The International Conference on Literacy and Skills Development is an important event that brings together people from around the world to address the issue of illiteracy. At present, there are over 750 million people globally who lack basic literacy skills, and two-thirds of them are women. The situation is further compounded by the fact that 102 million of these individuals are young people between the ages of 15 to 24. The impact of this lack of literacy skills is far-reaching, with many individuals unable to secure good employment or lead a fulfilling life.

The International Literacy Day serves as a reminder of the urgent need to address the issue of illiteracy. The event aims to identify effective and comprehensive approaches to literacy learning and skills development that will prepare individuals for lifelong learning, improve their lives and livelihoods, and help bridge the literacy gap.

At the conference, stakeholders and decision-makers come together to discuss how integrated approaches to literacy and skills development can help close the literacy gap and improve learners' ability to meet the needs of today's increasingly globalized and digitized employment market. The focus is on finding practical solutions to the challenges faced by individuals who lack foundational skills, including literacy, and are failing to meet the skill demands of the rapidly changing labor market.