The UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP-UNESCO) supports countries in effectively planning and managing their education systems. IIEP’s integrated approach to capacity development combines training in educational planning and management, research and knowledge sharing, and in-country capacity cooperation for educational bodies. All of these components build on each other and are core components for making fundamental changes when building better education systems around the world. IIEP-UNESCO has five thematic priority areas that cover social inequalities, and especially gender equality, improved learning outcomes, enhanced education system resilience, improved governance and accountability, and sustainable education financing. IIEP believes that strong educational planning and efficient management can both visionary and pragmatic. It is also the path towards implementing education reforms and system transformation that will ensure equal learning opportunities for all children and youth, no matter where they are or in what setting. IIEP is part of UNESCO and enjoys a large degree of intellectual and functional autonomy. This allows it to adapt quickly to emerging needs and to innovate in areas which help ministries to plan and manage education services.