British Council joins UNESCO global education initiatives

The British Council said that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has formally recognized the organization as a new member of two major education efforts: the Global Education Coalition and the International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030.

The British Council said the memberships reinforce its commitment to global education recovery, equity, and innovation, while strengthening its role in shaping international policy and partnerships focused on inclusive, quality teaching and learning.

UNESCO launched the Global Education Coalition in 2020 to help mitigate the education disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, as schools worldwide shifted to emergency remote learning and faced prolonged closures.

The British Council noted that post-pandemic, the coalition’s priorities have evolved to support Sustainable Development Goal 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

The coalition now focuses on education-sector transformation and brings together over 200 partners from governments, multilateral organizations, civil society, and the private sector to collaborate on shared goals, the British Council said.

As a coalition member, the British Council said it will contribute its experience in teacher development, English language education, and inclusive learning to support countries working to build resilient, future-ready education systems.

The organization also announced it has joined the International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030, which it said is dedicated to addressing the teacher-shortage crisis and advancing the status and support of educators worldwide.

The International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030, or Teacher Task Force, is described as a global independent alliance that raises awareness, expands knowledge, and supports countries working to improve teaching quality and address teacher-related issues.

The British Council said the task force’s membership includes national governments, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, international development agencies, civil society organizations, private sector organizations, and U.N. agencies.

With over 90 years of experience supporting teacher education and professional development globally, the British Council said it will bring knowledge, skills, and connections to the task force, including work in fragile, multilingual, and under-resourced contexts.

Scott McDonald, chief executive of the British Council, said: “Coordinated action for education has never been more urgent. Our participation in these global education initiatives will amplify the voices of teachers and learners worldwide, particularly in communities where opportunities are limited. We look forward to working with our global partners to share best practices, co-create solutions, and champion inclusive, high-quality education as a foundation for peace, prosperity, and social cohesion.”

The British Council said it delivers education programs intended to strengthen teaching quality, improve learning outcomes, and promote equity and inclusion.

It cited large-scale teacher development initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, as well as innovative digital learning platforms and support for English language teachers in conflict-affected regions.

The organization said it works with ministries of education, schools, universities, and civil society groups to drive systemic improvements in education.

The British Council said its approach is rooted in research, collaboration, and responsiveness to local context to ensure solutions are sustainable and scalable.

The organization said it has worked in partnership with over 50 ministries of education in 2025–26 to help build inclusive and future-facing education systems.

It also said it hosts the largest global online community of practice for 3.9 million teachers and teacher educators, providing engagement opportunities with practitioners and policymakers.

The British Council said participation in both the Global Education Coalition and the Teacher Task Force will create new opportunities to support ministries of education, school leaders, teachers, and young people through evidence-based programs, peer learning networks, and scalable innovations.

The organization said active engagement in these forums is intended to help ensure learners and educators benefit from global collaboration, policy alignment, and sustained investment in education.

The British Council describes itself as the U.K.’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities, working to support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding, and trust between people in the U.K. and countries worldwide.

It said it works across arts and culture, education, and the English language, operates in over 200 countries and territories, is on the ground in more than 100 countries, and reached 599 million people in 2024–25.