Teachers and school leaders
Teachers and school leaders are the heart and engine of any effective education system. Research shows the critical role of teachers in children’s learning and the importance of effective school management. UNICEF Innocenti conducts research on improving the education workforce's functioning, supporting teachers and identifying best practices used by teachers and school leaders – including female leaders in schools – to enhance children's learning.
