The international community has a strong focus on adult and vocational education. Besides implementing lifelong learning activities, literacy is an essential issue in many countries. In 2000 there were some 877 million non-literate adults, with 113 million children not attending school. Below are websites describing projects and activities around the world:

• The Basic Skills Agency in England and Wales provides services and information to raise standards of basic skills in those countries.

• The Department of Education and Skills in England focuses on providing children and young adults with sufficient education at school and to assist adults in increasing their skills. Includes a national literacy curriculum for adult learners.

• Dusseldorp Skills Forum. This Australian-based site presents practical examples of how to promote vocational and work skills education by highlighting the idea of world-class standards through seminars, meetings, and competitions in commerce, services, and industry. Site posts resources and various projects on vocational and work skills training for educators, business trainers, and policy makers.

• European Community/United States Cooperation Program in Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training. Grant competition that promotes a student-centered, transatlantic dimension to higher education and training in a wide range of academic and professional disciplines. The Program funds collaborative efforts in the form of consortia consisting of at least three academic institutions from member states of the European Union and from the United States.

• The European Basic Skills Network (EBSN) is a partnership of national agencies with a responsibility for developing and promoting effective basic skills strategies in six member countries.

• EURYDICE, the information network on education in Europe, develops information on national education systems and policies.

• The Federación de Asociaciones de Educación de personas Adultas of Spain promotes an "Adult Personal Education" model which emphasizes increasing literacy and other education skills.

• GTZ: Vocational Education. German service enterprise for development emphasizes vocational education to eradicate poverty.

• The Latvian Adult Education Association works to promote the development of non-formal adult education systems and to participate in the creation of a life-long learning policy.

• Ministry of Social Affairs, Work and Solidarity (Ministère des Affaires Sociales, du Travail et de la Solidarité) in France sponsors various programs, including youth employment service and continuing education and training for adults.

• Organisation for Economic Co-Operation Development: Education. OECD implements various education activities around the world including a focus on lifelong learning and vocational and adult education.

• ProLiteracy Worldwide is represented in 45 developing countries and the United States and serves more than 350,000 adult new learners each year. The organization sponsors educational programs and services to assist adults in acquiring literacy skills.

• UNESCO's Education Webpage provides resources and information about educational issues around the world.

• UNESCO's International Project on Technical and Vocational Education (UNEVOC) facilitates the exchange of experience and disseminates information and data through its website and electronic forum. It is dedicated to developing and improving technical and vocational education and training in UNESCO's Member States.

• United Nations Literacy Decade 2003 to 2012. To tackle the problem of illiteracy in the world, the General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed, on 19 December 2001, a Literacy Decade. The United Nations has chosen United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as the lead agency to implement the Decade.